Summary of Scientific and Calibration Requirements

A broad range of scientific requirements for the Chandra observatory was presented in MSFC-RQMT-2229. These requirements covered the full scope of scientific studies expected to be carried out during the nominal 5 year mission of the Chandra observatory. Simulated Chandra observations of well known targets (e.g., M87, 3C273, Coma cluster, Cas A, and Capella) were performed with a full error budget analysis. Calibration requirements were then derived based on these scientific goals.

Extended Source Mapping

Science: Compare the X-ray structure of AGN jets with their radio images.

Requirements: The PSF should be known to within 0.1% of peak within 1 arcsec annuli out to a radius of 16 arcsec. Within an annulus between 16 arcsec and 20 arcsec the PSF should be known to within 0.001% of peak.

Science: Establish the nature of intensity enhancements in clusters of galaxies.

Requirements: The relative efficiency should be known to 1% on scales of 1 arcmin

Science: Detect and map extended emission around quasars.

Requirements: Same criteria as in Clusters of Galaxies

Motion

Science: Measure the expansion rate of young supernova remnants.

Requirements: Relative spatial positions should be measurable to less than or equal to 0.1 arcsec

Science: Determine shock velocities and bulk motions in supernova remnants.

Requirements: Absolute energy scale of HETG/ACIS-S data should be known to 0.005%

Science: Measure the velocities responsible for line broadening in supernova remnants.

Requirements: FWHM of gratings LRF should be known to within 3%.

Science: Determine the kinetic energy in supernova remnant lines.

Requirements: Absolute efficiency vs. energy should be known to 10%.

Plasma Diagnostics

Science: Establish the temperature and ionization age of the plasma in > supernova remnants.

Requirements: The relative efficiency should be known to 3% and the wings of the LRF to 1% of its peak value.

Science: Determine relative abundances in supernova remnants.

Requirements: Same criteria as in Plasma Diagnostics

Science: Determine the temperatures of bright stellar coronae.

Requirements: Relative efficiency vs. energy should be known to 3% on 0.05A wavelength scales.

Science: Determine the electron densities of bright stellar coronae.

Requirements: Same as for Temperatures in Stellar Coronae

Science: Establish the length of loop structures.

Requirements: Gratings absolute effective areas should be known to 10% on 0.05A wavelength scales.

Science: Identify spectral lines and study their profiles.

Requirements: LETG/HRC-S absolute energy scale should be known to 0.02A. HETG/ACIS-S absolute energy scale should be known to 0.05%.

Source Identification

Science: Identify the counterparts of X-ray sources.

Requirements: Absolute positions should be known to 1 arcsecover the entire field-of-view.

Sunyaev Zel'dovich Effect

Science: Determine the distance to clusters of galaxies.

Requirements: The absolute ACIS effective area should be known to 2% on 0.1 arcmin scales.

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