ASTRO-H White Paper - New Spectral Features

TL;DR

This white paper discusses new physics and data analysis challenges in X-ray astronomy enabled by ASTRO-H's advanced high-resolution instruments, focusing on atomic, nuclear physics, and spectral modeling.

Contribution

It introduces novel considerations for atomic and nuclear physics in high-resolution X-ray data analysis, impacting future observations and spectral interpretation.

Findings

Identification of new spectral features in X-ray data

Insights into charge exchange and solar system X-ray sources

Enhanced spectral modeling techniques

Abstract

This white paper addresses selected new (to X-ray astronomy) physics and data analysis issues that will impact ASTRO-H SWG observations as a result of its high-spectral-resolution X-ray microcalorimeter, the focussing hard X-ray optics and corresponding detectors, and the low background soft gamma-ray detector. We concentrate on issues of atomic and nuclear physics, including basic bound-bound and bound-free transitions as well as scattering and radiative transfer. The major topic categories include the physics of charge exchange, solar system X-ray sources, advanced spectral model, radiative transfer, and hard X-ray emission lines and sources.