1 1. Curriculum Vitae Institute: Max Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik Giessenbach Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany Position: Postdoctoral Scholar (from May 2007): Topic: BAT survey of AGN and X-ray properties of AGN Advisors: J. Greiner, G. Kanbach, A. Strong Office phone: +49-(0)89-30000-3858 E-mail: majello@mpe.mpg.de Homepage: www.mpe.mpg.de/~majello Born: June 14, 1976 in Palermo, Italy Citizenship: Italian Residence: via Villafranca 46, 90141, Palermo, Italy Family status: single PhD: Dr. rer. nat. at Technische Universität München (2003-2007) Dissertation: Swift/BAT studies of AGN and the Cosmic X-ray Background Exam on 25th April 2007. Note: Summa cum Laude (1.0) University: Università degli Studi di Trieste, faculty of Physics (2001-2003) Graduated 11 November 2003 with distinction (110/110) Thesis: Origin of Cosmic Rays. Capability of the AGILE experiment to distinguish the high energy emission of Supernovae remnants interacting with a molecular cloud. Supervisor: Prof. G. Barbiellini University: Università degli Studi di Palermo, faculty of Engineering (1995-2001): Graduated 21 July 2001 with distinction (110/110) Thesis: Thermal control analysis of the EUSO space mission Supervisor: Prof. L. Scarsi High School: Liceo Classico G. Garibaldi, Palermo, Italy (1990-1995) Graduated 11 July 1995 with 56/60 Languages: Italian native, English fluent: Toefl 573/600, Spanish basic German learning Computer skills: Fortran, parallel C/C++/Python, Root, IDL, HEASOFT Experience: 10/2005-03/2006 Teaching assistant at the Engineering Faculty Technische Universität München, Germany 2005 winter semester: Laboratory on Light Polarization 01/2001-06/2001 Internship at ALENIA SPAZIO, Torino, Italy 07/2002-08/2002 Volunteer in a refugee camp in Albania Activities: Travelling, rowing, windsurfing, jogging, flamenco, diving
2. Results obtained EUSO: In my Engineering master thesis I designed the thermal control system of the EUSO space project. I used a suite of programs for thermal analysis to simulate the worst thermal conditions in the operational life of the instrument. Taking into account all the external constraints, I designed a passive thermal control system which maintained the payload in a safe range of temperatures without requiring external power. AGILE: In my Physics master thesis I discussed the possibility to reveal traces of cosmic ray interactions in Supernova Remnants interacting with molecular clouds. I simulated the most likely scenarios, showing that AGILE will be able to easily detect and locate the SNR-cloud interactions, but in the case a pulsar is also emitting in gamma-rays, it will hardly distinguish the different sources. In order to address the presence of hadrons in the site of interaction, the π 0 -bump should be detected. Given the limited energy capabilities of AGILE, I implemented an energy reconstruction algorithm for the Silicon tracker. I took part in the calibration of the AGILE tracker and I tested the algorithm on both calibration and simulated data. I showed that such algorithm allows satisfactory energy reconstruction at low energies. MEGA: I spent the first year of my PhD calibrating the AntiCoincidence System of the MEGA(Medium Energy Gamma-ray telescope) prototype. Using radioactive sources I tested the spatial uniformity of the response and I determined the threshold in energy. Using a muon telescope I assessed also the expected leakage rates. The MEGA project was discontinued in Nov. 2004 by a management decision of the MPE directorate, based on budget and programmatic considerations. Swift/BAT: My PhD thesis focused on Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and their contribution to Cosmic X-ray background. In the thesis I developed a new imaging algorithm which when applied to coded-mask detectors can provide greater sensitivity. Its application to the Swift/BAT hard X-ray survey produced one of the most sensitive survey to date. Indeed a large number of new hard X-ray sources has been detected being most of them AGN. These sources have been used to study the properties of the local AGN and to understand their contribution to the X-
ray background. The main results of this survey are summarized in a set of 3 papers. I also derived a new measurement of the X-ray background using Swift/BAT. This measurement relies on the Earth occultation method and on an Earth emission model I developed. The two results (which will soon be published), the spectra of the X-ray background and of the Earth albedo, are so far the most accurate ones.
3. Research Plans General statement: My research projects cover diverse aspects of astrophysics. In particular, I am interested in the studies of Active Galactic Nuclei and of the Cosmic X-ray background. The current goal of my studies is to constrain the fraction of Compton-thick AGN present in the local Universe. Several accepted proposals (in the Optical, X-ray and gamma-ray domains) aim at detecting such objects and at studying their contribution to the X-ray background. I developed the capabilities of working with most of the current high-energy experiments (XTE, XMM, Swift, INTEGRAL) and analyzing Optical spectroscopy data. I have also acquired a good instrumental knowledge actively participating in the calibration of two different instruments for gamma-ray astrophysics (AGILE and MEGA). I am a highly motivated and independent person who knows both how to work autonomously and in a team. I like to widen my scientific interests and to share results of my work with the members of the group where I work. In the course of optical follow-up observations of known or newly discovered high-energy sources, e.g. from the current and near future X- and gamma-ray observatories, I could envisage the use of specialized equipment at available telescopes. One such detector could be the OPTIMA system (MPE) for high-time resolution optical photometry and polarimetry. Another one could be the GROND camera (MPE) for simultaneous multi-band photometry. This type of work lends itself well to the involvement of students at various levels of education. I plan to very actively join research projects that are being conducted at my future home institution and I am confident that my different research experiences will be helpful. In addition I plan to keep my existing collaborations with both the BAT-team (of which I am a member) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the gamma-ray group at the Max Planck Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik. I also plan to do research alone on subjects of my special interest.
4. Publication list Refereed journals MEGA: a medium-energy gamma-ray astronomy mission Concept by Bloser, P. F., et al., SPIE 2005, 5898, 34 Development and calibration of the tracking Compton/Pair telescope MEGA by Kanbach G., et al., NIMPA 2005, 541, 310 MEGA - Medium Energy Gamma-ray Astronomy Mission by Ryan J.M., et al, AAS 2004, 205 XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL observations of the black Hole candidate XTE J1718-330 by Sala G. et al., 2007 BAT X-ray Survey III: X-ray Spectra and Statistical Properties by Ajello M. et al. 2007, in press to ApJ Forthcoming papers BAT X-ray Survey I: Methodology and X-ray Identification by Ajello M. et al., 2007, in press to ApJ BAT X-ray Survey II: Optical follow-up of Unidentified Source by Rau A. et al., 2007, submitted to A&A INTEGRAL Observations of the Blazar Mrk 421 in Outburst by Licht G., 2007, to be submitted to A&A Papers in preparation ATel Swift/BAT measurement of the X-ray Background and Earth Albedo Ajello M. et al., to be submitted 1A 0535+262 in Outburst by Tueller J., Ajello M., et al., The Astronomer's Telegram, #504 SWIFT/BAT detections of Hard X-Ray Sources: IV, by Ajello M., et el., The Astronomer s Telegram #697 Swift/BAT detection of SWIFTJ1009.3-4250: a probable Compton-thick object by Ajello M., et al., 2006, Atel 864 GCN GRB Coordinates Network Circulars related to Swift detected GRBs: 4260, 4205, 4109, 3993, 3887, 3832, 3814,
2620, 3602, 3576, 3316 Talks at conferences Japanese-German workshop 2006, Swift workshop 2007, MPE science highlight talk 2007, Rodos conference 2007
5. Leading proposals INTEGRAL: A high-energy study of the enigmatic Blazar PKS 0537-286 This 1Ms observation studies the properties of the most luminous gamma-loud blazar. The Ultra-deep INTEGRAL legacy hard X-ray survey The goal of this key-programme (6 Ms) observation is to produce the most sensitive hard X-ray survey to date thus allowing to determine the properties of local AGN XMM: ESO: XMM-Newton observations of candidate Swift/BAT Compton-thick AGN Goal of these observations is to get accurate X-ray spectra of new candidate Compton-thick sources An all-sky survey at hard X-rays for absorbed type-2 AGN 6 nights at NTT for optical spectroscopy of new BAT X-ray sources