The Polarimeter for Relativistic Astrophysical X-ray Sources

Keith Jahoda; Timothy R. Kallman; Chryssa Kouveliotou; Lorella Angelini; J. Kevin Black; Joanne E. Hill; Theodore Jaeger; Philip E. Kaaret; Craig B. Markwardt; Takashi Okajima; Robert Petre; Jeremy Schnittman; Yang Soong; Tod E. Strohmayer; Toru Tamagawa; Yuzuru Tawara

doi:10.1117/12.2234220

26 August 2016 The Polarimeter for Relativistic Astrophysical X-ray Sources

Keith Jahoda, Timothy R. Kallman, Chryssa Kouveliotou, Lorella Angelini, J. Kevin Black, Joanne E. Hill, Theodore Jaeger, Philip E. Kaaret, Craig B. Markwardt, Takashi Okajima, Robert Petre, Jeremy Schnittman, Yang Soong, Tod E. Strohmayer, Toru Tamagawa, Yuzuru Tawara

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9905, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray; 990516 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234220
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

The Polarimeter for Relativistic Astrophysical X-ray Sources (PRAXyS) is one of three Small Explorer (SMEX) missions selected by NASA for Phase A study, with a launch date in 2020. The PRAXyS Observatory exploits grazing incidence X-ray mirrors and Time Projection Chamber Polarimeters capable of measuring the linear polarization of cosmic X-ray sources in the 2-10 keV band. PRAXyS combines well-characterized instruments with spacecraft rotation to ensure low systematic errors. The PRAXyS payload is developed at the Goddard Space Flight Center with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Iowa, and RIKEN (JAXA) collaborating on the Polarimeter Assembly. The LEOStar-2 spacecraft bus is developed by Orbital ATK, which also supplies the extendable optical bench that enables the Observatory to be compatible with a Pegasus class launch vehicle. A nine month primary mission will provide sensitive observations of multiple black hole and neutron star sources, where theory predicts polarization is a strong diagnostic, as well as exploratory observations of other high energy sources. The primary mission data will be released to the community rapidly and a Guest Observer extended mission will be vigorously proposed.

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Keith Jahoda, Timothy R. Kallman, Chryssa Kouveliotou, Lorella Angelini, J. Kevin Black, Joanne E. Hill, Theodore Jaeger, Philip E. Kaaret, Craig B. Markwardt, Takashi Okajima, Robert Petre, Jeremy Schnittman, Yang Soong, Tod E. Strohmayer, Toru Tamagawa, and Yuzuru Tawara "The Polarimeter for Relativistic Astrophysical X-ray Sources", Proc. SPIE 9905, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray, 990516 (26 August 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234220

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