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S. E. Boggs (Space Radiation Laboratory, California Institute of Technology), R. P. Lin (Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley), B. R. Dennis (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center), P. Von Ballmoos (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements), K. Thomsen (Paul Scherrer Institute, Laboratory for Astrophysics), G. Hurford, K. C. Hurley, N. W. Madden, D. M. Smith (Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley), P. Jean, J. Knoedelseder (Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements)
In the recent NASA SMEX competition, our collaboration proposed Cyclone, the Cyclotron/Nuclear Explorer. The scientific goals, instrument design, and observing program of this powerful observatory will be discussed. Cyclone is a broadband (3-200 keV) pointed astrophysical observatory, combining the highest spectral resolutions (E/dE ~ 30-200) and angular resolutions (15") achieved in the hard X-ray range. Optimized for the study of nucleosynthesis through the spectroscopic imaging of 44Ti emission, Cyclone will perform spatially-resolved mapping of the 68/78 keV emission in young Galactic supernova remnants. Cyclone will also explore fundamental physical processes such as accretion and particle acceleration in supernova remnants, compact objects, and AGN. Cyclone will spectrally-resolve hard X-ray lines in accreting X-ray binaries, as well as perform a systematic study of obscured AGN believed to dominate the cosmic hard X-ray background. Cyclone maintains a large Guest Observer program (50 component to its 2-3 year mission to observe over 100 individual sources. Building strongly upon instrumental heritage from the HESSI SMEX program, Cyclone will be ready for launch by September 2003.