Athena Wide Field Imager key science drivers
Rau A, Nandra K, Aird J, Comastri A, Dauser T, Merloni A, Pratt GW, Reiprich TH, Fabian AC, Georgakakis A, Güdel M, Rózańska A, Sanders JS, Sasaki M, Vaughan S, Wilms J, Meidinger N (2016)
Publication Status: Published
Publication Type: Conference contribution, Conference Contribution
Publication year: 2016
Publisher: SPIE
Book Volume: 9905
Article Number: 99052B
ISBN: 9781510601895
DOI: 10.1117/12.2235268
Abstract
The Wide Field Imager (WFI) is one of two instruments for the Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics (Athena). In this paper we summarise three of the many key science objectives for the WFI - the formation and growth of supermassive black holes, non-gravitational heating in clusters of galaxies, and spin measurements of stellar mass black holes - and describe their translation into the science requirements and ultimately instrument requirements. The WFI will be designed to provide excellent point source sensitivity and grasp for performing wide area surveys, surface brightness sensitivity, survey power, and absolute temperature and density calibration for in-depth studies of the outskirts of nearby clusters of galaxies and very good high-count rate capability, throughput, and low pile-up, paired with very good spectral resolution, for detailed explorations of bright Galactic compact objects.
Authors with CRIS profile
Thomas Dauser
Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut
Manami Sasaki
Jörn Wilms Professur für Astronomie und Astrophysik
Jörn Wilms Professur für Astronomie und Astrophysik
Involved external institutions
Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) / Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Germany (DE)
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Germany (DE)
University of Cambridge
United Kingdom (GB)
National Institute for Astrophysics / Istituto Nazionale Astrofisica (INAF)
Italy (IT)
Institute of Research into the Fundamental Laws of the Universe / Institut de recherche sur les lois fondamentales de l'univers (IRFU)
France (FR)
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Germany (DE)
Universität Wien / University of Vienna
Austria (AT)
Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Poland (PL)
University of Leicester
United Kingdom (GB)
Germany (DE)
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Germany (DE)
University of Cambridge
United Kingdom (GB)
National Institute for Astrophysics / Istituto Nazionale Astrofisica (INAF)
Italy (IT)
Institute of Research into the Fundamental Laws of the Universe / Institut de recherche sur les lois fondamentales de l'univers (IRFU)
France (FR)
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Germany (DE)
Universität Wien / University of Vienna
Austria (AT)
Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Poland (PL)
University of Leicester
United Kingdom (GB)
How to cite
APA:
Rau, A., Nandra, K., Aird, J., Comastri, A., Dauser, T., Merloni, A.,... Meidinger, N. (2016). Athena Wide Field Imager key science drivers. In Proceedings of the Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray. SPIE.
MLA:
Rau, Arne, et al. "Athena Wide Field Imager key science drivers." Proceedings of the Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray SPIE, 2016.
BibTeX: Download