Resolving the X-ray emission from the Lyman continuum emitting galaxy Tol 1247-232


Abstract in English

Chandra observations of the nearby, Lyman-continuum (LyC) emitting galaxy Tol 1247-232 resolve the X-ray emission and show that it is dominated by a point-like source with a hard spectrum ($Gamma = 1.6 pm 0.5$) and a high luminosity ($(9 pm 2) times 10^{40} rm , erg , s^{-1}$). Comparison with an earlier XMM-Newton observation shows flux variation of a factor of 2. Hence the X-ray emission likely arises from an accreting X-ray source: a low-luminosity AGN or one or a few X-ray binaries. The Chandra X-ray source is similar to the point-like, hard spectrum ($Gamma = 1.2 pm 0.2$), high luminosity ($10^{41} rm , erg , s^{-1}$) source seen in Haro 11, which is the only other confirmed LyC-emitting galaxy that has been resolved in X-rays. We discuss the possibility that accreting X-ray sources contribute to LyC escape.

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