The LOFT Mission
LOFT, the Large Observatory For X-ray Timing, is a newly proposed space mission intended to answer fundamental questions about the motion of matter orbiting close to the event horizon of a black hole, and the state of matter in neutron stars.
LOFT was selected by ESA in February 2011 as one of the four M3 space missions concepts of the Cosmic Vision programme. LOFT is presently in the assessment phase, and is competing for a launch opportunity at the start of the 2020s together with the other mission candidates. LOFT is being specifically designed to answer two fundamental questions of ESA's Cosmic Vision Theme Matter under extreme conditions, namely:
Does matter orbiting close to the event horizon follow the predictions of general relativity?
What is the equation of state of matter in neutron stars?
A detailed overview of the LOFT Science can be found HERE.
Practical info, Registrations and Abstract
If you are interested in submitting an abstract (talk and/or poster) for the LOFT session please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and submit the abstract by using the EWASS ABSTRACT SUBMISSION facility.
***The Deadline for Submission is 31 May***
Agenda - Friday, 12th of July 2013
1st session: The LOFT mission (chair A. Watts)
12:25 - 12:55 M. van der Klis (UVA): Overview of the LOFT Science
12.55 - 13.15 J. Wilms (ECAP): LOFT Observatory Science
Abstract still TBC
13:15 - 14:30 Lunch
2nd session: Presentations of LOFT Core Science: Dense Matter and Strong Field Gravity (chair: M. van der Klis)
14:30 - 14:50 A. Watts (UVA): LOFT and the neutron star equation of state
14:50 - 15:10 J. Poutanen (Univ. Oulu, invited): Modeling pulse profiles of accreting millisecond pulsars and X-ray bursts
I will review the techniques to model pulse profiles accreting millisecond pulsars and X-ray bursts. I will also report on the exercise the LOFT Dense Matter Working Group has performed on comparison of various codes. LOFT's abilities to measure neutron star masses and radii from the pulse shapes will be reviewed.
15:10 - 15:30 A. Ingram (UVA, invited): Using LOFT to uncover the QPO mechanism in X-ray binaries
15:30 - 15:50 A. De Rosa (IAPS, invited): Variability as a probe of the central engine in AGNs: the LOFT perspectives
15:50 - 16:10 P. Uttley (UVA, invited): Mapping the extreme: X-ray reverberation with LOFT
16:10 - 16:30 Coffee Break
3rd session: LOFT as Observatory (chairs: J. Wilms)
16:30 - 16:50 A. Tramacere (ISDC, invited): Constraining the physics of acceleration and radiation processes in the relativistic jets of Blazars with LOFT
16:50 - 17:05 R. Walter (ISDC): Tidal disruptions at hard X-rays and LOFT forecasts
Two tidal disruption events have been detected at hard X-ray in early 2011. The disruption of a star, detectd by Swift, generated a jet and strong Doppler boosted emission. The disruption of a super-Jupiter, detected by INTEGRAL, followed the expectrations from hydrodynamical simualtions. LOFT will provide the all-sky monitoring necessary to detect such events and the enormous effective area necessary to probe the flow of matter passing through the last stable orbit. LOFT can constrain both the masses of the disrupted objects and the masses of usually quiet massive black-holes.
17:05 - 17:20 L. Amati (INAF): GRB science with LOFT
17:20 - 17:35 J. in't Zand (SRON, solicited): What can LOFT do for the research of thermonuclear X-ray burst?
17:35 - 18:00 Open discussion
Practical Information (how to get to the LOFT room inside the Logomo center, Turku)
The LOFT special session is hosted in the "GOTO33" room. It is located on the third floor of the conference center.
1) Get into the Logomo center through the main door, turn left and take the evelvator to the third floor
2) On the third floor, exit from the elevator, turn left and follow the indication to the "GOTO33" room