The Wide Field X-Ray Telescope (WFXT) is a medium-class mission designed to be 2-orders-of-magnitude more sensitive than any previous or planned X-ray mission for large area surveys and to match in sensitivity the next generation of wide-area optical, IR and radio surveys. Using an innovative wide-field X-ray optics design, WFXT provides a field of view of 1 square degree (10 times Chandra) with an angular resolution of 5'' (Half Energy Width, HEW) nearly constant over the entire field of view, and a large collecting area (up to 1 m2 at 1 keV, >10x Chandra) over the 0.1-7 keV band. WFXT's low-Earth orbit also minimizes the particle background. In five years of operation, WFXT will carry out three extragalactic surveys at unprecedented depth and address outstanding questions in astrophysics, cosmology and fundamental physics. In this article, we illustrate the mission concept and the connection between science requirements and mission parameters.
Wide Field X-ray Telescope: Mission Overview / P., Rosati; S., Borgani; R., Gilli; Paolillo, Maurizio; P., Tozzi; S., Murray; R., Giacconi; A., Ptak; M., Weisskopf; W., Forman; C., Jones; the WFXT, Team. - In: MEMORIE DELLA SOCIETÀ ASTRONOMICA ITALIANA. - ISSN 1824-016X. - STAMPA. - 17:(2011), pp. 8-15.
Wide Field X-ray Telescope: Mission Overview
PAOLILLO, MAURIZIO;
2011
Abstract
The Wide Field X-Ray Telescope (WFXT) is a medium-class mission designed to be 2-orders-of-magnitude more sensitive than any previous or planned X-ray mission for large area surveys and to match in sensitivity the next generation of wide-area optical, IR and radio surveys. Using an innovative wide-field X-ray optics design, WFXT provides a field of view of 1 square degree (10 times Chandra) with an angular resolution of 5'' (Half Energy Width, HEW) nearly constant over the entire field of view, and a large collecting area (up to 1 m2 at 1 keV, >10x Chandra) over the 0.1-7 keV band. WFXT's low-Earth orbit also minimizes the particle background. In five years of operation, WFXT will carry out three extragalactic surveys at unprecedented depth and address outstanding questions in astrophysics, cosmology and fundamental physics. In this article, we illustrate the mission concept and the connection between science requirements and mission parameters.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
