1. Lynx X-Ray Observatory: an overview
- Author
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Douglas A. Swartz, Jonathan W. Arenberg, Mark L. Schattenburg, Jessica A. Gaskin, Harvey Tananbaum, Eric D. Schwartz, William R. Purcell, A. Falcone, Randall L. McEntaffer, Kiranmayee Kilaru, Daniel A. Schwartz, William W. Zhang, Paul B. Reid, Mark D. Freeman, M. Civitani, Kevin S. McCarley, Megan E. Eckart, Simon R. Bandler, Giovanni Pareschi, Alexey Vikhlinin, Hans Moritz Günther, Mark W. Bautz, Ralph P. Kraft, Grant R. Tremblay, Feryal Özel, A. Domínguez, John ZuHone, Enectali Figueroa-Feliciano, Keith A. Havey, Karen Gelmis, and Ralf K. Heilmann
- Subjects
Scientific instrument ,Large field of view ,Galactic astronomy ,Computer science ,Mechanical Engineering ,Space operations ,Astronomy ,Astronomy and Astrophysics ,01 natural sciences ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,010309 optics ,Space and Planetary Science ,Control and Systems Engineering ,Observatory ,0103 physical sciences ,Galaxy formation and evolution ,Angular resolution ,010303 astronomy & astrophysics ,Instrumentation ,Stellar evolution - Abstract
Lynx, one of the four strategic mission concepts under study for the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey, provides leaps in capability over previous and planned x-ray missions and provides synergistic observations in the 2030s to a multitude of space- and ground-based observatories across all wavelengths. Lynx provides orders of magnitude improvement in sensitivity, on-axis subarcsecond imaging with arcsecond angular resolution over a large field of view, and high-resolution spectroscopy for point-like and extended sources in the 0.2- to 10-keV range. 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 seed black holes, revealing the high-energy drivers of galaxy formation and evolution, and characterizing the mechanisms that govern stellar evolution and stellar ecosystems. The Lynx optics and science instruments are carefully designed to optimize the science capability and, when combined, form an exciting architecture that utilizes relatively mature technologies for a cost that is compatible with the projected NASA Astrophysics budget.
- Published
- 2019
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