Department of Physics
Research, teaching and outreach in Physics at UW–Madison

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NPAC (Nuclear/Particle/Astro/Cosmo) Forum
Science with the International X-ray Observatory
Date: Thursday, February 19th
Time: 4:00 pm
Place: 4274 Chamberlin
Speaker: Randall Smith, Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Abstract: In July 2008, the International X-ray Observatory (IXO) was announced to the > astronomical community. IXO is a joint mission with participation from ESA, NASA and JAXA, superseding the US Constellation-X mission concept. IXO is dedicated to high resolution X-ray spectroscopy, with 100 times the throughput for high resolution spectroscopy of previous X-ray missions. The baseline for IXO features a single large X-ray mirror and an extensible optical bench with a 20-25m focal length and moveable focal plane. The instruments include an X-ray wide field imaging spectrometer, a high spectral resolution non-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, an X-ray grating spectrometer, a hard X-ray imaginer and an X-ray polarimeter.

I will discuss the IXO science objectives and how it will help answer the following questions: How do super-massive Black Holes grow and evolve? Does matter orbiting close to a Black Hole event horizon follow the predictions of General Relativity? What is the Equation of State of matter in Neutron Stars? How does Cosmic Feedback work and influence galaxy formation? How does galaxy cluster evolution constrain the nature of Dark Matter and Dark Energy? Where are the missing baryons in the nearby Universe? When and how were the
elements created and dispersed? How do high energy processes affect planetary formation and habitability? How do magnetic fields shape stellar exteriors and the surrounding environment? How are particles accelerated to extreme energies producing shocks, jets, and cosmic rays?
Host: Dan McCammon
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