AI 中文总结
EXPO是ESA候选X射线偏振任务，通过宽能段、快速重定向等创新设计，拓展X射线偏振测量至硬X射线领域，为天体物理多领域研究提供新观测窗口。
AI 中文摘要
增强型X射线偏振观测台（EXPO）是向欧洲空间局（ESA）提出的M8候选任务概念，预计2041年发射。基于IXPE的科学成功，EXPO旨在克服其两个主要局限——窄的2-8 keV能段和极慢的重定向时间，以实现新的科学能力。宽能段和快速重定向对研究磁星和黑洞双星的硬X射线辐射、超新星遗迹和脉冲风云星云的粒子加速、强磁化等离子体中的辐射转移、吸积流和活动星系核中的X射线反射，以及伽马射线暴和磁星耀斑的 prompt（瞬时）和余辉辐射至关重要。EXPO包含5台聚焦X射线望远镜和基于带InGrid放大的Timepix ASIC系列的气体光电偏振计，通过优化的低能和中能探测器配置，实现2-35 keV能段的三维径迹成像与运行。反射镜模块采用成熟的电铸镍技术，带有Au-C涂层，焦距为7.5 m，类似XMM望远镜。偏振计还辅以编码掩模宽场仪器（WFI，源自SVOM/ECLAIRs），用于连续监测2 sr视场；光谱成像相机（SIC）基于堆叠CMOS和CdTe探测器，用于宽带成像光谱学和精确的光谱-偏振分解；以及仪器控制单元（ICU），用于有效载荷管理、星载WFI图像重建、暂现源识别和自主航天器重定向请求。这些能力将X射线偏振测量扩展到硬X射线领域，为快速暂现源、时域天文学和多信使天文学打开新的观测窗口。
英文摘要
The Enhanced X-ray Polarimetry Observatory (EXPO) is a mission concept proposed to ESA as an M8 candidate, with a prospective launch in 2041. Building on the scientific success of IXPE, EXPO is designed to overcome its two main limitations, the narrow 2-8 keV energy band and the very slow repointing time, and to enable new scientific capabilities. A wide energy band and fast repointing are essential for investigating the hard X-ray emission of magnetars and black-hole binaries, particle acceleration in supernova remnants and pulsar-wind nebulae, radiative transfer in highly magnetized plasmas, X-ray reflection in accretion flows and active galactic nuclei, and the prompt and afterglow emission of gamma-ray bursts and magnetar flares. EXPO comprises five focusing X-ray telescopes and gas photoelectric polarimeters based on the Timepix ASIC family with InGrid amplification, enabling three-dimensional track imaging and operation in the 2-35 keV band through optimized low- and medium-energy detector configurations. The mirror modules use proven electroformed nickel technology with Au-C coatings and an XMM-like focal length of 7.5 m. The polarimeters are complemented by a coded-mask Wide Field Instrument (WFI), derived from SVOM/ECLAIRs for continuous monitoring of a 2 sr field of view; a Spectral Imaging Camera (SIC), based on stacked CMOS and CdTe detectors for broadband imaging spectroscopy and accurate spectro-polarimetric decomposition; and an Instrument Control Unit (ICU) for payload management, onboard WFI image reconstruction, transient identification, and autonomous spacecraft repointing requests. These capabilities extend X-ray polarimetry into the hard X-ray domain and open a new observational window on fast transients, time-domain astrophysics, and multi-messenger astronomy.
Comments21 pages; 10 figures, 6 tables, SPIE Proceedings Astronomical Telescope + Instrumentation 2026: Ultraviolet to Gamma-rays Conference, Copenaghen, 5-10 July 2026
