The XRS Microcalorimeter

The XRS mirocalonmeter will be launched in early 2005 as part of the Astro-E2 mission. It will cover the energy band from 0.3 to 10 keV with a nearly constant energy resolution of 6.0 eV and a peak effective area of 200 cm2 at 1.5 keV. The XRS will provide unprecedented throughput and resolving power, particularly at high energies. Detailed spectral features in the Fe K region will be resolved for the first time, providing access to spectroscopic diagnostics for a wide range of astrophysical objects. In this presentation we will describe the XRS instrument, details of its spectral performance, and how it compares to the current high-resolution instruments on the Chandra and XMM-Newton Observatories.