AUTHOR=García Javier A. , Stern Daniel , Madsen Kristin , Smith Miles , Grefenstette Brian , Ajello Marco , Alford Jason , Annuar Adlyka , Bachetti Matteo , Baloković Mislav , Beckmann Ricarda S. , Bianchi Stefano , Biccari Daniela , Boorman Peter , Brightman Murray , Buchner Johannes , Bulbul Esra , Chen Chien-Ting , Civano Francesca , Coley Joel , Connors Riley M. T. , Del Santo Melania , Gesu Laura Di , Draghis Paul A. , Fragile P. Chris , Gúrpide Andrés , Gangi Manuele , Gezari Suvi , Harrison Fiona , Kammoun Elias , Lanzuisi Giorgio , Lehmer Bret , Lohfink Anne , Ludlam Renee , Marchesi Stefano , Marcotulli Lea , Margutti Raffaella , Masterson Megan , Merloni Andrea , Middleton Matthew , Mori Kaya , Moretti Alberto , Nandra Kirpal , Perez Kerstin , Pfeifle Ryan W. , Pinto Ciro , Piotrowska Joanna , Ponti Gabriele , Pottschmidt Katja , Predehl Peter , Puccetti Simonetta , Rau Arne , Reynolds Stephen , Santangelo Andrea , Spiga Daniele , Tomsick John A. , Torres-Albà Núria , Walton Dominic J. , Wilkins Daniel , Wilms Joern , Zhang Will , Zhao Xiurui 

TITLE=The high energy X-ray probe (HEX-P): science overview

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/astronomy-and-space-sciences/articles/10.3389/fspas.2024.1471585

DOI=10.3389/fspas.2024.1471585

ISSN=2296-987X

ABSTRACT=To answer NASA’s call for a sensitive X-ray observatory in the 2030s, we present the High Energy X-ray Probe (HEX-P) mission concept. HEX-P is designed to provide the required capabilities to explore current scientific questions and make new discoveries with a broadband X-ray observatory that simultaneously measures sources from 0.2 to 80 keV. HEX-P’s main scientific goals include: 1) understand the growth of supermassive black holes and how they drive galaxy evolution; 2) explore the lower mass populations of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and stellar-mass black holes in the nearby universe; 3) explain the physics of the mysterious corona, the luminous plasma close to the central engine of accreting compact objects that dominates cosmic X-ray emission; and 4) find the sources of the highest energy particles in the Galaxy. These goals motivate a sensitive, broadband X-ray observatory with imaging, spectroscopic, and timing capabilities, ensuring a versatile platform to serve a broad General Observer (GO) and Guest Investigator (GI) community. In this paper, we present an overview of these mission goals, which have been extensively discussed in a collection of more than a dozen papers that are part of this Research Topic volume. The proposed investigations will address key questions in all three science themes highlighted by Astro2020, including their associated priority areas. HEX-P will extend the capabilities of the most sensitive low- and high-energy X-ray satellites currently in orbit and will complement existing and planned high-energy, time-domain, and multi-messenger facilities in the next decade.