Imaging in Hard X-ray Astronomy

Abstract

Abstract. The energy range of hard X-rays is a key waveband to the study of high energy processes in celestial objects, but still remains poorly explored. In contrast to direct imaging methods used in the low energy X-ray and high energy gamma-ray bands, currently imaging in the hard X-ray band is mainly achieved through various modulation techniques. A new inversion technique, the direct demodulation method, has been developed since early 90s. With this technique, wide field and high resolution images can be derived from scanning data of a simple collimated detector. The feasibility of this technique has been confirmed by experiment, balloon-borne observation and analyzing simulated and real astronomical data. Based the development of methodology and instrumentation, a high energy astrophysics mission -Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT) has been proposed and selected in China for a four-year Phase-A study. The main scientific objectives are a full-sky hard X-ray (20-200 keY) imaging survey and high signal-to-noise ratio timing studies of high energy sources.

Application of a multiscale maximum entropy image restoration algorithm to HXMT observations

“…an all-sky hard X-ray survey, deep imaging observations of selected sky regions) and pointed observation in the 1-250 keV range [9]. Many simulations have confirmed its high sensitivity and angular resolution for point source detection in scanning observation mode [1,6,[9][10][11], but few studies have been done for diffuse sources. However, diffuse source detection is of great importance in astronomy.…”