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 clusters

Next: 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!

High Energy Groove

Currently Flying X-ray Telescopes

XMM-Newton Chandra

MAXI

Suzaku Swift

NuSTAR

Launched 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!