An x-ray interferometry concept for ESA's Voyage 2050 programme

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, pp. 153

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 2Å (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.

Authors 27

1. Phil Uttley

   University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

2. Roland H. den Hartog Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

3. Cosimo Bambi

   Fudan University

   Affiliation as printed

   Fudan Univ. (China)

4. D. Barret

   Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie (France)

5. S. Bianchi

   Roma Tre University

   Affiliation as printed

   Univ. degli Studi di Roma Tre (Italy)

6. Michal Bursa

   Czech Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Astronomical Institute of the CAS, v.v.i. (Czech Republic)

7. M. Cappi

   Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio, INAF (Italy)

8. P. Casella

   Astronomical Observatory of Rome · National Institute for Astrophysics

   Affiliation as printed

   INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma (Italy)

9. W. Cash

   University of Colorado Boulder

   Affiliation as printed

   Univ. of Colorado Boulder (United States)

10. E. Costantini Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

11. Thomas Dauser

    University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

12. María Díaz Trigo Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

13. Keith C. Gendreau

    Fudan University · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Fudan Univ. (China)

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

14. V. Grinberg

    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie (France)

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

15. Jan-Willem A. den Herder Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

16. Adam Ingram

    Roma Tre University · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. degli Studi di Roma Tre (Italy)

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

17. Erin Kara

    Czech Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Astronomical Institute of the CAS, v.v.i. (Czech Republic)

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

18. Sera Markoff

    University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

19. B. Mingo

    Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio, INAF (Italy)

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

20. F. Panessa

    Astronomical Observatory of Rome · National Institute for Astrophysics · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma (Italy)

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

21. Katja Poppenhaeger

    University of Colorado Boulder · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

    Univ. of Colorado Boulder (United States)

22. A. Różáńska Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

23. Jiří Svoboda

    Czech Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Astronomical Institute of the CAS, v.v.i. (Czech Republic)

24. Ralph A. M. J. Wijers

    University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

25. Richard Willingale Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands · University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

26. J. Wilms

    University of Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

27. Michael W. Wise Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)