Xenia: Cosmo-chemical evolution of the universe

D. N. Burrows, D. Hartmann, C. Kouveliotou, L. Piro, J. W. Den Herder, T. Ohashi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Xenia is a medium-sized mission optimized to study cosmic reionization, cluster formation and evolution, and the WHIM, following cosmo-chemical evolution from the very earliest times to the present. Reconstructing the cosmic history of metals, from the first population of stars to the processes involved in the formation of galaxies and clusters of galaxies, is a key observational challenge. Most baryons reside in diffuse structures, in (proto)-galaxies and clusters of galaxies, and are predicted to trace the vast filamentary structures created by the ubiquitous Dark Matter. X-ray spectroscopy of diffuse matter has the unique capability of simultaneously probing a broad range of elements (C through Fe) in all their ionization stages and all binding states (atomic, molecular, and solid), and thus provides a model-independent survey of the metals. Xenia - proposed to the Astro2010 Decadal Survey - will combine cryogenic imaging spectrometers and wide field X-ray optics with fast repointing to collect essential information from three major tracers of metals: Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), Galaxy Clusters, and the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM). We give an overview of the mission and discuss the instruments designed to carry out these observations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010
Subtitle of host publicationUltraviolet to Gamma Ray
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 19 2010
EventSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Jun 28 2010Jul 2 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7732
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period6/28/107/2/10

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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