| Names |
M. Feroci, L. Stella, A. Vacchi, C. Labanti, M. Rapisarda, P. Attinà , T. Belloni, R. Campana, S. Campana, E. Costa, E. Del Monte, I. Donnarumma, Y. Evangelista, G. L. Israel, F. Muleri, P. Porta, A. Rashevsky, G. Zampa, N. Zampa, G. Baldazzi, G. Bert |
| Abstract |
The X-ray sky in high time resolution holds the key to a number of
observables related to fundamental physics, inaccessible to other types
of investigations, such as imaging, spectroscopy and polarimetry. Strong
gravity effects, the measurement of the mass of black holes and neutron
stars, the equation of state of ultradense matter are among the
objectives of such observations. The prospects for future, non-focused
X-ray timing experiments after the exciting age of RXTE/PCA are very
uncertain, mostly due to the technological limitations that need to be
faced to realize experiments with effective areas in the range of
several square meters, meeting the scientific requirements. We are
developing large-area monolithic Silicon drift detectors offering high
time and energy resolution at room temperature, with modest resources
and operation complexity (e.g., read-out) per unit area. Based on the
properties of the detector and read-out electronics we measured in
laboratory, we built a concept for a realistic unprecedented large
mission devoted to X-ray timing in the energy range 2-30 keV. We show
that effective areas in the range of 10-15 square meters are within
reach, by using a conventional spacecraft platform and launcher. |