Lucio Chiappetti

• Biographic data
• Research
  • 1979-1982
  • 1982-1985
  • 1985-2021 and beyond
• Miscellanea
• Publication List
• Statistics of my activities

Biographic data

• Born in Milano (Italy) on 13 march 1955.

• Graduated cum laude in Physics at the State University of Milan on 23 february 1979 with the thesis subject "Observations of X-ray sources (Cyg X-1,AM Her and SMC X-2) in the UV band"

• Since september 1979 to august 1980 visiting fellow at the X-ray astronomy group of University College London - Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) - Hombury St Mary (UK)

• Since september 1980 to august 1981 research fellow at the Section of Relativistic Astrophysics of the Institute of Physics of the University of Milan

• Since september 1981 to june 1982 again visiting at MSSL

• Since june 1982 research staff member (Ricercatore) at Istituto di Fisica Cosmica e Tecnologie Relative (IFCTR) in Milan (since 2002 Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica - Sezione di Milano "G.Occhialini" and since 2005 IASF Milano, a structure of INAF)

• Since july 1982 to january 1985, on leave of absence at the European Space Agency Operation Centre (ESOC), Darmstadt (Germany) as Duty Scientist for the EXOSAT satellite

• Retroactive since 2006, senior staff member (Primo Ricercatore) at INAF IASF Milano

Research

1979-1982

While at Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) I worked on the analysis and intepretation of data taken with the collimated proportional counter (experiment C) on board the X-ray astronomy satellite Ariel 5. I continued working on binary sources (Cyg X-1, Cyg X-2) and on a transient survey and a spectral catalogue of the entire mission.

While at Milan University, I continued to collaborate with MSSL, and went back to the analysis of low dispersion UV (IUE) spectra of cataclismic variables (MV Lyr), low mass X-ray binary sources (LMXRB: Cyg X-2) and also AGNs (active galactic nuclei).

In support to the IUE data analysis I prepared a first software system, which has undergone many changes, but is still used now at IFCTR.

1982-1985

I conducted several Exosat observations of AGNs (Seyfert galaxies, BL LAC objects and QSOs) and binary galactic sources (cataclismic variables, LMXRB and black hole candidates) within research programs of IFCTR, of the Exosat Observatory and in collaboration with other European groups.

I also designed the earliest version of the software for the Exosat Result Data Base.

1985-2021 and beyond

I continued for a long time with data analysis work of multifrequency observations (e.g. Exosat, IUE and ground-based) in the fields of AGNs and binary galactic sources, with particular regard to the study of spectral properties and periodic and aperiodic variability.

Moreover my previous experience has caused an ever growing involvement in the support to the space projects of IFCTR, with particular regard to data analysis software, ground operations, and on-board operative modes. I have been involved primarily in the following projects :

• ZEBRA/Gamtel (balloon gamma-ray imaging and spectroscopy)
  software to support calibrations and launch campaign.

• SAX (X-ray Astronomy Satellite of the Italian Space Agency)
  I participated to the SAX Ground Segment Working Group, to the definition of on-board operative modes, to the SAX Observation Program WG (compact galactic sources subgroup), to the SAX Data Analysis Working Group) (of which I've been convenor in 1990). I gave a substantial contribution to the definition and development of the data analysis software XAS, I participated to the analysis of the ground calibrations, of the in-flight calibrations (Science Verification Phase), and I hope to have finally found the time to analyse my own data.

• EPIC (European Photon Imaging Camera, one of the experiments on board the X-ray Astronomy ESA satellite XMM)
  I am Co-Investigator and have been member of the EPIC System Team as System Scientist, keeping contact with the Science Operation Centre. and convenor of some ad-hoc working groups, worked on the definition of the operating modes, and engaged in observation simulations. I plan to analyse some data too, particularly in the context of the joint XMM-VIRMOS LSS survey.

• SUV (Spectrum UV, an ultraviolet spectroscopy satellite in collaboration with institutes and space agencies of the former Soviet Union)
  I participated to the definition of the italian participation for the ground segment and science operations, and to other support activities.

• I have supported the VIRMOS project for a multi-object spectrometer for the ESO VLT telescope. In particularly I have followed the software and operations aspects of the VIRMOS MMU.

• I have been then engaged in the Phase A study for OPTIMOS-DIORAMAS, a similar but larger multi-object spectrograph for the ESO E-ELT.

• I have been engaged from the origin as catalogue administrator and software designer to support the master catalogue and database for the XMM based LSS survey, the pipeline for the XMDS data reduction and the related identification work, and I am currently still actively engaged with similar role for the database of the successor XXL survey.

Last but not least, I have been following for about three decades our IFCTR computer system, with particular regard to the installation and maintenance of astronomical software and to the network management, for my institute and for INAF.

I am author of more than 100,000 lines of (mainly in Fortran) software, for IUE, Exosat, SAX, EPIC, and VIRMOS, and also for graphics, and other general purpose software (see an account here).

Since 1 Dec 2003 I am a member of the IAU FITS Working Group (vice-chairman since 21 Jul 2009; chairman since 1 Sep 2012 to 2015, then chairman of the successor DRWG for 2015-2018 and plan to chair a re-instated FITS WG since 2021) and since 15 Sep 2006 individual member of the IAU.

I will be put to quiescence in August 2021 and plan to continue my activities as an INAF Associate.

Miscellanea

I am fond of history, with particular regard to local history of Milan. I am a reader of traditional science fiction.

I am NOT a supporter of Berlusconi.

Modified on 01 Apr 2021 17:32:59 CEST by L.Chiappetti