Capabilities of a lobster eye telescope in the outer solar system

Abstract

Current lobster eye telescopes demonstrate that it's possible to produce light-weight, large field of view instruments for observing X-rays for both planetary science and astronomy. Jupiter is the most powerful particle accelerator in the solar system and the other outer planets have intricate and complicated magnetospheres which their moons often orbit within. Particle bombardment of the surfaces of their moons induces the emission of characteristic X-rays which enables their composition to be studied. An orbiting X-ray instrument would transform our understanding of the moons' composition, as well as the aurorae, atmosphere, plasma tori of outer planet systems and could also enable direct imaging of the entire radiation belt. Lobster eye telescopes are perfect for this application due to their light weight and wide field of view. This paper begins to identify a lobster eye telescope design to fulfil these science goals.