AstROnomy Upcoming missions Vicky Kaspi McGill University Lorne Trottier Chair in Astrophysics and Cosmology Overview Introduction to Xray astronomy NuSTAR Astro H NICER Other missions ID: 339654
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Slide1
X-ray AstROnomy: Upcoming missions
Vicky Kaspi
McGill University
Lorne
Trottier
Chair in Astrophysics and CosmologySlide2
Overview
Introduction to X-ray astronomy
NuSTAR
Astro
-H
NICER
Other missionsSlide3
Astronomy with X-rays
The most energetic, violent objects in the Universe produce X-rays
Black
holes
, n
eutron starsActive galaxies, galaxy clustersThe X-ray sky highly volatile: objects explode, appear/disappear dailyExtremes of:GravityDensityTemperatureMagnetic field
Optical sky: calm, unchanging
Magnetic Explosions on a Neutron Star:
Less calm, highly variableSlide4
X-ray Astronomy: Space-basedSlide5
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 TelescopeSlide6
Focusing X-raysSlide7
Currently Flying X-ray Telescopes
XMM-Newton
Chandra
MAXI
Suzaku
Swift
NuSTARSlide8
X-ray Sources
Stellar mass black holes and neutron star accreting from companion stars
Isolated neutron stars like pulsars &
magnetars
Supernova remnants
Active galactic nucleiGalaxy clustersNext: High Energy GrooveNASA Outreach movie: made & performed by astronomers, factually accurate, artist & real data combined, clearly illustrates
changing X-ray sky, note McGill’s contribution!Slide9
High Energy GrooveSlide10
Currently Flying X-ray Telescopes
XMM-Newton
Chandra
MAXI
Suzaku
Swift
NuSTAR
Launched June 2012Slide11Slide12
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 telescopes10-m focal length: long!How to launch??
Yesterday
TodaySlide13
NuSTAR: Newest X-ray Telescope
NuSTAR
in Space
NuSTAR
Pegasus Launch
For more on
NuSTAR
& its science goals
see poster by Dr. Hongjun AnSlide14
NuSTAR First Light: Cyg
X-1Slide15
Astro-H: Launch 2015
Next major X-ray mission
Joint JAXA/NASA with international involvement including Canadian Space Agency
Complex mission with
4 different instrumentsSlide16
Astro-H: Broad energy response
Multiple instruments:
Soft X-ray Spectrometer
0.3-12
keV
, 1.7’ angular resolution, 7 eV@ 6 keVHard X-ray Imagers5-80 keV, 1.7’ angular resolution, 1.5 keV @ 60
keVSoft X-ray Imager0.4-12 keV
, 1.7’ angular resolutionSoft Gamma-Ray Detector40-600 keV, non-imaging
All instruments co-aligned:
observers get data from all detectors.Slide17
Astro
-H
Takahashi et al. 2010Slide18
Astro-H Canadian Involvement
Top recommendation
of CSA-sponsored report
Ottawa-based NEPTEC building laser metrology system
CSA cost $6M
Canadians leadingmultiple SWGsCanadians have access to PV data and proposefor Japanese timeSlide19
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 UniverseMotion of matter near black holesShock acceleration, jetsNeutron star spectra, binariesSlide20
NEW! NASA’s NICER
Neutron Star Internal Composition Explorer
Approved for
construction
Apr 5!
To be installed on International Space StationExpected launch December 2016Deputy PI Z. Arzoumanian,McGill Physics Alum!
FRAM = Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism
ELC =
ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (power, telemetry)
Gendreau
et al. 2012
International Space StationSlide21
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-NewtonNICER Science Goals
Gendreau
et al. 2012Slide22
NICER: Combined Capability
Unique capability
combination:
Sensitivity
Time resolution
Energy resolutionWill allow detailedobservations ofemission fromneutron stars’ surfacesconstraints on unknown properties ofultradense matter
Gendreau
et al. 2012Slide23
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 bandHMXT – 1st Chinese astronomy satellite, non-imaging 20-200 keV; launch 2014-2016Envisioned:ATHENA
– ESA Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics; formerly Constellation-X, Xeus
, IXOhigh throughput (3 m2) X-ray spectroscopy + WFILOFT
– ESA Large Observatory for X-ray TimingLAD 12 m2 for timing
; WFM large FOV
Upcoming
& Envisioned
X
-ray Missions
ATHENA
LOFT
eRosita
ASTROSATSlide24
Summary
Near-term X-ray astronomy
healthy
Multiple major missions flying, several
interesting upcoming
missions plannedLong-term situation unclear:2 major ESA concepts being promotedGood news: CSA already cooperates with ESABad news: CSA presently in state of fluxNo major NASA X-ray mission under developmentUS budgetary constraints
problematicNASA “Physics of the Cosmos” Program charged with identifying next X-ray advance…Stay tuned!