Atmosphere-Space Interaction Monitor (ASIM) and the Modular X-ray and Gamma Sensor (MXGS)

The discovery of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs - Red Sprite, Blue Jet and Elves) in the late 80s have brought a renewed focus on electrical processes in the Earth´s atmosphere. A different type of flashes, the X- and gamma-bursts (TGFs) from the atmosp here above thunderstorms, were discovered in the 90s. Both TLEs and TGFs are related to thunderstorm systems but we do not know if TGFs are related to Sprites. We do not know how frequent TLEs and TGFs occur, or the effect on the mesosphere and the upper stratosphere. We do not know at what altitudes TGFs are produced. The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) experiment is an international collaboration led by the Danish National Space Center, proposed to fly on the International Space Station. A SIM is designed to resolve how thunderstorms, TLEs and TGFs are related, how and where they are produced etc. The ASIM project was rated "Excellent" in the extensive review process for the ESA Announcement of Opportunity In Life and Physical Sciences and Applied Research Projects. Of the 4 phases of an ESA project (A, B, C and D), ASIM has been approved by ESA for phase A and B. The Phase B will last 18 months and started March 2007. The Norwegian participation in ASIM, including the University of Bergen and the Norwegian firm, Gamma Medica Ideas, is to design and assemble the X-ray detector. The project will strengthen Norway's position in designing state-of-the-art space instrumentation and developing technology important for medical applications (Ideas Gamma Medica). One PhD stipend is needed for hardware development. Another PhD stipend is for modeling TGF and will be funded by UB. The ASIM project will partly be funded through the ESA ELIPS-2 program (and other ESA programs, e.g., PRODEX), the Resea rch Council of Norway (RCN) and the University of Bergen. The funding needed from RCN is approximately 7% of the Norwegian budget and less than one percents of the total ASIM budget