Speaker
Description
Accreting black holes and neutron stars exhibit rapid X-ray variability that provides a unique probe of the innermost regions of the accretion flow. Many of the most interesting phenomena, however, occur unpredictably and on timescales that require long, uninterrupted observations, making them difficult to study with current and planned observatories.
We present NEBULA-Xplorer, a Mini-Fast mission concept designed to provide high-throughput, high-time-resolution observations in the 0.5–15 keV band with a dedicated observing strategy optimised for dense monitoring of Galactic X-ray binaries. By significantly increasing the temporal coverage of transient outbursts, NEBULA-Xplorer aims to address fundamental questions on the evolution of accretion flows, quasi-periodic oscillations, and the connection between accretion and relativistic jet formation. The mission concept combines proven technologies with a strong educational component in which students and early-career researchers contribute directly to the development and operation of a real space mission.
The concept presented here is our current baseline for NEBULA-Xplorer, but it is certainly not the only possibility. We are continuing to explore different mission architectures and technical approaches, and we are actively looking to grow the consortium.