Institute for Advanced Study Astrophysics Seminar

ABSTRACT: A successor to Chandra X-ray observatory will need to at least maintain its excellent angular resolution while massively expanding the throughput. I will discuss a concept and enabling technologies for such a mission, SMART-X, which would feature large-area, 0.5" resolution grazing incidence adjustable X-ray mirrors; high-throughput critical transmission gratings, an X-ray micro calorimeter; and CMOS-based imager in the focal plane. Science application include observations of growth of supermassive black holes since redshifts of ~10, ultra-deep surveys overs 10's of square degrees, galaxy assembly at z=2-3, as well as new opportunities in the high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy and time domain.