Title: Characterisation of bent crystals for Laue lenses Authors: V. Liccardo, E. Virgilli, F. Frontera, V. Valsan
In the context of the LAUE project devoted to build a long focal-length focusing optics for soft \gamma-ray astronomy (80 - 600 keV), we present the results of reflectivity measurements of bent crystals in different configurations, obtained by bending perfect or mosaic flat crystals. We also compare these results with those obtained using flat crystals. The measurements were performed using the K \alpha line of the Tungsten anode of the X-ray tube used in the LARIX facility of the University of Ferrara. These results are finalised to select the best materials and to optimise the thickness of the crystal tiles that will be used for building a Laue lens petal which is a part of an entire Laue lens, with 20 m focal length and 100-300 keV passband. The final goal of the LAUE project is overcome, by at least 2 orders of magnitude, the sensitivity limits of the current generation of \gamma-ray telescopes, and to improve the current \gamma-ray imaging capability.
Title: Expected performance of a Laue lens based on bent crystals Authors: Vineeth Valsan, Filippo Frontera, Enrico Virgilli, Vincenzo Liccardo
In the context of the LAUE project devoted to build a long focal length focusing optics for soft gamma-ray astronomy (70/100 keV to >600 keV), we present results of simulation of a Laue lens, based on bent crystals in different assembling configurations (quasi-mosaic and reflection-like geometries). The main aim is to significantly overcome the sensitivity limits of the current generation of gamma-ray telescopes and improve the imaging capability.
Title: Development status of the LAUE project Authors: F. Frontera, E. Virgilli, V. Liccardo, V. Valsan, V. Carassiti, S. Chiozzi, F. Evangelisti, S. Squerzanti, M. Statera, V. Guidi, C. Ferrari, R. A. Zappettini, E. Caroli, N. Auricchio, S. Silvestri, R. Camattari, F. Cassese, L. Recanatesi, M. Pecora, S. Mottini, B. Negri
We present the status of LAUE, a project supported by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), and devoted to develop Laue lenses with long focal length (up to 100 meters), for hard X--/soft gamma--ray astronomy (80-600 keV). Thanks to their focusing capability, the design goal is to improve the sensitivity of the current instrumentation in the above energy band by 2 orders of magnitude, down to a few times 10^{-8} photons/(cm^2 s keV).