Daksha Project

Leading Institutions:

• IIT Bombay
• Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)
• Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
• Raman Research Institute (RRI)

Project Goals: The Daksha project aims to advance our understanding of high-energy astrophysical phenomena through the deployment of two high-energy space telescopes. These telescopes will be equipped with advanced sensors capable of detecting a broad range of energy bands.

Objectives:

1. Detect and Study Gravitational Wave Sources:
   • Identify, localize, and analyze high-energy counterparts to gravitational wave sources. This includes understanding the emissions from events such as neutron star mergers.
2. Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs):
   • Achieve high-sensitivity detection and detailed studies of Gamma Ray Bursts. GRBs are intense, short-lived bursts of gamma-ray radiation, representing the most energetic form of electromagnetic light.

Significance of the Project:

1. Enhanced Coverage:
   • The two telescopes will be positioned on opposite sides of Earth, providing a more comprehensive observation coverage compared to current missions.
2. Source Localization:
   • Improve the ability to localize sources of intense gravitational waves, such as those resulting from neutron star mergers.
3. Primordial Black Holes (PBHs):
   • Explore the mass window of Primordial Black Holes. PBHs are hypothesized to have formed in the early universe, and their study could offer insights into the universe's infancy.

Additional Notes:

• Neutron Stars: These are remnants of massive stars that have exhausted their nuclear fuel and undergone collapse, leading to extremely dense objects.
• Primordial Black Holes (PBHs): These are theoretical black holes that could have formed due to density fluctuations in the early universe, potentially offering clues about conditions shortly after the Big Bang.