x-ray astronomy : upcoming missions
DESCRIPTION
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. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
X-RAY ASTRONOMY: UPCOMING MISSIONS
Vicky KaspiMcGill UniversityLorne Trottier Chair in Astrophysics and Cosmology
Overview
Introduction to X-ray astronomy NuSTAR Astro-H NICER Other missions
Astronomy with X-rays 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
Optical sky: calm, unchanging
Magnetic Explosions on a Neutron Star:Less calm, highly variable
X-ray Astronomy: Space-based
X-ray Telescopes: Space-Based Must be in space
as X-rays cannot penetrate atmosphere
X-rays hard to focus!
Need special telescope geometries, materials
Chandra X-ray Telescope
Focusing X-rays
Currently Flying X-ray Telescopes
XMM-Newton Chandra
MAXI
Suzaku Swift
NuSTAR
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 clustersNext: 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!
High Energy Groove
Currently Flying X-ray Telescopes
XMM-Newton Chandra
MAXI
Suzaku Swift
NuSTARLaunched June 2012
NASA’s NuSTAR: The Future is Now! Launched June 14,
2012 First focusing “hard”
X-ray telescope “hard” = high-energy
5-80 keV ~100X more
sensitive than previous hard X-ray telescopes
10-m focal length: long! How to launch??
Yesterday
Today
NuSTAR: Newest X-ray Telescope
NuSTAR in Space NuSTAR Pegasus Launch
For more on NuSTAR & its science goals
see poster by Dr. Hongjun An
NuSTAR First Light: Cyg X-1
Astro-H: Launch 2015 Next major X-ray
mission Joint JAXA/NASA
with international involvement including Canadian Space Agency
Complex mission with4 different instruments
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-imagingAll instruments co-aligned:
observers get data from all detectors.
Astro-H
Takahashi et al. 2010
Astro-H Canadian Involvement Top recommendation
of CSA-sponsored report
Ottawa-based NEPTEC building laser metrology system
CSA cost $6M Canadians leading
multiple SWGs Canadians have access
to PV data and proposefor Japanese time
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
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!
FRAM = Flight Releasable Attachment MechanismELC = ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (power, telemetry)
Gendreau et al. 2012
International Space Station
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
NICER Science Goals
Gendreau et al. 2012
NICER: Combined Capability Unique capability
combination: Sensitivity Time resolution Energy resolution
Will allow detailedobservations ofemission fromneutron stars’ surfaces
constraints on unknown properties ofultradense matter
Gendreau et al. 2012
Upcoming: ASTROSAT – Indian mission with significant CSA
involvement; 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
Upcoming & Envisioned X-ray Missions
ATHENA
LOFT
eRosita
ASTROSAT
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!