摘要
爱因斯坦探针(Einstein Probe,EP)是一颗面向时域天文学的、发现型的X射线天文探测卫星,是中国科学院空间科学战略性先导专项十三五规划的空间科学卫星系列任务之一.展望未来十年,时域天文学将进入一个前所未有的、多波段和多信使的大视场监测的黄金时代.在软X射线窗口,灵敏且快速的全天监测为我们提供了一个难得的科学机遇.EP卫星将在这一能段窗口开展时域巡天监测,旨在发现和探索宇宙中的X射线暂现源和爆发天体,并发布预警以引导其他天文设备进行后随跟踪观测.EP的科学载荷包括一台宽视场软X射线监视器(3600平方度,0.5–4 keV)和一台后随观测X射线望远镜(0.3–8 keV).卫星具有快速机动反应能力以及暂现源警报的快速下传功能.由于采用了新颖的微孔龙虾眼X射线聚焦成像技术,其探测灵敏度和空间分辨率比目前在轨运行设备提高了1个数量级,将能监测更远、更大的宇宙空间范围.预期EP将在以下三方面做出贡献:高能暂现天体的系统性巡天监测,发现隐身的沉寂黑洞并测绘宇宙黑洞的分布、研究其形成演化和物质吸积过程,搜寻来自引力波事件的X射线信号并精确定位等.此外,EP的探测目标还将包括从中子星、白矮星、超新星、宇宙早期伽玛暴、X射线闪到恒星耀发等众多的天体和现象,涉及广泛的天体物理学分支.卫星计划于2022年底左右发射.运行寿命为3年,目标5年.
The Einstein Probe is a small mission dedicated to time-domain astronomy to 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 field of view of 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 telescope with a large effective area and a narrow field of 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 bursts and, 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.
出处
《中国科学：物理学、力学、天文学》
CSCD
北大核心
2018年第3期2-21,共20页
Scientia Sinica Physica,Mechanica & Astronomica
基金
中国科学院战略性先导科技专项(编号：XDA15052100,XDB23040000)资助项目
