Key Scientific Objectives for a Deep Hard X-ray Survey
See also discussion in Evolution of EXIST: Original Concept to ISS -- PDF or PS
Active Galactic Nuclei and Background Radiations
- Obscured AGN: accretion history of universe
- Blazars: HX vs. high energy gamma-rays constrain diffuse IR background
- Spectra of all classes of AGN (Seyferts to QSOs) constrain models
Origin and Nature of Gamma-ray Bursts
- Faintest sources (LogN-LogS): GRBs as cosmological probes
- Luminosity functions, high resolution spectra (temporal and spectral), and precise positions
- Relation to supernovae
- Nature of "Fast" GRBs and Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters; Study of SGRs throughout the Local Group
Origin and Evolution of Black Holes
Astrophysics of Compact Objects
- Black Hole Systems: emission mechanisms in disks and jets
- Low Magnetic Field Neutron Stars : accretion disk coronae
- QPOs in Black Hole and Neutron Star LMXBs: probing the disk-corona connection
- Highly Magnetized Neutron Stars : cyclotron lines indicate magnetic field strength
- Neutron Stars or Black Holes in Giant Molecular Clouds
- White Dwarfs: WD masses from kT ~ GM/R
Supernovae & Nucleosynthesis
- Ti-44 survey of galactic plane: obscured SNe and SN rate in Galaxy
Diffuse Inverse Compton Emission from Galaxy Clusters
- Measurement of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters