The Lynx X-Ray Observatory: Concept Study Overview and Status

Gaskin, Jessica A ; Dominguez, Alexandra ; Gelmis, Karen ; Mulqueen, John (Jack) ; Swartz, Douglas ; McCarley, Kevin ; Özel, Feryal ; Vikhlinin, Alexey ; Schwartz, Daniel ; Tananbaum, Harvey(Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA, United States)

关键词: BLACK HOLES (ASTRONOMY);    X RAYS;    OBSERVATORIES;   

RP-ID  :  MSFC-E-DAA-TN58016

学科分类：天体物理学

美国|英语

来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

Lynx, one of four strategic mission concepts under study for the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey, will provide leaps in capability over previous and planned X-ray missions, and will provide synergistic observations in the 2030s to a multitude of space- and ground-based observatories across all wavelengths. Lynx will have orders of magnitude improvement in sensitivity, on-axis sub-arcsecond imaging with arcsecond angular resolution over a large field of view, and high-resolution spectroscopy for point-like and extended sources. The Lynx architecture enables a broad range of unique and compelling science, to be carried out mainly through a General Observer Program. This Program is envisioned to include detecting the very first supermassive black holes, revealing the high-energy drivers of galaxy and structure formation, characterizing the mechanisms that govern stellar activity - including effects on planet habitability, and exploring the highest redshift galaxy clusters. An overview and status of the Lynx concept are summarized.