Proposed mission concept for the Astrophysical Plasmadynamic Explorer (APEX): an EUV high-resolution spectroscopic SMEX

Michael P. Kowalski; Raymond G. Cruddace; Kent S. Wood; Daryl J. Yentis; Michael T. Wolff; J. Martin Laming; Herbert Gursky; George R. Carruthers; Troy W. Barbee Jr.; Joseph F. Kordas; Chris W. Mauche; Gilbert G. Fritz; Steve J. Varlese; Martin A. Barstow; George W. Fraser; Oswald H. W. Siegmund; Barry Y. Welsh; Nancy S. Brickhouse; Andrea K. Dupree; Alex Brown; Frederick C. Bruhweiler; Andrew C. Cameron; Jay B. Holberg; Steven B. Howell; Carole Jordan; Jeffrey L. Linsky; Sarah A. Matthews; Edward M. Sion; Klaus Werner

doi:10.1117/12.508548

8 December 2003 Proposed mission concept for the Astrophysical Plasmadynamic Explorer (APEX): an EUV high-resolution spectroscopic SMEX

Michael P. Kowalski, Raymond G. Cruddace, Kent S. Wood, Daryl J. Yentis, Michael T. Wolff, J. Martin Laming, Herbert Gursky, George R. Carruthers, Troy W. Barbee Jr., Joseph F. Kordas, Chris W. Mauche, Gilbert G. Fritz, Steve J. Varlese, Martin A. Barstow, George W. Fraser, Oswald H. W. Siegmund, Barry Y. Welsh, Nancy S. Brickhouse, Andrea K. Dupree, Alex Brown, Frederick C. Bruhweiler, Andrew C. Cameron, Jay B. Holberg, Steven B. Howell, Carole Jordan, Jeffrey L. Linsky, Sarah A. Matthews, Edward M. Sion, Klaus Werner

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5164, UV/EUV and Visible Space Instrumentation for Astronomy II; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.508548
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

APEX is a proposed mission for a Small Explorer (SMEX) satellite. APEX will investigate the density, temperature, composition, magnetic field, structure, and dynamics of hot astrophysical plasmas (log T = ~5-7), which emit the bulk of their radiation at EUV wavelengths and produce critical spectral diagnostics not found at other wavelengths. APEX addresses basic questions of stellar evolution and galactic structure through high-resolution spectroscopy of white dwarf stars, cataclysmic variables, the local interstellar medium, and stellar coronae. Thus APEX complements the Chandra, Newton-XMM, FUSE, and CHIPS missions. The instrument is a suite of 8 near-normal incidence spectrometers (~90-275 Angstroms, resolving power ~10,000, effective area 30-50 cm²) each of which employs a multilayer-coated ion-etched blazed diffraction grating and a microchannel plate detector of high quantum efficiency and high spatial resolution. The instrument is mounted on a 3-axis stabilized commercial spacecraft bus with a precision pointing system. The spacecraft is launched by a Taurus vehicle, and payload size and weight fit comfortably within limits for the 2210 fairing. Of order 100 targets will be observed over the baseline mission of 2 years. These are selected carefully to maximize scientific return, and all were detected in the EUVE and the ROSAT WFC surveys.

Citation Download Citation

Michael P. Kowalski, Raymond G. Cruddace, Kent S. Wood, Daryl J. Yentis, Michael T. Wolff, J. Martin Laming, Herbert Gursky, George R. Carruthers, Troy W. Barbee Jr., Joseph F. Kordas, Chris W. Mauche, Gilbert G. Fritz, Steve J. Varlese, Martin A. Barstow, George W. Fraser, Oswald H. W. Siegmund, Barry Y. Welsh, Nancy S. Brickhouse, Andrea K. Dupree, Alex Brown, Frederick C. Bruhweiler, Andrew C. Cameron, Jay B. Holberg, Steven B. Howell, Carole Jordan, Jeffrey L. Linsky, Sarah A. Matthews, Edward M. Sion, and Klaus Werner "Proposed mission concept for the Astrophysical Plasmadynamic Explorer (APEX): an EUV high-resolution spectroscopic SMEX", Proc. SPIE 5164, UV/EUV and Visible Space Instrumentation for Astronomy II, (8 December 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.508548

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available