The Extreme Physics Explorer and Large Area Micro-Channel Plate Optics

Abstract

The Extreme Physics Explorer (EPE) is a concept timing/spectroscopy mission that would use micro-channel plate optics (MCPO) to provide 4 square meters effective area focused to ~1 arc-min onto an X-ray calorimeter. We describe science drivers for such a mission, possible designs for the large area MCPO needed for EPE, and the challenges of the large area MCPO design.

12 pages, 9 figures, to appear in proceedings of SPIE V8147, "Optics for EUV, X-ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy V"

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• Atmospheres and Spectra of Strongly Magnetized Neutron Stars -- III. Partially Ionized Hydrogen Models
• The Extreme Physics Explorer
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