arXiv subjects

F. Paerels

Publications and source records attributed to F. Paerels.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

High Resolution Grating Spectroscopy of GRB 020405 with CHANDRA LETGS

We present high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of GRB 020405 obtained with the Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (LETGS) on board the Chandra X-ray Observatory starting 1.68 days after the burst. The spectrum appears featureless, with no evidence for emission lines, absorption edges, or narrow radiative recombination continua. The continuum can be fitted by a power law of photon index Gamma = 1.72 +/- 0.21 and temporal decay index alpha = 1.87 +/- 0.1, with a marginally significant excess column density of cold gas N_{H}=(4.7 +/- 3.7) x 10^{21} cm^{-2} at the redshift of the host galaxy. The absence of iron lines indicates that the density of nearby surrounding material was unlikely to be very dense (n < 5 x 10^{12} cm^{-3}) at the time of the Chandra observation. In the case of recombination following photoionization in an optically thin medium, most ionic species would be completely stripped at lower gas densities than this. In the case of a power-law spectrum reflecting off a ``cold'', opaque medium of low density, negligible emission features would be produced. Alternative to these possible explanations for the lack of emission features, any X-ray line emission taking place in a dense medium in a ``nearby reprocessor'' scenario might have been overwhelmed by the bright afterglow continuum. Although the absence of discrete features does not unambiguously test for a connection between GRB 020405 and nucleosynthesis, it emphasizes the need for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy to determine the exact emission mechanism responsible for the reported discrete lines in other GRB afterglows.

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arXiv2002

Spectral and Timing Properties of the Low-mass X-ray Binary 4U 0614+09 with XMM-Newton

4U 0614+09 is a low-mass X-ray binary with a weakly magnetized neutron star primary. It shows variability on time scales that range from years down to ~0.8 milliseconds. Before the Chandra and XMM-Newton era, emission features around 0.7 keV have been reported from this source, but recent Chandra observations failed to detect them. Instead, these observations suggest an overabundance of Ne in the absorbing material, which may be common to ultracompact (P_{orb} \simless 1 hour) systems with a neon-rich degenerate dwarf secondary. We observed 4U 0614+09 with XMM-Newton in March 2001. Here we present the energy spectra, both from the RGS and EPIC cameras, and the Fourier power spectra from EPIC high-time resolution light curves, which we use to characterize the spectral state of the source.

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arXiv2002

XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer Observations of Discrete Soft-X-ray Emission Features from NGC 1068

We present the first high-resolution, soft-X-ray spectrum of the prototypical Seyfert 2 galaxy, NGC 1068. This spectrum was obtained with the XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer. Emission lines from H-like and He-like low-Z ions (from C to Si) and Fe-L-shell ions dominate the spectrum. Strong, narrow radiative recombination continua (RRC) for several ions are also present, implying that most of the observed soft-X-ray emission arises in low-temperature (few eV) plasma. This plasma is photoionized by the inferred nuclear continuum (obscured along our line of sight), as in the unified model of active galactic nuclei (AGN). We find excess emission (compared with pure recombination) in all resonance lines (np to 1s) up to the photoelectric edge, demonstrating the importance of photoexcitation as well. We introduce a simple model of a cone of plasma irradiated by the nuclear continuum; the line emission we observe along our line of sight perpendicular to the cone is produced through recombination/radiative cascade following photoionization and radiative decay following photoexcitation. A remarkably good fit is obtained to the H-like/He-like ionic line series, with inferred radial ionic column densities consistent with recent observations of warm absorbers in Seyfert 1 galaxies. Previous Chandra imaging revealed a large (extending out to 500 pc) ionization cone containing most of the X-ray flux, implying that the warm absorber in NGC 1068 is a large-scale outflow. To explain the ionic column densities, a broad, flat distribution in the logarithm of the ionization parameter ($ξ=L_X/n_e r^2$) is necessary, spanning $\logξ=0$--3. This suggests either radially-stratified ionization zones or the existence of a broad density distribution (spanning a few orders of magnitude) at each radius.

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arXiv2002

Soft X-ray Spectroscopy of NGC 1068 with XMM-Newton RGS and Chandra LETGS

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)

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arXiv2001

The central region of M31 observed with XMM-Newton. II. Variability of the individual sources

We present the results of a study of the variability of X-ray sources in the central 30' of the nearby Andromeda Galaxy (M31) based on XMM Performance Verification observations. Two observations of this field, with a total exposure time of about 50 ks, were performed in June and December of 2000. We found 116 sources brighter than a limiting luminosity of 6 x 10(35) erg/s (0.3--12 keV, d=760 kpc). For the ~60 brightest sources, we searched for periodic and non-periodic variability; at least 15% of these sources appear to be variable on a time scale of several months. We discovered a new bright transient source ~2.9' from the nucleus in the June observation; this source faded significantly and was no longer detected in December. The behaviour of the object is similar to a handful of Galactic LMXB transients, most of which are supposed to harbor black holes. We detected pulsations with a period of \~865 s from a source with a supersoft spectrum. The flux of this source decreased significantly between the two XMM observations. The detected period is unusually short and points to a rapidly spinning magnetized white dwarf. The high luminosity and transient nature of the source suggest its possible identification with classical or symbiotic nova, some of which were observed earlier as supersoft sources.

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arXiv2001

Soft X-ray Spectroscopy of Seyfert 2 Galaxies

Soft X-ray spectroscopy of Seyfert 2 galaxies offers perhaps the best method to probe the possible connection between AGN activity and star formation. Obscuration of powerful radiation from the inferred nucleus allows for detailed study of circumnuclear emission regions. And soft X-ray spectroscopy of these regions allows for robust discrimination between warm gas radiatively driven by the AGN and hot collisionally-driven gas possibly associated with star formation. A simple model of a (bi-)cone of gas photoionized and photoexcited by a nuclear power-law continuum is sufficient to explain the soft X-ray spectra of all Seyfert 2 galaxies so far observed by the XMM-Newton and Chandra satellites. An upper limit of around 10 percent to an additional hot, collisionally-driven gas contribution to the soft X-ray regime appears to hold for five different Seyfert 2 galaxies, placing interesting constraints on circumnuclear star formation.

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arXiv2001

A physically consistent model for X-ray emission by Seyfert 2 galaxies demonstrated on NGC 1068

Preliminary analysis of the X-ray spectrum of NGC 1068 obtained by the RGS spectrometer on board XMM-Newton is presented. A physically consistent model is developed in order to quantitatively describe the reprocessing of the central AGN continuum source into the discrete X-ray emission observed in Seyfert 2 galaxies. All the important atomic processes are taken into account, including photoexcitation, which has been neglected in some previous models. The model fits the high resolution NGC 1068 data very well, which implies that the contribution of hot collisional gas to the X-ray spectrum of NGC 1068 is negligible.

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arXiv2000

Detection of X-ray line emission from the shell of SNR B0540-69.3 with XMM-Newton RGS

We present X-ray observations of PSR 0540-69.3 with the XMM-Newton observatory. The spectra obtained with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer reveal, for the first time, emission from ionized species of O, Ne and Fe originating from the SNR shell. Analysis of the emission line spectrum allows us to derive estimates of the temperature, ionization timescale, abundances, location, and velocity of the emitting gas.

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arXiv2000

XMM-Newton observation of the Lockman Hole; I. The X-ray Data

We report on the first deep X-ray survey with the XMM-Newton observatory during the performance verification phase. The field of the Lockman Hole, one of the best studied sky areas over a very wide range of wavelengths, has been observed. A total of ~100 ksec good exposure time has been accumulated. Combining the images of the European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) detectors we reach a flux limit of 0.31, 1.4 and 2.4 X 10^{-15} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}, respectively in the 0.5-2, 2-10, and 5-10 keV band. Within an off-axis angle of 10 arcmin we detect 148, 112 and 61 sources, respectively. The log(N)-log(S) relation in the three bands is compared with previous results. In particular in the 5-10 keV band these observations present the deepest X-ray survey ever, about a factor 20 more sensitive than the previous BeppoSAX observations. Using X-ray spectral diagnostics and the set of previously known, spectroscopically identified ROSAT sources in the field, the new sources can be classified. XMM-Newton detects a significant number (~40%) of X-ray sources with hard, probably intrinsically absorbed X-ray spectra, confirming a prediction of the population synthesis models for the X-ray background.

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arXiv2000

The variable XMM-Newton spectrum of Markarian 766

The narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy Markarian 766 was observed for 60 ks with the XMM-Newton observatory. The source shows a complex X-ray spectrum. The 2-10 keV spectrum can be adequately represented by a power law and broad Fe Ka emission. Between 0.7 and 2 keV the spectrum is harder and exhibits a flux deficit with respect to the extrapolated medium energy slope. Below 0.7 keV, however, there is a strong excess of emission. The RGS spectrum shows an edge-like feature at 0.7 keV; the energy of this feature is inconsistent with that expected for an OVII edge from a warm absorber. Markarian 766 varies by a factor of ~ 2 in overall count rate in the EPIC and RGS instruments on a timescale of a few thousand seconds, while no significant flux changes are observed in the ultraviolet with the OM. The X-ray variability is spectrally dependent with the largest amplitude variability occurring in the 0.4-2 keV band. The spectral variability can be explained by a change in flux and slope of the medium energy continuum emission, superimposed on a less variable (or constant) low energy emission component.

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arXiv2000

The central region of M31 observed with XMM-Newton (I. Group properties and diffuse emission)

We present the results of a study based on an XMM-Newton Performance Verification observation of the central 30 arcmin of the nearby spiral galaxy M31. In the 34-ks European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) exposure, we detect 116 sources down to a limiting luminosity of 6 x 10^35 erg/s (0.3--12 keV, d = 760 kpc). The luminosity distribution of the sources detected with XMM-Newton flattens at luminosities below ~ 2.5 x 10^37 erg/s. We make use of hardness ratios for the detected sources in order to distinguish between classes of objects such as super-soft sources and intrinsically hard or highly absorbed sources. We demonstrate that the spectrum of the unresolved emission in the bulge of M31 contains a soft excess which can be fitted with a ~ 0.35-keV optically-thin thermal-plasma component clearly distinct from the composite point-source spectrum. We suggest that this may represent diffuse gas in the centre of M31, and we illustrate its extent in a wavelet-deconvolved image.

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arXiv2000

UV observations of the galaxy cluster Abell 1795 with the optical monitor on XMM-Newton

We present the results of an analysis of broad band UV observations of the central regions of Abell 1795 observed with the optical monitor on XMM-Newton. As have been found with other UV observations of the central regions of clusters of galaxies, we find evidence for star formation. However, we also find evidence for absorption in the cD galaxy on a more extended scale than has been seen with optical imaging. We also report the first UV observation of part of the filamentary structure seen in H$α$, X-rays and very deep U band imaging. The part of the filament we see is very blue with UV colours consistent with a very early (O/B) stellar population. This is the first direct evidence of a dominant population of early type stars at the centre of Abell 1795 and implies very recent star formation at the centre of this cluster

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arXiv2000

X-ray Spectroscopy of the Cluster of Galaxies Abell 1795 with XMM-Newton

The initial results from XMM-Newton observations of the rich cluster of galaxies Abell 1795 are presented. The spatially-resolved X-ray spectra taken by the European Photon Imaging Cameras (EPIC) show a temperature drop at a radius of $\sim 200$ kpc from the cluster center, indicating that the ICM is cooling. Both the EPIC and the Reflection Grating Spectrometers (RGS) spectra extracted from the cluster center can be described by an isothermal model with a temperature of $\sim 4$ keV. The volume emission measure of any cool component ($<1$ keV) is less than a few % of the hot component at the cluster center. A strong OVIII Lyman-alpha line was detected with the RGS from the cluster core. The O abundance and its ratio to Fe at the cluster center is 0.2--0.5 and 0.5--1.5 times the solar value, respectively.

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arXiv2000

First Light Measurements of Capella with the Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer aboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory

We present the first X-ray spectrum obtained by the Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (LETGS) aboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The spectrum is of Capella and covers a wavelength range of 5-175 A (2.5-0.07 keV). The measured wavelength resolution, which is in good agreement with ground calibration, is $Δλ\simeq$ 0.06 A (FWHM). Although in-flight calibration of the LETGS is in progress, the high spectral resolution and unique wavelength coverage of the LETGS are well demonstrated by the results from Capella, a coronal source rich in spectral emission lines. While the primary purpose of this letter is to demonstrate the spectroscopic potential of the LETGS, we also briefly present some preliminary astrophysical results. We discuss plasma parameters derived from line ratios in narrow spectral bands, such as the electron density diagnostics of the He-like triplets of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, as well as resonance scattering of the strong Fe XVII line at 15.014 A.

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arXiv1999

XEUS - The X-ray Evolving Universe Spectroscopy Mission

XEUS is under study by ESA as part of the Horizon 2000+ program to utilize the International Space Station (ISS) for astronomical applications. XEUS will be a long-term X-ray observatory with an initial mirror area of 6m2 at 1 keV that will be grown to 30m2 following a visit to the ISS. The 1 keV spatial resolution is expected to be 2-5'' HEW. XEUS will consist of separate detector and mirror spacecraft aligned by active control to provide a focal length of 50m. A new detector spacecraft, complete with the next generation of instruments, will also be added after visiting the ISS. The limiting sensitivity will then be ~4 10-18 erg/cm2/s - around 250 times better than XMM, allowing XEUS to study the properties of the hot baryons and dark matter at high redshift.

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