MAXIM Pathfinder: a practical configuration

Webster C. Cash; Keith C. Gendreau; Ann F. Shipley; Dennis J. Gallagher

doi:10.1117/12.506327

29 January 2004 MAXIM Pathfinder: a practical configuration

Webster C. Cash, Keith C. Gendreau, Ann F. Shipley, Dennis J. Gallagher

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5168, Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.506327
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, 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 intense surface brightness and interferometers can be made with very short baselines, x-ray interferometry has great potential. We will discuss MAXIM, the Micro-Arcsecond X-ray Imaging Mission and, in particular, 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. We will explain the architecture of a possible Pathfinder mission and describe the activities NASA is supporting in the area of x-ray interferometry.

Citation Download Citation

Webster C. Cash, Webster C. Cash, Keith C. Gendreau, Keith C. Gendreau, Ann F. Shipley, Ann F. Shipley, Dennis J. Gallagher, Dennis J. Gallagher, "MAXIM Pathfinder: a practical configuration", Proc. SPIE 5168, Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy, (29 January 2004); doi: 10.1117/12.506327; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.506327

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