The High Energy Astrophysics Division's main focus is on X-ray astronomy via observations of high-energy sources with instruments aboard satellites, rockets, balloons, and the Space Shuttle. The Division also develops new instrumentation for future space missions to address the physical processes involved in generating X-rays, the amount of matter in the Universe, and the origin, evolution, and ultimate fate of the Universe.

Events
Seminars and Scientific Talks

Staff
HEA Staff List

Contact
Associate Director: Dr. William R. Forman (617) 495-7210
Deputy Associate Director: Dr. Alexey Vikhlinin (617) 495-7044
Administrative Deputy: Dr. Edward M. Mattison (617) 495-7265
Division Administrator: Mr. Michael P. Trischitta (617) 495-7254
Contact: Ms. Patricia Buckley (617) 495-7290
Division Web Contact: Dr. Peter Edmonds (617) 496-1917

History

X-ray astronomy has a short history, but has made rapid progress. Not until 1962 was the first X-ray source outside the Solar System - Scorpius X-1 - detected by a group led by Riccardo Giacconi. Giacconi's group went on to build the first X-ray astronomy satellite, UHURU . Giacconi moved his group to the newly formed CfA in 1973 to found the High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEA), where they led the team building the first X-ray astronomy satellite to use a mirror to take images of the universe in X-rays, the Einstein Observatory , and was over 100 times more sensitive than any previous mission. Now the Chandra X-ray Observatory continues this record, giving the most detailed images of the X-ray sky ever taken. Chandra detects sources 1 billion times fainter than Scorpius X-1, and locates them 10 billion times more precisely. A program in solar X-ray astronomy , started by Pippo Vaiana, made similarly great strides. Learn more about HEA History... HEA Missions