Cosmic Origins
Searching for answers about our universe and its origins

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Cosmic Origins Mission Studies

Astrophysics Roadmap 2013

The Astrophysics Roadmap Town Hall Meeting was held as a virtual meeting on May 6, 2013 (10am – 5:30pm EDT) and May 7, 2013 (10am – 4:50pm EDT).

  • Astrophysics Roadmap Town Hall [Agenda]
  • Astrophysics Roadmap 2013 [PDF]

The Team received over 100 abstracts for the Roadmap. Note that submitters were asked prior if they wanted to make their abstracts public or not.

Abstracts

Science Challenge

List 1 – 25
  1. Computational Astrophysics and Multimessenger Astronomy [PDF], John Baker
  2. Gravitational Waves as a unique window on the Universe [PDF], John Baker, Ira Thorpe, Tuck Stebbins, et al.
  3. Stellar and Galactic Astronomy with Ultracompact Binaries [PDF], M. Benacquista, K. Holley Bockelmann, V. Kalogera, et al.
  4. How Did the IMBSs Form That Grew to be the Massive Black Holes Found Today in Most Galactic Centers? [PDF], Peter L. Bender
  5. Initial Formation and Growth of IMBHs at High Redshifts [PDF], Peter L. Bender & M. C. Begelman
  6. Solar System Tests of Gravitational Theory and Measurement of J2 for the Sun [PDF], Peter L. Bender & Neil Ashby
  7. Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) as an Alternate Probe of the Cosmic Expansion History [PDF], Marianne Vestergaard, Kelly D. Denney, & Misty C. Bentz
  8. Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics as a Probe of Fundamental Physics [PDF], Emanuele Berti, Scott Hughes, Michele Vallisneri, et al.
  9. Testing a Quantitative Model for Dark Energy [PDF], Peter L. Biermann & Benjamin C. Harms for Scott A. Hughes
  10. Gravitational Wave Astronomy as a Probe of Cosmic Evolution [PDF], Laura Blecha, Cole Miller, Sean McWilliams, John Baker
  11. Hot X-ray Coronae: A Unique Probe of Galaxy Formation [PDF], Ákos Bogdán
  12. AXSIO: The Advanced X-ray Spectroscopic Imaging Observatory [PDF], Jay Bookbinder, Robert Petre, Andrew Ptak, et al.
  13. Exploring New Worlds in the Search for Life [PDF], Jeff Booth
  14. Cosmic Rays: A Multimessenger View from Earth to Sources [PDF], T. J. Brandt
  15. Science Challenges Requiring Sub-Mas Angular Resolution UV/Optical Spectral Imaging Observations [PDF], K.G. Carpenter, W. Danchi, R. Lyon, et al.
  16. Understanding Particle Acceleration in the Remnants of Supernovae [PDF], Daniel Castro
  17. X-ray Timing of Black Holes and Neutron Stars [PDF], Deepto Chakrabarty
  18. Spectral Distortions of the Cosmic Microwave Background:a New Window to Early Universe Physics [PDF], J. Chluba, D. J. Fixsen, M. Kamionkowski, et al.
  19. VISTA: Visible Interferometric Space Telescope Array [PDF], Kevin Christopher Cooke
  20. On the Need for High-Resolution Imaging [PDF], Julianne Dalcanton
  21. Mass, Energy, Space and Time System Theory – MEST [PDF], Cao Dayong
  22. NASA at the Dawn of Multimessenger Astrophysics [PDF],Derek Fox
  23. Breakthrough Capability for the NASA Astrophysics Explorer Program: Reaching the Darkest Sky [PDF], Matthew A. Greenhouse, B. Mazin, S.H. Moseley, et al.
  24. Time-domain Spectroscopic Observatory (TSO) for TDA in Roadmap [PDF], Jonathan Grindlay, Neil Gehrels, Harvey Moseley, et al.
  25. Gamma Ray Spectroscopy: Explosion Physics of Supernovae Type Ia [PDF], J.E. Grove, M. Baring, D. Bhattacharya, et al.

List 26 – 50
  1. Light Dispersion Probe with Type Ia SN Observations [PDF], Herman Holushko
  2. Static Universe Probe with Type Ia SN Observations [PDF], Herman Holushko
  3. Determining the Speed of Magnetic Field Propagation in Vacuum [PDF], Herman Holushko
  4. Accreting Binaries Over Cosmic Time [PDF], A. Hornschemeier, B. Lehmer, A. Ptak, et al.
  5. Tracing the High-Z Hierarchical Growth of Galaxies with Black Hole Mergers [PDF], Scott A. Hughes
  6. Astrophysics with Gamma-Ray Polarimetry Above 1 MeV [PDF], S. Hunter, P. Bloser, G. de Nolfo, et al.
  7. X-ray and Gamma-ray Polarimetry Science NASA Astrophysics Roadmap Whitepaper [PDF], T. Kallman, M. McConnell, M. Baring, et al.
  8. Astrophysics Challenge [PDF], Michael Kowalski
  9. Ultraviolet Observations of Active Galactic Nuclei and their Environs [PDF], Gerard Kriss, Anton Koekemoer, Jennifer E. Scott, Smita Mathur (Ohio State)
  10. A Visit to the Nearest Dark Matter Clump [PDF], Brian Lacki
  11. Probing The Dark Ages and Cosmic Dawn [PDF], Joseph Lazio, Steven Furlanetto, Jack Burns for NLSI/LUNAR
  12. In Pursuit of Cosmic Origins [PDF], David Leisawitz
  13. Taking Science by Swarm [PDF], Jeff Livas, John Baker, Ira Thorpe, Tuck Stebbins
  14. Compact Objects in Globular Clusters [PDF], Tom Maccarone, Laura Chomiuk, Jay Strader, et al.
  15. Imaging the Relativistic Component of the Large Scale Structure [PDF], Maxim Markevitch
  16. Project Lyman: 11 Gyrs of MIB Evolution [PDF], Stephan McCandliss
  17. Nanohertz to Microhertz Gravitational Wave Astronomy [PDF], Sean McWilliams
  18. Millihertz to Decihertz Gravitational Wave Astronomy [PDF], Sean McWilliams
  19. Galactic Cosmic Ray Astrophysics [PDF], John W. Mitchell
  20. Extreme Energy Particle Astronomy [PDF], John W. Mitchell
  21. A Comprehensive Map of Galaxy and Black Hole Evolution over Cosmic Time [PDF], Leonidas Moustakas
  22. Future Astrophysics Unified Simulations [PDF], Ken-Ichi Nishikawa
  23. Future High-Angular Resolution UV-Optical Imaging Capability From Space [PDF], Marc Postman, Michael Fall, Jason Tumlinson
  24. NASA and Nanohertz Gravitational Wave Astronomy [PDF], A. Ransom
  25. Getting Educators Involved in Real Research – The Nitarp Model in 30 Years [PDF], Luisa Rebull, Carolyn Brinkworth, Varoujan Gorjian, et al.

List 51 – 74
  1. Observing the Entire Universe: Big Bang to the Dark Sector [PDF], Jason Rhodes
  2. Gravitational Wave Astronomy as a Probe of Galactic Nuclei [PDF], J. D. Schnittman, E. Berti, L. Blecha, et al.
  3. Understanding Black Holes with X-ray Polarimetry [PDF], J. D. Schnittman, K. Jahoda, P. Kaaret,et al.
  4. Distribution of Matter in and Around Galaxies [PDF], Norbert Schulz
  5. Constraining the Physics of Ultra-Dense Matter with X-Ray Observations of Neutron Stars [PDF], Slavko Bogdanov
  6. The Next 30 Years of NASA Astrophysics: How Do We Bring 400 Million People Along for the Journey? [PDF], Denise A. Smith, James G. Manning, Lindsay Bartolone, et al.
  7. Space UV and Visible Spectropolarimetry for Stellar Physics [PDF], M. Smith, A. ud-Doula, T. Ayres, et al.
  8. E/PO Considerations for Data Processing [PDF], Gordon K. Squires, Robert Hurt, Frank Summers, et al.
  9. E/PO and Science Considerations for Data Visualization [PDF], Gordon K. Squires, Frank Summers, Carolyn Brinkworth, et al.
  10. Advanced Mirror Technology Development for Large UVO Space Telescopes [PDF], A. Stahl
  11. Astrophysics Roadmap: Physical Processes in Extreme Conditions [PDF], D. Stern & M. Vallisneri
  12. Astrophysics Education, Public Engagement, & Communications: Inspiring and Educating with NASA [PDF], Amber Straughn, Barbara Mattson, Koji Mukai, et al.
  13. Science Impact of Improved Instrumentation -n Space-Based Gravitational-Wave Detection [PDF], Ira Thorpe, Jeff Livas, and Tuck Stebbins
  14. The Next Thirty Years of Gravitational Wave Astronomy [PDF], Ira Thorpe, John Baker, Jeff Livas, and Robin Stebbins
  15. Gas Flows in Galaxies: The Essential Role of UV Spectroscopy [PDF], Jason Tumlinson
  16. The Next Thirty Years of Gravitational Wave AstronomyTowards an Understanding of Dust Grain Alignment in the Interstellar Medium [PDF], John E. Vaillancourt and B-G Andersson
  17. Science Horizons & Technology Challenges Beyond the Chandra X-Ray Observatory [PDF], Alexey Vikhlinin
  18. Mapping Dark Matter with Antiparticles [PDF], Philip von Doetinchem
  19. Gravitational Wave Research from Space [PDF], Rainer Weiss
  20. Astrophysics Roadmap Science Challenge: Polarimetry of Spatially Unresolved Exoplanets [PDF], Sloane J. Wiktorowicz
  21. Accretion in High Magnetic Field Astrophysical Environments [PDF], M.T. Wolff, R.E. Rothschild, P.A. Becker, and C.A. Wilson-Hodge
  22. Dark Matter Emulators [PDF], Richard Woodard
  23. Formation and Evolution of Galaxies, Stars, and Planetary Systems: The Local Universe [PDF], H.W. Yorke
  24. Exploring Physics of Universe Using Space Laboratories [PDF], Nan Yu, Slava Turyshev, and Ulf Israelsson

Technology Challenge

List 1 – 21
  1. Technology Challenges for Enabling Future Low-Cost Large Aperture UV Telescopes in Space using a Photon Sieve (PS) [PDF], Airapetian, V. S., Carpenter, K. G., Davila, J., et al.
  2. Testing Gravitational Time Delay Predictions of General Relativity [PDF], Neil Ashby and Peter Bender
  3. Large-Format High Resolution X-ray Microcalorimeter Arrays [PDF], Simon Bandler
  4. Enabling Soft Gamma-Ray Focusing with Laue Lenses [PDF], Nicolas M. Barrière, Steven E. Boggs, John A. Tomsick, et al.
  5. Gravitational Wave Astrophysics; The Next Frontier in Understanding the Universe and LISA-2020; An Intermediate Scale Space Gravitational Wave Observatory for This Decade [PDF], S. Buchman, J.A. Lipa and R.L. Byer
  6. Technology Challenges for 21-cm Cosmology [PDF], Jack Burns, J. Lazio, J. Bowman for NLSI/LUNAR
  7. Technology Challenges for Obtaining Sub-Mas Angular Resolution UV/Optical Spectral Imaging Observations [PDF], K.G. Carpenter, W. Danchi, R. Lyon, et al.
  8. Science Challenges Requiring Sub-Mas Angular Resolution UV/Optical Spectral Imaging Observations [PDF], K.G. Carpenter, W. Danchi, R. Lyon, et al.
  9. Technological Challenges for a UV-Optical Flagship Mission [PDF], Dennis Ebbets
  10. Lowering Mission Cost by Changing Space Engineering Practice [PDF], Martin Elvis
  11. Technology Demonstration for Next-generation Segmented Large Apertures [PDF], Renaud Goullioud, Mark Boyles, Fengchuan Liu, et al.
  12. Breakthrough Capability for the NASA Astrophysics Explorer Program: Reaching the Darkest Sky [PDF], Matthew A. Greenhouse, B. Mazin, S.H. Moseley, et al.
  13. Soft X-ray Polarimetry Instrumentation for the NASA Astrophysics Roadmap [PDF], Herman L. Marshall, Ralf Heilmann, and Norbert S. Schulz
  14. Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors for UVOIR and X-ray Astrophysics [PDF], Ben Mazin
  15. Technology Development for X-ray and Gamma-Ray Polarimetry [PDF], M. McConnell, M. Baring, P. Bloser, et al.
  16. Technology Needs for MeV Gamma-Ray Astronomy [PDF], M. McConnell, M. Baring, D. Bhattacharya, et al.
  17. Advancing the Technology of Interferometry: The Tool for Mapping New Worlds [PDF], S. Rinehart, M. Fridlund, S. Unwin, G. van Belle
  18. Intensity-Correlation Imaging of Dark Objects in Space [PDF], Dmitry V. Strekalov, Baris I. Erkmen, and Nan Yu
  19. Unveiling the Dawn of the Early Universe in X-rays [PDF], Martin C. Weisskopf
  20. Put X-Ray Polarimetry on the MAP! [PDF], Martin C. Weisskopf
  21. Lightweight and Diffraction-Limited X-ray Telescopes [PDF], William W. Zhang
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