发表机构
NASA/GSFC; University of Maryland, Baltimore Co.; Integrated Design Center; Mission Design Lab; RF Communications; ACS; Electrical; Mechanical Systems; Flight Dynamics; Thermal; Mission Systems, Propulsion; Mechanical Design; Optical Communications; Instrument Design Lab; University of Utah; University of Colorado, Boulder; Brown University; The City University of New York; University of Maryland, College Park; NASA Postdoctoral Fellow (ORAU); Catholic University; East Asian ALMA Regional Center, NAOJ, Tokyo; United States Naval Observatory; Northwestern University（美国国家航空航天局戈达德太空飞行中心; 马里兰大学巴尔的摩分校; 综合设计中心; 任务设计实验室; 射频通信部门; 先进概念系统部; 电气部门; 机械系统部门; 飞行动力学部门; 热控部门; 任务系统与推进部门; 机械设计部门; 光通信部门; 仪器设计实验室; 犹他大学; 科罗拉多大学博尔德分校; 布朗大学; 纽约市立大学; 马里兰大学帕克分校; NASA博士后研究员（奥尔鲁公司）; 天主教大学; 东亚ALMA区域中心，日本国立天文台东京; 美国海军天文台; 西北大学）
机构由 AI 辅助整理，请以论文原文为准。AI 中文总结
本研究提出仅长2公里的吸积探测器干涉仪（AEI）概念，较原MAXIM概念更可行，可实现X射线波段高分辨率成像，助力高能天体物理学关键问题研究。
AI 中文摘要
我们必须生成优质的X射线图像，以理解部分最强天文天体背后的详细物理过程。实现这一能力的需求已存在数十年，但随着时间推移，X射线天文学在成像能力上的发展已远远落后于其他波段。射电天文学尤其通过孔径合成干涉测量法达到了微角秒量级的角分辨率，该方法利用多个小型望远镜发出的电磁波干涉来模拟一台大得多的望远镜。在X射线波段开发同等的高分辨率能力，将成为高能天体物理学的变革性突破。我们将借此理解超大质量黑洞的增长与演化机制、天体喷流的能量来源，以及年轻活跃恒星对其行星宜居性的影响。技术层面，本NIAC研究表明，吸积探测器干涉仪（AEI）概念与原始MAXIM概念不同，其运行可行性更高，仅需2公里的长度，而MAXIM概念约需450公里。研究还显示，借助LISA探路者技术可实现卫星轨道保持，且采用大型平面反射镜与X射线分束器作为使能技术具备可行性。
英文摘要
We must create superb X-ray images to understand the detailed physical processes behind some of the most powerful astronomical objects. The need to achieve this capability has been known for decades. But as time proceeds, X-ray astronomy falls further behind other wavebands that are steadily increasing their imaging capacity. Radio astronomy in particular has reached an angular resolution on the order of micro arcseconds via aperture synthesis interferometry, using the interference of electromagnetic waves from many small telescopes together to simulate having a much larger telescope. Developing an equivalent high-resolution capability in the X-ray band would be a game changer for high-energy astrophysics. We will understand how supermassive black holes grow and evolve. We will learn what powers astrophysical jets. We will learn how young, active stars affect the habitability of their planets. Technologically, our NIAC study has shown that the Accretion Explorer Interferometer (AEI) concept, unlike the original MAXIM concept, is more feasible in operation, being only 2 km long, versus approximately 450 km. Our study has also shown that satellite station keeping is possible, leveraging from LISA pathfinder technology, and using large mirror flats plus an X-ray beamsplitter for enabling technology is feasible.
Comments39 pages plus appendices
