We propose a ToO observation of a bright (15-150 keV fluence >1E-5 erg cm-2)GRB, located in a sky direction with significant amount of dust along the lineof sight (Av>0.5). The main objective is to study the expanding rings that mightform by dust scattering of the GRB X-ray emission. This will allow us to obtainaccurate and model-independent measures of the distances to the dust cloudsalong the line of sight and to infer characteristics of interstellar dust (suchas the grain size distribution, which is poorly constrained by observations atother wavelengths). Furthermore, the GRB prompt X-ray spectrum, which istypically detected only above virgul15 keV, can be reconstructed from the analysis ofthe dust-scattered emission and extended in this way to the soft X-ray band.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2016-06-24T20:23:46Z/2016-06-25T12:53:46Z
Version
17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description
The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
European Space Agency, Dr Andrea Tiengo, 2017, 'Gamma-Ray bursts as probes to study interstellar dust comma and vice versa', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-vfp9nya
