Abstract
In this paper is described the approach used to develop the software system of the AGILE γ-ray Observatory, from the definition phase to construction, verification and calibration activities of the satellite, until operations for scientific observations. Flexible software architectures, effective software management workflow, new algorithms (from payload simulators to reconstruction algorithms, from detection algorithms for Real-Time Analysis systems to the follow-up of science alerts in the multi-wavelenght and multi-messenger context) and team management approach are described. The approach followed by the AGILE Team in more than twenty years of work is a key element of the success of the AGILE Observatory, and the foundation for the involvement in new high-energy telescopes and observatories. Our legacy is not only in experience and tools but also in lesson learned, that are described in this work.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
References
Aartsen, M., et al.: Multimessenger observations of a flaring blazar coincident with high-energy neutrino IceCube-170922A. Science 361(6398) (2018)
Acharya, B.S., et al.: arXiv:1709.07997 (2018)
Argan, A., et al.: The data handling system for the AGILE satellite. In: Science Symposium Conference Record, Vol. 375, pp 371–375. NSSMIC IEEE (2004)
Barbiellini, G., Bordignon, G., Fedel, G., et al.: .. In: American Institute of Physics Conference Series, Vol. 587, Gamma 2001: Gamma-Ray Astrophysics, ed. S. Ritz, N. Gehrels, & C. R. Shrader, 754 (2001)
Branchesi, M.: Multi-messenger astronomy: gravitational waves, neutrinos, photons, and cosmic rays. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 718, 022004 (2016)
Bhat, P., et al.: The third Fermi GBM gamma-ray burst catalog: the first six years. ApJS 223, 2 (2016)
Buehler, L., et al.: Fermi LAT confirmation of enhanced gamma-ray emission from the Crab Nebula region, The Astronomerss Telegram, 2861 (2010)
Bulgarelli, A., Gianotti, F., Trifoglio, M.: PacketLib: a C++ library for scientific satellite telemetry applications. In: Payne HE, Jedrzejewski RI, Hook RN (eds.) Astronomical data analysis software and systems XII ASP Conference Series, vol. 295, p 473 (2003)
Bulgarelli, A., Gianotti, F., et al.: The MCAL science console software for the minicalorimeter of the AGILE mission. Proc. of SPIE, 5488 (2004)
Bulgarelli, A., Gianotti, F., et al.: The AIV quick look and health monitoring system of the AGILE payload. Proc. SPIE 7011, 70113C (2008)
Bulgarelli, A., Gianotti, F., et al.: AGILE WebMon: monitoring the AGILE payload through the WEB. In: Proceedings IEEE nuclear science symposium conference, 19–25 Oct. 2008, pp 2153–2158. https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2008.4774778 (2008)
Bulgarelli, A., et al.: The AGILE silicon tracker: Pre-launch and in-flight configuration. NIM A 614, 213–226 (2010)
Bulgarelli, A., Chen, A.W., et al.: Evaluating the maximum likelihood method for detecting short-term variability of AGILE gamma-ray sources. Astron Astrophys 540, A79 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118023
Bulgarelli, A., Fioretti, V., et al.: BoGEMMS: the Bologna Geant4 multi-mission. In: Proceedings SPIE 8453, High Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy V, 845335 (25 September 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926065(2012)
Bulgarelli, A., et al.: The Agile alert system for gamma-ray transients. ApJ 781, 19 (2014)
Bulgarelli, A., Fioretti, V., Parmiggiani, N., et al.: Second AGILE catalogue of gamma-ray sources. Astron Astrophys 627, A13–36 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201834143
Cattaneo, P.W., et al.: First results about on-ground calibration of the silicon tracker for the AGILE satellite. NIMA 630, 251–257 (2011)
CCSDS, Packet Telemetry - CCSDS 102.0-B-5 November 2000, https://public.ccsds.org/Pubs/102x0b5s.pdf
Chen, A.W., Bulgarelli, A., et al.: AGILE internal report, https://agile.ssdc.asi.it/public/AGILE_SW_6.0_SourceCode/AGILE_BUILD-SCI-B25_User_Manual_V0.1.pdf (2011)
Chen, A. W., et al.: Calibration of AGILE-GRID with in-flight data and Monte Carlo simulations. A&A 558, A37 (2013)
Cocco, V., et al.: Simulation of the AGILE gamma-ray imaging detector performance: part II. NIM A 486, 623–638 (2002)
Conforti, V., et al.: The ASTRI SST-2M telescope prototype for the Cherenkov Telescope Array: camera DAQ software architecture. In: Proceedings SPIE 9152, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy III, 91522D. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2054519 (2014)
De Angelis, A., et al.: The e-ASTROGAM mission (exploring the extreme Universe with gamma rays in the MeV-GeV range). Exp. Astron. 44, 25–82 (2017)
Feroci, M., Costa, E., Soffitta, P., et al.: SuperAGILE: the hard X-ray Imager for the AGILE space mission. NIM A 581, 728 (2007)
Fioretti, V., Bulgarelli., A., et al.: Monte Carlo simulations of gamma-ray space telescopes: a BoGEMMS multi-purpose application. In: Proceedings SPIE 9144, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 91443N. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056442 (2014)
Gianotti, F., Trifoglio, M., et al.: DISCoS-detector-independent software for on-ground testing and calibration of scientific payloads using the ESA packet telemetry and telecommand standards. ADASS X. ASP Conf Ser 238, 245 (2001)
Giuliani, A., Cocco, V., Mereghetti, S., et al.: The AGILE on-board Kalman filter. NIM A 568, 692 (2006)
Górski, K.M., Hivon, E., Banday, A.J., et al.: HEALPix: a framework for high-resolution discretization and fast analysis of data distributed on the sphere. ApJ 622, 759 (2005)
Labanti, C., et al.: Design and construction of the mini-calorimeter of the AGILE satellite. NIM A 598, 470–479 (2009)
Li, T.-P., Ma, Y.-Q.: Analysis methods for results in gamma-ray astronomy. Apj 272, 317 (1983)
Longo, F., et al.: Simulation of the AGILE gamma-ray imaging detector performance: part I. NIM A 486, 610–622 (2002)
Marisaldi, M., et al.: The mini-calorimeter on-board AGILE: 18 months in orbit. Proceedings IEEE nuclear science symposium conference, 19-25 Oct. 2008, pp 757–764. https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2008.4774597 (2008)
Marisaldi, M., et al.: Gamma-ray burst detection with the AGILE mini-calorimeter. Astron Astrophys 490, 1151–1156 (2008)
Morselli, A., et al.: GAMMA-LIGHT: high-energy astrophysics above 10 MeV. Nuclear Physics B Proc. Supp. 239(240), 193 (2013)
Perotti, F., Fiorini, M., Incorvaia, S., Mattaini, E., Sant Ambrogio, E: The AGILE anticoincidence detector. NIM A 556, 228 (2006)
Pittori, C., Verrecchia, F., Chen, A.W., et al.: First AGILE catalog of high-confidence gamma-ray sources. A&A 506, 1563 (2009)
Pittori, C.: AGILE data center and AGILE science highlights. NuPhS 239, 104 (2013)
Prest, M., Barbiellini, G., Bordignon, G., et al.: The AGILE silicon tracker: an innovative gamma-ray instrument for space. NIM A 501, 280 (2003)
Sabatini, S., et al.: Episodic transient gamma-ray emission from the Microquasar Cygnus X-1. ApJ 712, L10–L15 (2010)
Tavani, M., Barbiellini, G., Argan, A., et al.: The AGILE mission. A&A 502, 995–1013 (2009)
Tavani, M., et al.: AGILE detection of enhanced gamma-ray emission from the Crab Nebula region, The Astronomerss Telegram, 2855 (2010)
Trifoglio, M., Gianotti, F., Stephen, J.B., et al.: Ground support equipment for scientific tests and calibration of the AGILE instrument. Proc SPIE 4140, 478–485 (2000)
Trifoglio, M., Bulgarelli, A., Gianotti, F., et al.: Architecture and performances of the AGILE telemetry preprocessing system (TMPPS). Proc SPIE 7011, 70113E (2008)
Trifoglio, M., et al.: Instrument workstation for the EGSE of the Near Infrared Spectro-Photometer instrument (NISP) of the EUCLID mission. In: Proc. SPIE 9904, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 990460. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234219 (2016)
Trifoglio, M., Bulgarelli, A., Gianotti, F., et al.: 7th AGILE Workshop. arXiv:1305.5389 (2013)
Vercellone, S., et al.: The Astronomers’s Telegram (1160)
Zoli, A., Bulgarelli, A., et al.: ADASS XXVI, Trieste (2016)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bulgarelli, A. The AGILE Gamma-Ray observatory: software and pipelines. Exp Astron 48, 199–231 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-019-09644-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-019-09644-w