1. Vicky Kaspi McGill University Lorne Trottier Chair in Astrophysics and Cosmology

2. Overview  Introduction to X-ray astronomy  NuSTAR  Astro-H  NICER  Other missions

3. Astronomy with X-rays  The most energetic, violent objects in the Universe produce X-rays  Black holes, neutron stars  Active galaxies, galaxy clusters  The X-ray sky highly volatile: objects explode, appear/disappear daily  Extremes of:  Gravity  Density  Temperature  Magnetic field Optical sky: calm, unchanging Magnetic Explosions on a Neutron Star: Less calm, highly variable

4. X-ray Astronomy: Space-based

5. X-ray Telescopes: Space-Based  Must be in space as X-rays cannot penetrate atmosphere  X-rays hard to focus!  Need special telescope geometries, materials Chandra X-ray Telescope

6. Focusing X-rays

7. Currently Flying X-ray Telescopes XMM-NewtonChandra MAXI Suzaku Swift NuSTAR

8. X-ray Sources  Stellar mass black holes and neutron star accreting from companion stars  Isolated neutron stars like pulsars & magnetars  Supernova remnants  Active galactic nuclei  Galaxy clusters Next: High Energy Groove NASA Outreach movie: made & performed by astronomers, factually accurate, artist & real data combined, clearly illustrates changing X-ray sky, note McGill’s contribution!

9. High Energy Groove

10. Currently Flying X-ray Telescopes XMM-NewtonChandra MAXI Suzaku Swift NuSTAR Launched June 2012

12. NASA’s NuSTAR: The Future is Now!  Launched June 14, 2012  First focusing “hard” X- ray telescope  “hard” = high-energy 5-80 keV  ~100X more sensitive than previous hard X-ray telescopes  10-m focal length: long!  How to launch?? Yesterday Today

13. NuSTAR: Newest X-ray Telescope  NuSTAR in Space  NuSTAR Pegasus Launch For more on NuSTAR & its science goals see poster by Dr. Hongjun An

14. NuSTAR First Light: Cyg X-1

15. Astro-H: Launch 2015  Next major X-ray mission  Joint JAXA/NASA with international involvement including Canadian Space Agency  Complex mission with 4 different instruments

16. Astro-H: Broad energy response  Multiple instruments:  Soft X-ray Spectrometer  0.3-12 keV, 1.7’ angular resolution, 7 eV@ 6 keV  Hard X-ray Imagers  5-80 keV, 1.7’ angular resolution, 1.5 keV @ 60 keV  Soft X-ray Imager  0.4-12 keV, 1.7’ angular resolution  Soft Gamma-Ray Detector  40-600 keV, non-imaging All instruments co-aligned: observers get data from all detectors.

17. Astro-H Takahashi et al. 2010

18. Astro-H Canadian Involvement  Top recommendation of CSA-sponsored report  Ottawa-based NEPTEC building laser metrology system  CSA cost $6M  Canadians leading multiple SWGs  Canadians have access to PV data and propose for Japanese time

19. Astro-H Science Goals  Large Scale Structure in the Universe, Dark Matter & Dark Energy  Galaxy Cluster dynamics, evolution  Supermassive black hole evolution  Extreme Conditions in the Universe  Motion of matter near black holes  Shock acceleration, jets  Neutron star spectra, binaries

20. NEW! NASA’s NICER  Neutron Star Internal Composition Explorer  Approved for construction Apr 5!  To be installed on International Space Station  Expected launch December 2016  Deputy PI Z. Arzoumanian, McGill Physics Alum! FRAM = Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism ELC = ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (power, telemetry) Gendreau et al. 2012 International Space Station

21.  Low energy (0.2-12 keV) X-ray mission tailored for understanding neutron star structure, composition  Factor of ~2 more sensitive than current most sensitive XMM-Newton NICER Science Goals Gendreau et al. 2012

22. NICER: Combined Capability  Unique capability combination:  Sensitivity  Time resolution  Energy resolution  Will allow detailed observations of emission from neutron stars’ surfaces  constraints on unknown properties of ultradense matter Gendreau et al. 2012

23.  Upcoming:  ASTROSAT – Indian mission with significant CSA involvement; 5 instruments; launch 2014?  e-ROSITA – German instrument to launch on Russian Spectrum Roentgen Gamma mission in 2014; will do all sky survey in soft X-ray band  HMXT – 1 st Chinese astronomy satellite, non-imaging 20-200 keV; launch 2014-2016  Envisioned:  ATHENA – ESA Advanced Telescope for High-Energy Astrophysics; formerly Constellation-X, Xeus, IXO  high throughput (3 m 2 ) X-ray spectroscopy + WFI  LOFT – ESA Large Observatory for X-ray Timing  LAD 12 m 2 for timing ; WFM large FOV Upcoming & Envisioned X-ray Missions ATHENA LOFT eRosita ASTROSAT

24. Summary  Near-term X-ray astronomy healthy  Multiple major missions flying, several interesting upcoming missions planned  Long-term situation unclear:  2 major ESA concepts being promoted  Good news: CSA already cooperates with ESA  Bad news: CSA presently in state of flux  No major NASA X-ray mission under development  US budgetary constraints problematic  NASA “Physics of the Cosmos” Program charged with identifying next X-ray advance…  Stay tuned!