HXMT: A Chinese High-Energy Astrophysics Mission

The hard X-ray modulation telescope mission HXMT is mainly devoted to performing a hard X-ray all-sky imaging survey with both high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. In the energy range of 20 - 250 keV, HXMT can perform full-sky hard X-ray survey with angular resolution <5′, position accuracy <1′ and sensitivity much better than Integral/IBIS and Swift/BAT. HXMT can also make high signal-to-noise ratio pointing observations of scientific hot spot sources with sensitivity ∼3×10−7 ph cm – 2 s−1 keV−1 (3σ @100keV 105s) for detailed temporal and spectral studies. HXMT was selected in 2000 as a project under the Major State Basic Research Program of China for its feasibility and technical demonstration study, and in October 2005 was entered the full design phase and listed as a candidate for the first dedicated astronomy satellite launched around 2010.