The <i>Athena</i> space X‐ray observatory and the astrophysics of hot plasma<sup>†</sup>
The <i>Athena</i> space X‐ray observatory and the astrophysics of hot plasma<sup>†</sup>
Abstract The properties (temperature, density, chemical composition, velocity) of hot astrophysical plasma and the physical processes affecting them (heating/cooling, turbulence, shocks, acceleration) can be probed by high‐resolution X‐ray spectroscopy, to be complemented by high‐spatial‐resolution imaging. The paper presents the status of the European Space Agency's Advanced Telescope for High Energy …