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EXIST: A High Sensitivity Hard X-ray Imaging Sky Survey Mission for ISS

J. Grindlay·L. Bildsten·D. Chakrabarty·M. Elvis·A. Fabian·F. Fiore·N. Gehrels·C. Hailey·F. Harrison·D. Hartmann·T. Prince·B. Ramsey·R. Rothschild·G. Skinner·S. Woosley
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Abstract

A deep all-sky imaging hard x-ray survey and wide-field monitor is needed to extend soft (ROSAT) and medium (ABRIXAS2) x-ray surveys into the 10-100 keV band (and beyond) at comparable sensitivity (~0.05 mCrab). This would enable discovery and study of >3000 obscured AGN, which probably dominate the hard x-ray background; detailed study of spectra and variability of accreting black holes and a census of BHs in the Galaxy; Gamma-ray bursts and associated massive star formation (PopIII) at very high redshift and Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters throughout the Local Group; and a full galactic survey for obscured supernova remnants. The Energetic X-ray Imaging Survey Telescope (EXIST) is a proposed array of 8 x 1m^2 coded aperture telescopes fixed on the International Space Station (ISS) with 160deg x 40deg field of view which images the full sky each 90 min orbit. EXIST has been included in the most recent NASA Strategic Plan as a candidate mission for the next decade. An overview of the science goals and mission concept is presented.

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J. Grindlay, L. Bildsten, D. Chakrabarty, M. Elvis, A. Fabian, F. Fiore, N. Gehrels, C. Hailey, F. Harrison, D. Hartmann, T. Prince, B. Ramsey, R. Rothschild, G. Skinner, S. Woosley. 1999-12-18. EXIST: A High Sensitivity Hard X-ray Imaging Sky Survey Mission for ISS. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1303305

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