Abstract
Exploration of the X-ray sky has established X-ray astronomy as a
fundamental astrophysical discipline. While our knowledge of the sky below
10 keV has increased dramatically (∼8 orders of magnitude) by use of grazing
incidence optics, we still await a similar improvement above 10 keV, where to
date only collimated instruments have been used. Also ripe for exploration is
the field of X-ray polarimetry, an unused fundamental tool to understand the
physics and morphology of X-ray sources. Here we present a novel mission,
the New Hard X-ray Mission (NHXM) that brings together for the first time
simultaneous high-sensitivity, hard-X-ray imaging, broadband spectroscopy
and polarimetry. NHXM will perform groundbreaking science in key scientific
areas, including: black hole cosmic evolution, census and accretion physics;
acceleration mechanism and non-thermal emission; physics of matter under
extreme conditions. NHXM is designed specifically to address these topics via:
broad 0.5–80 (120) keV band for imaging and spectroscopy; 20 arcsec (15 goal)
Half Energy Width (HEW) angular resolution at 30 keV; sensitivity limits
more than 3 orders of magnitude better than those available in present day
instruments; broadband (2–35 keV) imaging polarimetry. In addition, NHXM
has the ability to locate and actively monitor sources in different states of
activity and to repoint within 1 to 2 h. This mission has been proposed to
ESA in response to the Cosmic Vision M3 call. Its satellite configuration and
payload subsystems were studied as part of previous national efforts permitting
us to design a mature configuration that is compatible with a VEGA launch
already by 2020.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Experimental Astronomy |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 463-488 |
Number of pages | 26 |
ISSN | 0922-6435 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |