Roadmap to XEUS (resubmission)

Xeus解决了关于宇宙的本质、其大尺度结构和极端环境的物理学的基本问题。任务概念体现了航天器、光学和探测器的先进技术，从而在电磁光谱的X射线波长上实现了前所未有的观测能力。这一“Xeus路线图”应用程序描述了一项开发计划，该计划将使英国研究人员和工业界处于有利地位，积极参与任务的所有阶段。它是由来自莱斯特大学、布鲁内尔大学、伯明翰大学和伦敦大学学院穆拉德空间科学实验室的大学研究小组组成的联盟，以及工业合作伙伴EADS Astrium(英国)、e2v Technologies(英国)和Space Cryomagtics共同制造的。Xeus构想设想在L2拉格朗日点(距离地球约150万公里)建立一个X射线观测站，由独立的反射镜和探测器航天器组成。这一配置，再加上轻质X射线反射镜设计的最新进展，将提供5平方米的MTR收集面积/10到30倍于XMM-牛顿(目前将发射的最大X射线天文台)/馈送一套最先进的X射线探测器和光谱仪。由此产生的极高的灵敏度，再加上出色的成像和光谱能力，将首次将X射线诊断的力量用于研究高温、高红移的宇宙，以及极端条件下物质的行为。Xeus将研究弥漫在宇宙中的热等离子体的结构和演化，例如分级合并、激波加热和反馈过程，到目前为止，这些过程已经将宇宙中的大部分重子加热到105K以上。它将跟踪高红移时结构的生长，为宇宙学提供有价值的约束。它将探索超大质量黑洞的早期增长阶段，这与宇宙在z&gt；6的重新电离有关，并将调查星系形成和超大质量黑洞增长之间的联系。此外，还将探讨接近黑洞视界的极端条件下的物理学，以及可能与强相互作用和标准模型有关的中子星中重子物质的状态方程。欧洲航天局(欧空局)的宇宙愿景演习将Xeus科学列为非常重要的优先事项。Xeus现已向欧空局的宇宙愿景计划提出，将于2018年进行首次L级发射。Xeus也有非常强大的国际支持：日本宇宙航空研究开发机构是宇宙愿景计划的合作伙伴，俄罗斯和中国都表示有强烈的兴趣在Xeus发挥重要作用。目前还在与美国宇航局进行非正式讨论，以期美国参与。Xeus通过利用重大新兴技术进步来弘扬XMM-牛顿的关键科学成果。此申请旨在为一项技术开发计划寻求资金，该计划将使英国研究团队和英国工业在Xeus中处于有利地位。这项申请涵盖了英国境内的四个活动领域。在X射线光学方面，目标是支持新的硅微孔光学技术的设计、建模和测试计划，这可能使英国在这一核心Xeus计划中获得首席研究员的地位。拟议的探测器开发方案包括扩展广场成像仪和低温窄场仪器，这两个仪器都是Xeus焦平面仪器套件的关键要素。该提案还寻求支持继续开发绝热消磁冰箱，作为Xeus的毫开尔文飞行冷却器。在所有这些领域，英国工业界的参与都得到了保障，这对该计划的成功确实至关重要。

XEUS addresses fundamental questions on the nature of the Universe, its large-scale structure, and the physics of extreme environments. The mission concept embodies advanced technologies for spacecraft, optics, and detectors leading to unprecedented observational capabilities at X-ray wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. This 'Roadmap to XEUS' application describes a development programme that will place UK researchers and industry in a strong position to participate actively in all phases of the mission. It is being made by a consortium of university research groups from the University of Leicester, Brunel University, Birmingham University and the Mullard Space ScienceLaboratory of University College London, together with industrial partners EADS Astrium (UK), e2v Technologies (UK) and Space Cryomagnetic. The XEUS concept envisages an X-ray observatory at L2 Lagrangian Point (at about 1.5 million km from Earth), comprising separate mirror and detector spacecraft. This configuration, coupled with recent major advances in light-weight X-ray mirror design, will provide 5 sq mtrs of collecting area / 10 to 30 times more than XMM-Newton (currently the largest X-ray observatory to be launched) / feeding a set of state-of-the-art X-ray detectors and spectrometers. The resulting very high sensitivity, combined with excellent imaging and spectral capabilities, will, for the first time, bring the power of X-ray diagnostics to bear on studies of the hot, high red-shift Universe, as well as on the behaviour of matter under extreme conditions. XEUS will study the structure and evolution of the hot plasmas that pervade the Universe, e.g. the processes of hierarchical merging, shock heating and feedback, which have heated most of the baryons of the Universe to greater than 105 K by the present epoch. It will trace the growth of structure at high redshift, providing valuable constraints on cosmology. It will probe the early growth phases of super-massive black holes, implicated in the re-ionization of the Universe at z>6, and will investigate the connection between galaxy formation and the growth of super-massive black holes. Physics under extreme conditions, close to the event horizon in black holes, will also be probed, as will the equation of state of baryonic matter in neutron stars with possible links to the strong interaction and the Standard Model. The European Space Agency (ESA) Cosmic Visions exercise assigned very high priority to XEUS science. XEUS has now been proposed to the ESA Cosmic Vision programme for the first L-class launch in 2018. XEUS also has very strong international support: the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is a partner in the Cosmic Vision proposal and both Russia and China have expressed strong interest in taking on a significant role in XEUS. Informal discussions are also taking place with NASA, with a view to US participation. XEUS carries forward the key scientific achievements of XMM-Newton by exploiting major emerging technical advances. This application seeks funding for a programme of technology development that will place UK research teams and UK industry in a strong position in XEUS. This application encompasses four areas of activity within the UK. In X-ray optics the goal is to support a programme of design, modelling and testing of the new silicon micro-pore optics technology, which could give the UK Principal Investigator status in this core XEUS programme. Detector development programmes are proposed encompassing the extended wide-field imager and the cryogenic narrow-field instrument, both of which are key elements of the XEUS focal plane instrumentation suite. The proposal also seeks support for the continuing development of adiabatic demagnetisation refrigerators as the milli-Kelvin flight cooler for XEUS. Involvement of UK industry has been secured in all of these areas and indeed will be critically important for the success of the programme.