• Den Herder, J.
• Hartmann, D.
• Burrows, D.
• Ohashi, T.
• Piro, Luigi
• Kouveliotou, C.

Abstract

Reconstructing the cosmic history of metals, from the first population of stars to the processes involved in the formation of galaxies and clusters of galaxies, is a key observational challenge. Most baryons reside in diffuse structures, in proto-galaxies and clusters of galaxies, and are predicted to trace the vast filamentary structures created by the ubiquitous Dark Matter. X-ray spectroscopy of diffuse matter has the unique capability of simultaneously probing a broad range of elements , C through Fe - in all their ionization stages and all binding states. A medium- size mission, Xenia - proposed to the ASTRO2010 Decadal Survey - will combine cryogenic imaging spectrometers and wide field X-ray optics with fast repointing to collect essential information from three major tracers of metals throughout the evolution of the Universe, from the early epoch to the present era: Gamma Ray Burst, Galaxy Clusters, and the Warm Hot Intergalactic Medium. Here we will describe in more detail the unique capabilities of Xenia for the WHIM. <P />...

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• cluster
• X-ray spectroscopy