Einstein Probe: Exploring the ever-changing X-ray Universe
2018
The Einstein Probe is a small mission dedicated to
time-domain astronomyto monitor the sky in the soft X-ray band (0.5–4 keV). It will carry out systematic survey and characterisation of high-energy transients at unprecedented sensitivity, spatial resolution, Grasp and monitoring
cadence. Its wide-field imaging capability, as provided by an X-ray monitor with a
fieldof
viewof 3600
square degrees, is enabled by using established technology of micro-pore lobster-eye focusing optics. Complementary to this wide-field instrument is a follow-up
X-ray telescopewith a large effective area and a narrow
fieldof
view. It is also capable of real time triggering and downlink of transient alerts on the fly, in order to activate multi-wavelength follow-up observations by other astronomical facilities worldwide. Its scientific goals are concerned with discovering new or rare types of transients, particularly
tidal disruption events, supernova shock
breakouts, high-redshift
gamma-ray burstsand, particularly, electromagnetic sources associated with gravitational wave events. The mission is planned for launch around end of 2022, with a lifetime of three years and five years as a goal.
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