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.

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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.

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