New x-ray telescope mission (NeXT)

In various objects, it has been evident that non-thermal processes are playing important roles in high energy objects. They become outstanding above 10 keV and its total energy could be comparable to that of thermal components. In order to examine such non-thermal processes, we propose a hard X-ray imaging mission NeXT (New X-ray Telescope mission) together with the soft gamma ray detector and the high resolution spectrometer. Hard X-ray telescopes consist of multilayer coated high through put mirrors. The focal plane detectors are hybrid type imaging detectors to cover both soft and hard X-rays. Total performance in sensitivity for a point source reaches 100 times better than any currently scheduled missions in 10 - 60(80) keV range and 10 times better in soft gamma rays. It is planned to launch it in the time frame of 2011.