About X-rays

About X-rays

X-rays are particles with energies that range from ~0.1 to 100 keV. They originate from many astrophysical sources including our Sun, stars, supernova remnants, the environments near black holes and giant clusters of galaxies, and they provide unique probes of extreme physical conditions in the Universe. X-ray astronomy began as a science just over 40 years ago. Since that time, significant progress has been made in understanding the means by which X-rays are created and how they interact with matter in astrophysical settings. The details of these processes are being revealed with improved technologies being developed in the X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory and elsewhere.

These technologies include microcalorimeters, solid state detectors, proportional counters, and lightweight replicated optics. Measurement techniques include imaging (mapping spatial structures), spectroscopy (deriving temperatures, densities, chemical abundances, ionization states) and timing (probing dynamical phenomena such as accretion flows, oscillations, accretion disk instabilities, and magnetic field configurations). The X-ray astronomy group at the X-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory is actively engaged in instrument development and observational research programs. The close association of scientists involved with instrument development, data analysis and data archiving provides a stimulating atmosphere that allows calibration and other issues to be identified and worked out.