It was jointly organized by two leading research institutions: the Institute of Astronomy of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University with the support of Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe, TTS, Huld and OHB Czech Space. The annual AXRO conference, which
held in Prague during the Advent period, places considerable emphasis on the link between the academic and industrial sectors. Presentations and discussions on the latest technologies, not only for current and future X-ray satellites but also for rocket experiments, have become the main focus of this event. The extension of space observation capabilities to the X-ray part of the spectrum has provided fundamental insights into cosmic phenomena, especially those where matter is in extreme conditions, such as near giant black holes, galaxy cores and supernova explosions. The development of X-ray cosmic optics in the Czech Republic has a long history starting with the first Czech X-ray lens produced in 1970.
The conference attracted 47 experts from six countries (besides the Czech Republic, also from the USA, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and China) who presented a total of 43 papers. Contributors included representatives of research organisations and universities such as NASA, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Max Planck Institute in Germany, as well as innovative companies from home and abroad, such as Cosine, which is developing X-ray optics for the important ATHENA mission.
During the conference, the latest results in the field of X-ray detection were presented, including the design and fabrication of X-ray optics using new materials that have the potential to improve the performance of X-ray optical systems. Design software for the construction of these systems was presented, as well as advanced methods for the detection and processing of X-ray and gamma-ray data from space. Plans of mostly American institutions for rocket experiments were also discussed, while in the past, PhD students from CTU FEL and Czech companies (Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe, VZLU) have also participated in them.
One of the agenda items was also presentations and discussions of scientific missions, including consultation of the results of the European AHEAD consortium of the Horizon 2020 project, in which CTU FEL participates. New space satellites ATHENA, SMILE or THESEUS, which are being prepared under the auspices of the European Space Agency (ESA) with Czech participation represented by Prof. René Hudec (CTU FEL), were also discussed. In addition, the ambitious Czech QUVIK mission led by Prof. Norbert Werner (Masaryk University), which is expected to be launched by the end of this decade, was presented to the international participants.
During its fourteen years of existence, the AXRO conference has become a world-class event attracting top experts. This is evident from the recurrent and abundant presence of internationally renowned scientists in the field of high energy astrophysics, presentations on current topics and discussions on future collaborative projects
