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X-ray AstROnomy : Upcoming missions

Vicky Kaspi McGill University Lorne Trottier Chair in Astrophysics and Cosmology. X-ray AstROnomy : Upcoming missions. Overview. Introduction to X-ray astronomy NuSTAR Astro -H NICER Other missions. Astronomy with X-rays. Optical sky: calm, unchanging.

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X-ray AstROnomy : Upcoming missions

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  1. Vicky Kaspi McGill University Lorne TrottierChair in Astrophysics and Cosmology X-ray AstROnomy: Upcoming missions

  2. Overview • Introduction to X-ray astronomy • NuSTAR • Astro-H • NICER • Other missions

  3. Astronomy with X-rays Optical sky: calm, unchanging • The most energetic, violent objects in the Universe produce X-rays • Black holes, neutron stars • Active galaxies, galaxy clusters • The X-ray sky highly volatile: objects explode, appear/disappear daily • Extremes of: • Gravity • Density • Temperature • Magnetic field Magnetic Explosions on a Neutron Star:Less calm, highly variable

  4. X-ray Astronomy: Space-based

  5. X-ray Telescopes: Space-Based • Must be in spaceas X-rays cannot penetrate atmosphere • X-rays hard to focus! • Need special telescope geometries, materials Chandra X-ray Telescope

  6. Focusing X-rays

  7. Currently Flying X-ray Telescopes XMM-Newton Chandra MAXI NuSTAR Swift Suzaku

  8. X-ray Sources • Stellar mass black holes and neutron star accreting from companion stars • Isolated neutron stars like pulsars & magnetars • Supernova remnants • Active galactic nuclei • Galaxy clusters Next: High Energy Groove NASA Outreach movie: made & performed by astronomers, factually accurate, artist & real data combined, clearly illustrates changing X-ray sky, note McGill’s contribution!

  9. High Energy Groove

  10. Currently Flying X-ray Telescopes XMM-Newton Chandra MAXI NuSTAR Launched June 2012 Swift Suzaku

  11. NASA’s NuSTAR: The Future is Now! • Launched June 14, 2012 • First focusing “hard” X-ray telescope • “hard” = high-energy5-80 keV • ~100X more sensitive than previous hard X-ray telescopes • 10-m focal length: long! • How to launch?? Yesterday Today

  12. NuSTAR: Newest X-ray Telescope NuSTAR in Space NuSTAR Pegasus Launch For more on NuSTAR & its science goals see poster by Dr. Hongjun An

  13. NuSTAR First Light: Cyg X-1

  14. Astro-H: Launch 2015 • Next major X-ray mission • Joint JAXA/NASA with international involvement including Canadian Space Agency • Complex mission with4 different instruments

  15. Astro-H: Broad energy response • Multiple instruments: • Soft X-ray Spectrometer • 0.3-12 keV, 1.7’ angular resolution, 7 eV@ 6 keV • Hard X-ray Imagers • 5-80 keV, 1.7’ angular resolution, 1.5 keV @ 60 keV • Soft X-ray Imager • 0.4-12 keV, 1.7’ angular resolution • Soft Gamma-Ray Detector • 40-600 keV, non-imaging All instruments co-aligned: observers get data from all detectors.

  16. Astro-H Takahashi et al. 2010

  17. Astro-H Canadian Involvement • Top recommendationof CSA-sponsored report • Ottawa-based NEPTEC building laser metrology system • CSA cost $6M • Canadians leadingmultiple SWGs • Canadians have access to PV data and proposefor Japanese time

  18. Astro-H Science Goals • Large Scale Structure in the Universe, Dark Matter & Dark Energy • Galaxy Cluster dynamics, evolution • Supermassive black hole evolution • Extreme Conditions in the Universe • Motion of matter near black holes • Shock acceleration, jets • Neutron star spectra, binaries

  19. NEW! NASA’s NICER • Neutron Star Internal Composition Explorer • Approved for construction Apr 5! • To be installed on International Space Station • Expected launch December 2016 • Deputy PI Z. Arzoumanian,McGill Physics Alum! International Space Station FRAM = Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism ELC = ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (power, telemetry) Gendreau et al. 2012

  20. NICER Science Goals Gendreau et al. 2012 Low energy (0.2-12 keV) X-ray mission tailored for understanding neutron star structure, composition Factor of ~2 more sensitive than current most sensitive XMM-Newton

  21. NICER: Combined Capability • Unique capabilitycombination: • Sensitivity • Time resolution • Energy resolution • Will allow detailedobservations ofemission fromneutron stars’ surfaces • constraints on unknown properties ofultradense matter Gendreau et al. 2012

  22. Upcoming & Envisioned X-ray Missions ASTROSAT eRosita ATHENA • Upcoming: • ASTROSAT – Indian mission with significant CSAinvolvement; 5 instruments; launch 2014? • e-ROSITA – German instrument to launch on Russian Spectrum Roentgen Gamma mission in 2014; will do all sky survey in soft X-ray band • HMXT – 1st Chinese astronomy satellite, non-imaging 20-200 keV; launch 2014-2016 • Envisioned: • ATHENA – ESA Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics; formerly Constellation-X, Xeus, IXO • high throughput (3 m2) X-ray spectroscopy + WFI • LOFT – ESA Large Observatory for X-ray Timing • LAD 12 m2 for timing; WFM large FOV LOFT

  23. Summary • Near-term X-ray astronomy healthy • Multiple major missions flying, several interesting upcoming missions planned • Long-term situation unclear: • 2 major ESA concepts being promoted • Good news: CSA already cooperates with ESA • Bad news: CSA presently in state of flux • No major NASA X-ray mission under development • US budgetary constraints problematic • NASA “Physics of the Cosmos” Program charged with identifying next X-ray advance… • Stay tuned!

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