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Register a new userHigh-resolution X-ray imaging and spectroscopy of the core of NGC 4945 with XMM-Newton and Chandra
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We utilize the complimentary capabilities of XMM-Newton and Chandra, to conduct a detailed imaging and spectral study of the nearby galaxy NGC 4945 focussing on its nucleus and immediate surroundings (within ~1 kpc of the nucleus). A complex morphology is revealed including a predominantly hard, but partially resolved, nuclear source plus a spectrally soft, conically shaped X-ray plume, which extends 30 (500 pc) to the northwest. In NGC 4945 our direct view of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) is blocked below ~10 keV by extremely heavy line-of-sight absorption and the observed X-ray spectrum is dominated by multi-temperature thermal emission associated with the nuclear starburst and the X-ray plume. Nevertheless the signature of the AGN is present in the form of a neutral Compton reflection component and a 6.4 keV fluorescent iron Ka line. We conjecture that the site of the continuum reprocessing is the far wall of a highly inclined molecular torus, a geometry which is consistent with the presence of H2O megamaser emission in this source. The soft spectrum (~0.6 keV) and limb-brightened appearance of the X-ray plume suggest an interpretation in terms of a mass-loaded superwind emanating from the nuclear starburst.
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We present high-resolution soft-X-ray spectra of the prototypical Seyfert 2 galaxy, NGC 1068, taken with XMM-Newton RGS and Chandra LETGS. Its rich emission-line spectrum is dominated by recombination in a warm plasma (bright, narrow radiative recombination continua provide the ``smoking gun), which is photoionized by the inferred nuclear power-law continuum. Radiative decay following photoexcitation of resonant transitions is also significant. A self-consistent model of an irradiated cone of gas is capable of reproducing the hydrogenic/heliumlike ionic line series in detail. The radial ionic column densities we infer are consistent with absorption measurements (the warm absorber) in Seyfert 1 galaxies. This strongly suggests that the emission spectrum we observe from NGC 1068 emanates from its warm absorber. The observed extent of the ionization-cone/warm absorber in NGC 1068 of about 300 pc implies that a large fraction of the gas associated with generic warm absorbers may typically exist on the hundreds-of-parsec scale rather than much closer to the nucleus (e.g., less than a parsec). Spatially-resolved spectroscopy using the LETGS of two distinct emission regions yields two noticeably different spectra. We show that these differences are solely due to differing radial column densities. A fairly flat distribution in ionization parameter is necessary to explain the inferred radial ionic column densities of all spectra. This must primarily be due to a broad density distribution at each radius, spanning roughly 0.1-100 cm$^{-3}$. (Abridged)
We report on a detailed study of the X-ray spectrum of the nearby eclipsing spectroscopic binary YY Gem. Observations were obtained simultaneously with both large X-ray observatories, XMM-Newton and Chandra. We compare the high-resolution spectra acquired with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer onboard XMM-Newton and with the Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer onboard Chandra, and evidence in direct comparison the good performance of both instruments in terms of wavelength and flux calibration. The strongest lines in the X-ray spectrum of YY Gem are from oxygen. Oxygen line ratios indicate the presence of a low-temperature component (1-4 MK) with density n_e < 2 10^{10} cm^-3. The X-ray lightcurve reveals two flares and a dip corresponding to the secondary eclipse. An increase of the density during phases of high activity is suggested from time-resolved spectroscopy. Time-resolved global fitting of the European Photon Imaging Camera CCD spectrum traces the evolution of temperature and emission measure during the flares. These medium-resolution spectra show that temperatures > 10^7 K are relevant in the corona of YY Gem although not as dominant as the lower temperatures represented by the strongest lines in the high-resolution spectrum. Magnetic loops with length on the order of 10^9 cm, i.e., about 5 % of the radius of each star, are inferred from a comparison with a one-dimensional hydrodynamic model. This suggests that the flares did not erupt in the (presumably more extended) inter-binary magnetosphere but are related to one of the components of the binary.
We present a detailed analysis of the XMM-Newton RGS high resolution X-ray spectra of the Seyfert 2 galaxy, Mrk573. This analysis is complemented by the study of the Chandra image, and its comparison to optical (HST) and radio (VLA) data. The soft X-ray emission is mainly due to gas photoionised by the central AGN, as indicated by the detection of radiative recombination continua from OVII and OVIII, as well as by the prominence of the OVII forbidden line. This result is confirmed by the best fit obtained with a self-consistent CLOUDY photoionisation model. However, a collisionally excited component is also required, in order to reproduce the FeXVII lines, accounting for about 1/3 of the total luminosity in the 15-26 A band. Once adopted the same model in the Chandra ACIS data, another photoionised component, with higher ionisation parameter, is needed to take into account emission from higher Z metals. The broadband ACIS spectrum also confirms the Compton-thick nature of the source. The imaging analysis shows the close morphological correspondence between the soft X-ray and the [OIII] emission. The radio emission appears much more compact, although clearly aligned with the narrow line region. The collisional phase of the soft X-ray emission may be due to starburst, requiring a star formation rate of $simeq5-9$ M$_odot$ yr$^{-1}$, but there is no clear evidence of this kind of activity from other wavelengths. On the other hand, it may be related to the radio ejecta, responsible for the heating of the plasma interacting with the outflow, but the estimated pressure of the hot gas is much larger than the pressure of the radio jets, assuming equipartition and under reasonable physical parameters.
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Spectral studies of a luminous X-ray source, NGC 253 X21, are presented based on archival Chandra and XMM-Newton data. The Chandra observation on 1999 December 16 detected the source at a bolometric luminosity of 0.3 x 10^39 erg/s (assuming isotropic emission), while an XMM-Newton observation on 2000 June 3 revealed a short-term source variation in the range of (0.6--1.3) x 10^39 erg/s. All spectra from these observations were successfully modeled by emission from an optically thick accretion disk. The average inner disk radius was kept constant at 63 x (cos 60/cos i)^(1/2) km, where i is the disk inclination, and did not vary significantly, while the disk inner temperature changed in the range of 0.9--1.4 keV. Assuming that this object is an accreting Schwarzschild black hole, and that the disk inner radius coincides with its last stable orbit, the mass of the black hole is estimated to be ~ 7 M_sun. The disk luminosity corresponds to (30--120) x (cos 60/cos i) % of the Eddington limit of this black hole. Therefore, this luminous X-ray source, NGC 253 X21, is understood consistently to be an accreting stellar mass black hole in the standard disk state.
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