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arXiv · 0805.1665

Swift XRT Observations of the Possible Dark Galaxy VIRGOHI 21

Abstract

\swift \xrt observations of the \hi line source \VV were performed on April 22 and April 26, 2008 for a total exposure time of 9.2ks. This is the first pointed X-ray observation of \VV, a putative dark galaxy in the Virgo cluster, and no photons were detected from this source. The non-detection of extended X-ray emission within the angular extent of the \hi source corresponds to a 99% confidence upper limit of $2.1 \times 10^{-14}$\ergcms in the 0.3--2.0 keV band. The equivalent upper limit to the amount of diffuse hot gas associated with \VV is in the range $4\times 10^{7} - 2 \times 10^8$ \msun for a hot gas temperature between 0.1 and 1 keV. The non-detection also corresponds to a 99%-confidence upper limit on the flux from a point-like source of $8\times 10^{-15}$\ergcms in the 0.3--2.0 keV band. We discuss the constraints on the nature of \VV imposed by these observations and the theoretical implications of these results.

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Massimiliano Bonamente, Douglas Swartz, Martin Weisskopf, Steven Murray. 2008-09-23. Swift XRT Observations of the Possible Dark Galaxy VIRGOHI 21. https://doi.org/10.1086/592819

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