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The High Throughput X-ray Spectroscopy (HTXS) MissionThe HTXS mission concept combines large effective area (approximately 15,000 sq cm at 1 keV), high spectral resolution (E/Delta(E) approximately 300-3000), and broad energy bandpass (0.25-40 keV and possibly up to 100 keV) by using replicated optics together with a complement of spectroscopic instrumentation including reflection gratings readout by charge-coupled device detectors (CCDs), quantum micro-calorimeters, and cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) or comparable high energy detectors. An essential feature of this concept involves minimization of cost (approximately $350M for development and approximately $500-600M including launches) and risk by building six identical modest satellites to achieve the large area. Current mission and technology studies are targeted towards a new start in the 2002 timeframe, with first launch around 2005-2006. The HTXS mission represents a major advance, providing as much as a factor of 100 increase in sensitivity over currently planned high resolution X ray spectroscopy missions. HTXS will mark the start of a new era when high quality X ray spectra will be obtained for all classes of X ray sources, over a wide range of luminosity and distance. With its increased capabilities, HTXS will address many fundamental astrophysics questions such as the origin and distribution of the elements from carbon to zinc, the formation and evolution of clusters of galaxies, the validity of general relativity in the strong gravity limit, the evolution of supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei, the details of supernova explosions and their aftermath, and the mechanisms involved in the heating of stellar coronae and driving of stellar winds.
Document ID
19990042238
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
White, N. E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Tananbaum, H.
(Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Cambridge, MA United States)
Kahn, S. M.
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: The Next Generation of X-Ray Observatories
Subject Category
Astronomy
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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