XQCSAT: A High-Resolution Spectroscopic Study of Hot Gas in the Halo and Interstellar Medium
Abstract
We have completed a design feasibility study for a SmallSat carrying an array of microcalorimeter detectors optimized for the 100 - 1000 eV spectral range. It will have an energy resolution 6 eV and a throughput of 100 cm2 deg2, compared to 0.09 cm2 deg2 for XRISM/XARM/Hitomi and 50 cm2 deg2 for Athena. An instrument can be constructed that fits within the size/mass/cost envelope of a SmallSat and has a lifetime up to 60 days. This is short for a satellite, but even a 14-day science mission is the equivalent of 3,629 sounding rocket flights, which is the only alternative for obtaining these data until the Athena era begins in 2031+. We show some of the science questions that can be addressed by this mission.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #234
- Pub Date:
- June 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AAS...23410805M