Astrofísica Robótica y de Altas Energías (ARAE) – TRACK RECORD
The ARAE research group (http://arae.iaa.es, ICT-189 amongst the information technology groups) was founded in 2001, although some of its members have already started their activity in 1990, and belongs to the Andalusian Research Plan (PAI) based in the Institute of Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA) of the National Research Council (CSIC) in Granada.
A dozen of members, including scientists, engineers and ITs are working on a variety of projects, combining their strengths. Half of the members are foreigners from all over the world, what it is also an added value.
Research areas are multi-range observations of high-energy phenomena, theoretical stellar evolutionary models and models of stellar population synthesis. Significant technological developments are also carried out, regarding the robotization of small/medium size observatories and astronomical instrumentation development (ground-based and space-borne). Public outreach and citizen science is also part of the ARAE activities in the recent years.
1. AREAS OF RESEARCH
These are: Compact objects (X-ray Binaries), cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), astrophysical transients (eg. OTs) and stellar population synthesis models.
1.1. X-ray binaries
The study of X-ray binaries (XRBs) already started in 1990, with the analysis and interpretation of data from the WATCH instrument on board the Granat satellite. Special attention has been devoted to GRO J0422 +32 (X-ray Nova Persei 1992) and GRS 1915 +105. For the first one we discover its optical counterpart, and we tested that it houses probably a black hole. Furthermore, we also observed for the first time in this type of objects, a secondary explosion in 1993. With respect to the second object, GRS 1915+105, discovered by us, it has become the first observed microquasar in the galaxy, according to radio observations. We identified the infrared counterpart, and for the first time observed emission lines in the K band IR, presumably originating in the accretion disk around the central black hole. Multi-range observations have been made in other binary systems (XTE J0929-29, XTE J1550-54, XTE J1650-500, XTE J1859+28).
1.2. Gamma-ray bursts
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are one of the most important research field in high energy astrophysics. These explosions were initially studied by us using the WATCH data. In order to identify the counterparties, we extended the search to other wavelengths, in particular X bands (with Rosat, BeppoSAX), UV end (with EUVE), optical (several ground-based telescopes and HST), infrared (different telescopes ground and ISO) and submillimeter and radio (Plateau de Bure Interferometer).
Important results were achieved in 1997, in close collaboration with the BeppoSAX satellite scientific group dedicated to the study of GRBs. For the specific case of GRB 970508, the first images were obtained only 4-5-hours after the explosion-gamma, which showed the optical counterpart, being the object observed with HST and the Plateau de Bure Interferometer, and the Infrared Space Observatory. Other important findings were the possible supernova underlying to GRB 980326, the first evidence of a collimated jet emission (GRB 990123), and the indisputable relationship between the highly energetic SN 2003 dh and GRB 030329, the finding of starburst galaxies hosting several GRBs (GRB 051022). And during the Swift satellite Era, it is worth to mention the study of the first precisely locate short-duration GRB 050509, the study of the ultra-high z GRBs (eg GRB 090423) and the afterglow spectrum study for GRB 130603B (at z = 0.35) and GRB 130606A (at z = 5.91, discovered by BOOTES-2/TELMA). We are also continuing performing multiwavelength studies with optical observatories (BOOTES network, OSN, CAHA, GTC) and satellites (XMM-Newton, Chandra and INTEGRAL).
1.3. Astrophysical Transients
It is questionable whether any of these wide category (like Optical Transients, OT) may be related to GRBs or not. In any case, we are also pursuing this research, as some of these objects seem to be related with exceptional active stars, active galactic nuclei (AGN) and quasars, amongst others.
1.4. Theoretical stellar evolutionary models including apsidal motion and tidal evolution, gravity and limb-darkening, compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes) and irradiated stars.
1.5. Models of stellar population synthesis
Some team members have developed models of stellar population synthesis covering the emission due to stellar evolution from radio gamma rays. Such synthesis models were used to predict the gamma-ray galactic emission due to the decay of radioactive isotopes such as Al-26 or Fe-60, predictions to be tested with data from the INTEGRAL satellite. The models also allows to derive the X-ray emission from star-forming galaxies and theoretical correlations between different energy ranges. These models are also able to predict the rate of supernovae and, in the near future, the populations of X-ray binaries in star-forming regions.
The ARAE group at IAA-CSIC has pioneered in Spain the research in the GRB field, since the 1990’s. With over 200 per-reviewed publications in this regard, including 4 in Science and 7 in Nature and more than 300 GCN Circulars, the group leads opportunity programs in all national facilities and participated in space missions at co-I level (INTEGRAL, Lomonosov).
2. INSTRUMENTAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS
BOOTES (English Burst Observer and Optical Transient Exploring System) is a Global Network of Robotic Telescopes. The first ever robotic observatory in Spain (BOOTES-1) was deployed in 1998. Nowadays, there are two stations in Spain and another two abroad. The first Spanish station (BOOTES-1) is located at El Arenosillo (CEDEA-INTA) in Mazagón (Huelva) and the second one (BOOTES-2) was deployed at the Experimental Station of La Mayora (EELM-CSIC) in Algarrobo Costa (Málaga), opened in 2001. The two stations abroad are BOOTES-3 (Blenheim, New Zealand, 2009) and BOOTES-4 (Lijiang, China, 2012). The dome design, improved over the years, has been recognized as a patent in 2007.
The main BOOTES scientific goal is the simultaneous observation of GRBs and the study of astrophysical transients. With the exception of the BOOTES-1 instrumentation, the rest of BOOTES stations host a fast slewing 60cm RC telescope, with a EMCCD camera at the Cassegrain focus providing a 10’ x 10’ FOV. Among the most spectacular results obtained to date, highlights the discovery of the optical afterglow to GRB 130606A, at a redshift of 5.91, when the Universe was only about 1 billion years old (http://bootes.iaa.es).
The ARAE group is also making fully robotic the T60 (0.6m diameter) telescope at Observatorio de Sierra Nevada in Granada, and it is becoming the first robotic near-IR telescope in Europe, when the BIRCAM near-IR camera is attached. It is not just the ability to do first-rate science which has led to the creation of the consortium, but the possibility to train technologists in the field of IR instrumentation, control of robotics and telematics (more on bootes-ir.iaa.es). When no GRB alerts will be followed-up, additional near-IR in other fields (from Solar System to Extragalactic Astronomy) will be attempted, as part of the diverse scientific fields pursued by the different IAA groups.
2.3. OTHER GROUND-BASED PROJECTS
Regarding optical instrumentation, several of the team members have extensive experience in the development of optical instrumentation. We developed an all-sky optical camera to record the entire sky every minute (CASSANDRA) patented and licensed to a Spanish company, which installed similar devices in other parts of the country. Other initiatives being undertaken currently are: 1) a spectrograph (COLORES) for the TELMA 0.6m telescope at the BOOTES-2 station and 2) a full Stockes polarimeter (EDIPO) for a 1.5m class telescope.
2.4. SPACE-BORNE INSTRUMENTATION
With respect to space instrumentation, we have participated in the satellites GRANAT (international mission led by the Russian Space Agency) and INTEGRAL (led by ESA). Nowadays we participate in the instrument UBAT / UFFO-p (http://uffo.skku.kr) to be launched into space aboard the Lomonosov spacecraft in early 2015.
3. PUBLIC OUTREACH AND CITIZEN SCIENCE
Public outreach is most essential for ARAE and many of the ARAE scientists write in journals for the general public, give regularly public talks and some of the research results attract press media and so on.
Some ARAE group members are involved in the GLORIA (GLObal Robotic Infrared Array for e-Science) FP-7 EU Project, which provides Internet users the possibility to study the night sky every day. GLORIA (http://gloria-project.eu) is fulfilling the challenge of building the first free-access telescope network, that will allow any user to produce scientific knowledge. The project, that started in October of 2011, is achieving its halfway milestone with the start-up, in direct, real-time, observation mode of three telescopes located in Spain (Huelva, Málaga and Tenerife), one in Czech Republic and another in New Zealand. The remaining telescopes will be brought online in the coming weeks, and in March the complete network will be operational. All the experiments are available at http://users.gloria-project.eu
The project is based on the philosophy of collective intelligence: when more eyes are looking at the sky, more can be learnt from it. The users are able to perform research based on the proposed experiments, which include the analysis of Solar activity and the detection and characterization of asteroids and supernovae, amongst others, or even propose their own research topics. And they will be able to do it either by scheduling observations and requesting telescope time or by using GLORIA's database or that of the European Virtual Observatory.
The network will also offer the free software and methodology for advanced users to robotise their own telescopes and connect them to the network, so that a great number of telescopes throughout the World will be grouped in only one website.
Lastly, the project makes particular emphasis in outreach and is developing activities to awaken the interest in astronomy, particularly among young people. Already GLORIA has provided live transmission of astronomical events such as the Venus transit in 2012 and the total Solar eclipse of 2013. GLORIA will broadcast the total Lunar eclipse of April 15 2014 from different locations including Tenerife (Spain) and Cuzco (Peru).
GLORIA is a three year project financed by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union (FP7/2007-2012) with reference number 283783. The project, beginning in October 2011, involves thirteen institutions from eight countries and is co-lead by the ARAE Principal Investigator.