The Lynx X-ray Observatory: revealing the invisible universe

Daniel A. Schwartz; Alexey Vikhlinin; Harvey Tananbaum; Mark Freeman; Grant Tremblay; Eric D. Schwartz; Jessica A. Gaskin; Douglas Swartz; Karen Gelmis; Kevin S. McCarley; Alexandra Dominguez

doi:10.1117/12.2533637

9 September 2019 The Lynx X-ray Observatory: revealing the invisible universe

Daniel A. Schwartz, Alexey Vikhlinin, Harvey Tananbaum, Mark Freeman, Grant Tremblay, Eric D. Schwartz, Jessica A. Gaskin, Douglas Swartz, Karen Gelmis, Kevin S. McCarley, Alexandra Dominguez

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11118, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXI; 111180K (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2533637
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We have been studying Lynx, an X-ray Observatory with factors of 10 to 1000 greater imaging and spectroscopic capabilities than any other existing or planned facility. We present a Design Reference Mission (DRM) driven by the need to solve fundamental problems in three broad areas of astrophysics. The Lynx Observatory will provide discovery space for all of astrophysics, and also address questions which will only be revealed as our knowledge increases. Studies supported by the Advanced Concepts Office at MSFC for the observatory design and operations take advantage of the highly successful architecture of the Chandra Observatory. A light-weight mirror with 30 times the Chandra effective area, and modern microcalorimeter and CMOS based X-ray imagers will exploit the 0.5 arcsec imaging capability. Operating at Sun/Earth L2, we expect 85% to 90% of the time to be spent acquiring data from celestial targets. Designed for a five year baseline mission, there are no expected impediments to achieving a 20 year goal. This paper presents technical details of the Observatory and highlights of the mission operations.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Daniel A. Schwartz, Alexey Vikhlinin, Harvey Tananbaum, Mark Freeman, Grant Tremblay, Eric D. Schwartz, Jessica A. Gaskin, Douglas Swartz, Karen Gelmis, Kevin S. McCarley, and Alexandra Dominguez "The Lynx X-ray Observatory: revealing the invisible universe", Proc. SPIE 11118, UV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Space Instrumentation for Astronomy XXI, 111180K (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2533637

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available