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arXiv · 1907.05963

The impact of improved plasma diagnostics on modeling the X-ray Universe

Junjie Mao·Francois Mernier·Jelle S. Kaastra·Liyi Gu·Missagh Mehdipour·Jelle de Plaa
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Abstract

The high-resolution X-ray spectrum of the Perseus galaxy cluster observed with the Hitomi satellite challenges astrophysical collisional ionized plasma models that are widely used in the community. Although Hitomi spun out of control, several Hitomi-level missions have been proposed and some funded. The spectrometers aboard these future missions have a broader energy range and/or a higher spectral resolution to achieve different scientific goals. Accurate plasma models and atomic data are crucial for plasma diagnostics of high-quality spectra. Here, we present a few cases where improvement of plasma diagnostics will be decisive to better understand celestial bodies and their physical processes at play. We focus on collisional ionized and photoionized astrophysical plasmas in the context of developments of plasma models, as well as current and future generations of spectrometers.

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Junjie Mao, Francois Mernier, Jelle S. Kaastra, Liyi Gu, Missagh Mehdipour, Jelle de Plaa. 2019-07-12. The impact of improved plasma diagnostics on modeling the X-ray Universe. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221%2F14%2F07%2Fc07012

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