Athena, the ESA observatory to study AGN in the Hot and Energetic Universe

Athena (Advanced Telescope for High ENergy Astrophysics) is the X-ray observatory mission selected by ESA to address the Hot and Energetic Universe theme, due for launch in 2028. All classes of astrophysical objects, where high-energy phenomena take place, can be studied with Athena but, in the context of this conference, Athena will study how accretion into supermassive black holes happened across cosmic time and how it influenced galaxies and clusters through feedback processes. The Athena mission concept is that of a single large-aperture grazing-incidence X-ray telescope, utilising a novel technology (Si pore optics) developed in Europe, with 12m focal length and 5 arcsec HEW angular resolution. The focal plane contains two instruments. One is the Wide Field Imager (WFI) providing sensitive wide field of view imaging and low resolution spectroscopy, as well as bright source observation capability. The other one is the X-ray Integral Field Unit (X-IFU) delivering spatially resolved high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy over a limited field of view. Synergies with other facilities (ALMA, E-ELT, SKA etc) are being identified and developed. Spain has an important role in Athena, with a significant contribution to the X-IFU instrument, including the dewar for the detector cooling system, the algorithms for the on-board pulse detection software, and a leading scientific contribution. Spain also leads the Athena Community Office, set up to help optimising the participation of the more than 800 scientists which are helping to shape up the mission through its working groups.