Group photo [high res (668KB) | low res (72KB)]
Currently several X-ray missions are in orbit, including RXTE,
Chandra, XMM-Newton, Integral, Swift, Suzaku, and producing
excellent data. Seven years from the launches of Chandra and
XMM-Newton, and a half year from the Suzaku launch, it is good
time to summarize what we have learned and to discuss science
objectives to be explored in the next decade. Several new
missions to extend those results are presently under
discussion at various places in the world, and many key
technologies are being developed covering from soft X-ray to
gamma-ray wavelengths. In such situation, we would like to
host a workshop to discuss,
(1) key science objectives of the next decade,
(2) key technologies which enable to explore the key science,
(3) future high-energy astrophysics missions and international
collaborations.
The NeXT (New X-ray Telescope / Non-thermal energy eXploration
Telescope) mission has been studied as the next key X-ray
astronomy mission of Japan, which will be developed under
international collaborations. It has completed the pre-phase
A study and will start the phase-A study soon. NeXT could be
the earliest full X-ray mission in the next decade. It must be
developed with support of the world community. We would like
to ask you to attend the workshop and to be involved in the
discussions on scientific objectives, mission design and
technical developments.
The two large missions, Constellation-X and XEUS, are being studied as
US and ESA-Japan missions respectively aiming at launch of late next
decade. Though the boundary conditions are not clear yet, it is also
important for the world community to consider the science goals and
technology developments for such corner stone type of
observatories. Support of world community really strengthens the
proposals in individual space agencies.
We are planning 3 days for the workshop. About the half of time will
be devoted for the discussion of the science, while the other half for
instrumentation for NeXT and future missions. The workshop will be
mainly composed of invited talks, but we will accept a limited number
(~30) of contributed poster papers.
Kazuhisa Mitsuda (ISAS/JAXA),
Tadayuki Takahashi (ISAS/JAXA),
Hideyo Kunieda (Nagoya University and ISAS/JAXA)
Supported by ISAS/JAXA
High Energy Astrophysics Association in Japan
and Kakenhi "Black hole astronomy"