Attending: S. Ciprini, L. Foschini, J. Kataoka, G. Madejski, R. Sambruna, G. Tosti
This is the first F2F meeting of the X-ray sub-group of the AGN LAT collaboration.
1) The role of the X-ray group within the LAT collaboration was defined:
? Be a source of support for X-ray proposals from the AGN LAT collaboration
? Keep track of upcoming opportunities and alert the community
? Help writing the X-ray proposals (technical information, observing strategies)
A Website will be created where proposal deadlines, satellite information, and more general X-ray science goals are described. Submitted X-ray proposals and their evaluations will also be posted here.
2) The unique capabilities of individual satellites for blazar monitoring campaigns were reviewed, in particular the merits of XMM and Chandra versus more "traditional" blazar-oriented satellites such as Swift, Integral, and RXTE. XMM provides long and uninterrupted coverage for time-resolved spectroscopy, a larger FOV, and more flexible observing capabilities than Suzaku. Chandra is severely affected by pileup of the bright cores, but could become useful for extended jet sources to distinguish the origin of the X-ray-to-gamma-ray emission (core vs. jet). Some bright sources (e.g., Mrk421) cause pileup for XMM as well. There are strategies that reduce pileup including using the gratings.
3) Tad Takahashi has sent an email stressing Suzaku's committment to support multiwavelength monitoring of GLAST blazars.
4) The group discussed possible upcoming proposal strategies. Upcoming deadlines: XMM (October 2006), Integral (November), Suzaku (December), and RXTE in early 2007. The latter will be for an observing cycle of 2 years - quite likely the last. Possible strategies:
Suzaku: ToO, monitoring of TeV blazars (HESS), and long (150ks) light curves of 4 selected LBLs
RXTE: ToO and systematic monitoring of blazars with optimal observing window at longer wavelengths and/or already monitored by other groups before and during the GLAST 1st year
XMM: While we could submit a ToO proposal with various triggers (from GeV, TeV, or optical), a GLAST-related proposal has small chances of being approved before GLAST data are in hand on such a highly subscribed mission. However, there was the suggestion that a ToO triggered by other wavelengths and with GLAST-independent goals may work out.
5) Greg M. will contact Alan Marscher for possible involvement in RXTE on behalf of the group.
6) Individuals were identified who will be responsible inside the X-ray group for keeping track of deadlines, observing policies, and GO-related news for specific X-ray missions, and alert the community about upcoming opportunities:
Suzaku Madejski, Kataoka, Takahashi
XMM Ciprini, Ballet, Foschini
Integral Foschini
Swift Sambruna
RXTE Marscher ?
Chandra Sambruna
This does NOT mean these individuals will be ipso facto PIs of the proposals for the respective missions. However, it does not exclude that they could initiate and be PI of proposals, subject to the General Guidelines of the Collaboration.
Send comments to Rita Sambruna at rms@milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov