SIMBOL-X, an X-ray telescope for the 0.5-70 keV range

TL;DR

SIMBOL-X is a proposed high-energy X-ray telescope using formation flying of two spacecrafts to achieve unprecedented spatial resolution and sensitivity in the 0.5-70 keV range for studying high energy astrophysical sources.

Contribution

It introduces a novel formation flying configuration with two spacecrafts to extend X-ray imaging capabilities up to 70 keV.

Findings

Maximum effective area of ~600 cm²

Spatial resolution of 20 arcsec HEW

Energy coverage up to 70 keV

Abstract

SIMBOL-X is a high energy "mini" satellite class mission that is proposed by a European collaboration for a launch in 2009. SIMBOL-X is making use of a classical X-ray mirror, of ~600 cm2 maximum effective area, with a 30 m focal length in order to cover energies up to several tens of keV. This focal length will be achieved through the use of two spacecrafts in a formation flying configuration. This will give to SIMBOL-X unprecedented spatial resolution (20 arcsec HEW) and sensitivity in the hard X-ray range. By its coverage, from 0.5 to 70 keV, and sensitivity, SIMBOL-X will be an excellent instrument for the study of high energy processes in a large number of sources, both compact and extended.