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Unveiling the Dynamics of the Universe by Analyzing Colors
Let's look at the observation instruments on ASTRO-EII.
It carries five X-ray telescopes, each 40 cm in diameter. Four of them are equipped with an X-ray CCD camera to capture vivid images, and the fifth has a high-resolution X-ray spectrometer to observe the X-ray source spectrum, which indicates the wavelength and relative strength of light. The satellite also carries a hard X-ray detector.
Prof. Hideyo Kunieda (School of Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University), the leading astronomer in Japan, whose specialty is X-rays, described ASTRO-EII this way:
"The advantage of ASTRO-EII, including its hard X-ray detector, is its ability to cover a wider range of wavelength. This is its distinctive capability. Another remarkable instrument is the microcalorimeter. This may be the cream of the technology on board the ASTRO-EII. [A microcalorimeter is a thermal activity monitor that detects temperature fluctuation in X-rays.] The heart of the device was made in the United States, and Japan provided the technology for prolonging its lifespan by cooling its exterior."
The most important feature of ASTRO-EII, however, is its high-resolution spectroscopy. Prof. Kunieda explained: "Japanese satellites are smaller than American and European ones, and Japan doesn't have the technology to build heavy and high-quality telescopes. That's why we decided to build light but high-resolution spectrometers to survey the electromagnetic spectrum in detail, as it contains very good information for the study of celestial bodies. With its enhanced wavelength spectroscopy, ASTRO-EII can observe the dynamics of celestial bodies. The ultimate goal is to reveal the dynamics of the areas surrounding black holes and the space-time structure."
Compared to the "Western way," which focuses on making big leaps even if they take time to implement, the "Japanese way" is to focus on being the first in the world to start production, through constant trials, no matter how small the scale. "Catching a big fish with small bait" — the ASTRO-EII observation instruments are definitely the pride and joy of Japan's X-ray astronomy.
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Hideyo Kunieda
Professor, School of Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University
International collaboration is one of the watchwords of the ASTRO-EII project. This is a vital strategy not only for implementing missions but also for ensuring the future of X-ray astronomy.
On ASTRO-EII, Japan and the United States have collaborated throughout, from the assembly of detectors and telescopes, to testing and data analysis. Among these collaborations, the microcalorimeter is a major achievement. The core of the device is U.S.-made; Japan was in charge of developing the refrigeration unit, which keeps the detector at low temperature, like a thermos bottle.
Another important international collaboration is the Science Working Group, which includes significant human resources from the United States for technological issues, and also five science advisors from the U.S. and Europe. The committee advises on mission planning and satellite design, gets regular reports on development and problems, and consults on the direction of satellite observation.
The idea of the Science Working Group was introduced not only for ASTRO-E, but also for ASCA. The data acquired by Japan's satellites is to be shared internationally. Collaborating with international partners is now standard practice in Japan.
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