P. Jonker, P. O’Brien, et al.

Athena will provide the necessary sensitivity and spectral resolution for the study of the dynamic high-energy sky.

Its peak throughput near 1 keV makes it especially well suited for sources of considerable redshift.

Indeed, as the highest luminosity transients are the brightest high-redshift sources of light, the fast response capability of Athena coupled with its light gathering power make it a unique facility for the study of the dynamic, evolving Universe.

Gamma-ray bursts probe into the era of formation of the first stars and black holes in the Universe and Athena+ is uniquely equipped to allow their investigation.

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