HEX-P: the High-Energy X-Ray Probe

Madsen, Kristin K ; Alexander, D ; Bachetti, M ; Ballantyne, D ; Balokovi, M ; Boggs, S ; Boorman, P ; Brandt, N W ; Brenneman, L ; Christensen, F(Institut for Rumforskning og Rumteknologi (DTU Space) HQ, Lyngby, Denmark)

关键词: ASTROPHYSICS;    BROADBAND;    BLACK HOLES (ASTRONOMY);    DUST;    ELECTRON PLASMA;    HIGH RESOLUTION;    NEUTRON STARS;    OPTICAL MATERIALS;    SPATIAL RESOLUTION;    SPECTROSCOPIC TELESCOPES;    SUPERNOVAE;    TIME MEASUREMENT;    X RAY OPTICS;    SPACE PROBES;   

RP-ID  :  GSFC-E-DAA-TN70894

学科分类：天体物理学

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来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

The High-Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P) is a next-generation high-energy X-ray observatory with broadband (2-200 keV) response that has 40 times the sensitivity of any previous mission in the 10-80 keV band and > 100 times the sensitivity of any previous mission in the 80-200 keV band. With this leap in observational capability, HEX-P will address a broad range of science objectives beyond any planned mission in the hard X-ray bandpass. HEX-P will probe the extreme environments around black holes and neutron stars, map the growth of supermassive black holes, and quantify the effect they have on their environments. HEX-P will resolve the hard X-ray emission from dense regions of our Galaxy to understand the high- energy source populations and investigate dark matter candidate particles through their decay channel signatures. If developed and launched on a timescale similar to Athena, the complementary abilities of the two missions will greatly enhance the Community’s ability to address the important science questions of the hot universe. HEX-P addresses science that is not planned by any flagship-class missions, and is beyond the capability of an Explorer-class mission.