This webpage is being kept for archival purposes only.
It may be updated in the future, but it is not currently being maintained.
It may be updated in the future, but it is not currently being maintained.
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
