An X-ray interferometry concept for the ESA Voyage 2050 programme

Phil Uttley, Roland den Hartog, Cosimo Bambi, Didier Barret, Stefano Bianchi, Michal Bursa, Massimo Cappi, Piergiorgio Casella, Webster Cash, Elisa Costantini, Thomas Dauser, Maria Diaz Trigo, Keith Gendreau, Victoria Grinberg, Jan Willem den Herder, Adam Ingram, Erin Kara, Sera Markoff, Beatriz Mingo, Francesca PanessaKatja Poppenhäger, Agata Różańska, Jiri Svoboda, Ralph Wijers, Richard Willingale, Jörn Wilms, Michael Wise

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

We have proposed the development of X-ray interferometry as part of ESA's Voyage 2050 programme, to reveal the universe at high energies with ultra-high spatial resolution. With only a 1 m baseline, which could be accommodated on a single spacecraft, X-ray interferometry can reach 100 µas resolution at 10 Å (1.24 keV) and exceed that of the Event Horizon Telescope at 2 Å (6.2 keV). A multi-spacecraft 'constellation' interferometer would resolve well below 1 µas. Here we focus on the single-spacecraft interferometer design and discuss the process of fringe detection and image reconstruction from multiple baselines, showing simulated images of test cases from our Voyage 2050 White Paper. We also discuss the challenges and feasibility of reaching the technical requirements needed for a single-spacecraft interferometer. Most key requirements are already feasible or within easy reach. Besides a ground-based testbed, covered elsewhere in these proceedings, the most important areas for development include large format, small-pixel X-ray detectors and pointing which is stable or can be reconstructed to tens of µas precision.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020
Subtitle of host publicationUltraviolet to Gamma Ray
EditorsJan-Willem A. den Herder, Shouleh Nikzad, Kazuhiro Nakazawa
PublisherSPIE (International Society for Optics and Phonotics)
ISBN (Electronic)9781510636750
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes
EventSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: 14 Dec 202018 Dec 2020

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11444
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period14/12/2018/12/20

Keywords

  • Interferometry
  • X-rays

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