Maxim: micro-arcsecond x-ray imaging mission

Webster C. Cash

doi:10.1117/12.460915

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26 February 2003 Maxim: micro-arcsecond x-ray imaging mission

Webster C. Cash

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Proceedings Volume 4852, Interferometry in Space; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460915
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

The x-ray band of the spectrum is the natural place to perform super-high resolution imaging of astronomical objects. Because x-ray sources can have very high surface brightness and interferometers can be made with very short baselines, x-ray interferometry has great potential. I will discuss MAXIM, the Micro-Arcsecond X-ray Imaging Mission and MAXIM Pathfinder, a coordinated pair of x-ray astronomy missions designed to exploit the potential of x-ray interferometry. We will show how it is possible to achieve huge gains in resolution using today's technology. The Pathfinder mission will achieve resolution of 100 micro-arcseconds and will image the coronae of the nearby stars. MAXIM, with a design specification of 0.1 micro-arcseconds, has the goal of imaging the event horizons of massive black holes. I will explain the architecture of the missions and describe the activities NASA is supporting in the area of x-ray interferometry.

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Webster C. Cash "Maxim: micro-arcsecond x-ray imaging mission", Proc. SPIE 4852, Interferometry in Space, (26 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460915

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