LOFT: the Large Observatory for X-ray Timing

TL;DR

LOFT is a proposed ESA X-ray observatory designed to perform high-time resolution and spectroscopic observations of compact objects, aiming to answer fundamental questions about matter under extreme conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a large-area X-ray observatory with unprecedented throughput for detailed studies of compact objects in the early 2020s.

Findings

High-time resolution (10 μs) observations of X-ray sources

Spectroscopic observations with <260 eV resolution

Unprecedented effective area of 10 m^2

Abstract

LOFT, the large observatory for X-ray timing, was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) in February 2011 as one of four medium size mission concepts for the Cosmic Vision program that will compete for a launch opportunity in the early 2020s. LOFT will carry out high-time resolution (10 {\mu}s) and spectroscopic observations (<260 eV) of compact objects in the X-ray band (2-80 keV), with unprecedented throughput, thanks to its 10 m^2 effective area. LOFT will address the fundamental questions of the Cosmic Vision Theme "Matter under extreme conditions": What is the fundamental equation of state of a compact object? Does matter orbiting close to the event horizon follow the predictions of general relativity?