arXiv subjects

Kazuhisa Mitsuda

Publications and source records attributed to Kazuhisa Mitsuda.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Long Term Variability of O VII Line Intensity toward the Lockman Hole Observed with Suzaku from 2006 to 2011

Long-term time variabilities of the OVII (0.57 keV) emission in the soft X-ray diffuse background were studied using six Suzaku annual observations of blank sky towards the Lockman Hole made from 2006 to 2011. After time intervals in which the emission was enhanced on time scales of a few tens of ks were removed, the O VII intensity was found to be constant from 2006 to 2009 within the 90% statistical errors. The intensity in 2010 and 2011 was higher by 2-3 LU (photons/s/cm/sr) than the earlier values. The most plausible origin of the fast variable component is Solar wind charge exchange (SWCX). The intensity increase is not positively correlated with the proton flux at the L1 point. Since all the observations were made in the same season of a year, the variation cannot be explained by parallax of the SWCX induced X-ray emission from the Heliosphere. We consider that it is related to the geometrical change of slow and fast solar wind structures associated with the 11 year solar activity. The observed variation was compared with that expected from the SWCX induced X-ray emission model.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

The ASTRO-H X-ray Observatory

The joint JAXA/NASA ASTRO-H mission is the sixth in a series of highly successful X-ray missions initiated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). ASTRO-H will investigate the physics of the high-energy universe via a suite of four instruments, covering a very wide energy range, from 0.3 keV to 600 keV. These instruments include a high-resolution, high-throughput spectrometer sensitive over 0.3-2 keV with high spectral resolution of Delta E < 7 eV, enabled by a micro-calorimeter array located in the focal plane of thin-foil X-ray optics; hard X-ray imaging spectrometers covering 5-80 keV, located in the focal plane of multilayer-coated, focusing hard X-ray mirrors; a wide-field imaging spectrometer sensitive over 0.4-12 keV, with an X-ray CCD camera in the focal plane of a soft X-ray telescope; and a non-focusing Compton-camera type soft gamma-ray detector, sensitive in the 40-600 keV band. The simultaneous broad bandpass, coupled with high spectral resolution, will enable the pursuit of a wide variety of important science themes.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2011

An X-ray Spectroscopic Study of the Hot Interstellar Medium Toward the Galactic Bulge

We present a detailed spectroscopic study of the hot gas toward the Galactic bulge along the 4U 1820-303 sight line by a combination analysis of emission and absorption spectra. In addition to the absorption lines of OVII Kalpha, OVII Kbeta, OVIII Kalpha and NeIX Kalpha by Chandra LTGS as shown by previous works, Suzaku detected clearly the emission lines of OVII, OVIII, NeIX and NeX from the vicinity. We used simplified plasma models with constant temperature and density. Evaluation of the background and foreground emission was performed carefully, including stellar X-ray contribution based on the recent X-ray observational results and stellar distribution simulator. If we assume that one plasma component exists in front of 4U1820-303 and the other one at the back, the obtained temperatures are T= 1.7 +/- 0.2 MK for the front-side plasma and T=3.9(+0.4-0.3) MK for the backside. This scheme is consistent with a hot and thick ISM disk as suggested by the extragalactic source observations and an X-ray bulge around the Galactic center.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Enhancement of Terrestrial Diffuse X-ray Emission Associated With Coronal Mass Ejection and Geomagnetic Storm

We present an analysis of a Suzaku observation taken during the geomagnetic storm of 2005 August 23-24. We found time variation of diffuse soft X-ray emission when a coronal mass ejection hit Earth and caused a geomagnetic storm. The diffuse emission consists of fluorescent scattering of solar X-rays and exospheric solarwind charge exchange. The former is characterized by a neutral oxygen emission line due to strong heating of the upper atmosphere during the storm time, while the latter is dominated by a sum of C V, C VI, N VI, N VII, O VII, and O VIII emission lines due to the enhanced solar wind flux in the vicinity of the exosphere. Using the solar wind data taken with the ACE and WIND satellites,a time correlation between the solar wind and the strong O VII line flux were investigated. We estimated necessary column densities for the solar X-ray scattering and exospheric SWCX. From these results, we argue that a part of the solar wind ions enter inside the magnetosphere and cause the SWCX reaction.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2011

Studying the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium in Emission

We assess the possibility to detect the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) in emission and to characterize its physical conditions and spatial distribution through spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopy, in the framework of the recently proposed DIOS, EDGE, Xenia, and ORIGIN missions, all of which are equipped with microcalorimeter-based detectors. For this purpose we analyze a large set of mock emission spectra, extracted from a cosmological hydrodynamical simulation. These mock X-ray spectra are searched for emission features showing both the OVII K alpha triplet and OVIII Ly alpha line, which constitute a typical signature of the warm hot gas. Our analysis shows that 1 Ms long exposures and energy resolution of 2.5 eV will allow us to detect about 400 such features per deg^2 with a significance >5 sigma and reveals that these emission systems are typically associated with density ~100 above the mean. The temperature can be estimated from the line ratio with a precision of ~20%. The combined effect of contamination from other lines, variation in the level of the continuum, and degradation of the energy resolution reduces these estimates. Yet, with an energy resolution of 7 eV and all these effects taken into account, one still expects about 160 detections per deg^2. These line systems are sufficient to trace the spatial distribution of the line-emitting gas, which constitute an additional information, independent from line statistics, to constrain the poorly known cosmic chemical enrichment history and the stellar feedback processes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

The ASTRO-H Mission

The joint JAXA/NASA ASTRO-H mission is the sixth in a series of highly successful X-ray missions initiated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). ASTRO-H will investigate the physics of the high-energy universe by performing high-resolution, high-throughput spectroscopy with moderate angular resolution. ASTRO-H covers very wide energy range from 0.3 keV to 600 keV. ASTRO-H allows a combination of wide band X-ray spectroscopy (5-80 keV) provided by multilayer coating, focusing hard X-ray mirrors and hard X-ray imaging detectors, and high energy-resolution soft X-ray spectroscopy (0.3-12 keV) provided by thin-foil X-ray optics and a micro-calorimeter array. The mission will also carry an X-ray CCD camera as a focal plane detector for a soft X-ray telescope (0.4-12 keV) and a non-focusing soft gamma-ray detector (40-600 keV) . The micro-calorimeter system is developed by an international collaboration led by ISAS/JAXA and NASA. The simultaneous broad bandpass, coupled with high spectral resolution of Delta E ~7 eV provided by the micro-calorimeter will enable a wide variety of important science themes to be pursued.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2010

Time Variability of the Geocoronal Solar Wind Charge Exchange in the Direction of the Celestial Equator

We report the detection of a time variable OVII line emission in a deep 100 ks Suzaku X-ray Imaging Spectrometer spectrum of the Galactic Ridge X-ray emission. The observed line intensity is too strong (11+/-2 line unit or photon cm^-2 s^-1 str^-1) to be emitted inside the heavily obscured Galactic disk. It showed a factor of two time variation which shows a significant (~4 sigma) correlation with the solar wind O^7+ ion flux. The high line intensity and the good time correlation with the solar wind strongly suggests that it originated from geocoronal solar wind charge exchange emission. We discuss the X-ray line intensity considering a line of sight direction and also theoretical distribution models of the neutral hydrogen and solar wind around the Earth. Our results indicate that X-ray observationsof geocoronal solar wind charge exchange emission can be used to constrain these models.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2010

X-ray Spectroscopy of Galactic Hot Gas along the PKS 2155-304 Sight Line

We present a detailed spectroscopic study of the hot gas in the Galactic halo toward the direction of a blazer PKS 2155-304 (z=0.117). The OVII and OVIII absorption lines are measured with the Low and High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrographs aboard Chandra, and the OVII, OVIII, and NeIX emission lines produced in the adjacent field of the PKS 2155-304 direction are observed with the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer aboard Suzaku. Assuming vertically exponential distributions of the gas temperature and the density, we perform a combined analysis of the absorption and emission data. The gas temperature and density at the Galactic plane are determined to be 2.5(+0.6,-0.3) MK and 1.4(+0.5,-0.4) x 10^{-3} cm^{-3} and the scale heights of the gas temperature and density are 5.6(+7.4,-4.2) kpc and 2.3(+0.9,-0.8) kpc, respectively. These values are consistent with those obtained in the LMC X-3 direction.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

Origin of Thermal and Non-Thermal Hard X-ray Emission from the Galactic Center

We analyse new results of Chandra and Suzaku which found a flux of hard X-ray emission from the compact region around Sgr A$^\ast$ (r ~ 100 pc). We suppose that this emission is generated by accretion processes onto the central supermassive blackhole when an unbounded part of captured stars obtains an additional momentum. As a result a flux of subrelativistic protons is generated near the Galactic center which heats the background plasma up to temperatures about 6-10 keV and produces by inverse bremsstrahlung a flux of non-thermal X-ray emission in the energy range above 10 keV.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2009

Particle Propagation in the Galactic Center and Spatial Distribution of Non-Thermal X-rays

We showed that if the non-thermal emission from the Galactic center in the range 14-40 keV is due to inverse bremsstrahlung emission of subrelativistic protons, their interactions with hot and cold fractions of the interstellar medium are equally important. Our estimation show that about 30% of the total non-thermal flux from the GC in the range 14-40 keV is generated in regions of cold gas while the rest is produced by proton interaction with hot plasma. From the spatial distribution of 6.7 keV iron line we concluded the spatial distribution of hot plasma is strongly non-uniform that should be taken into account in analysis of protons propagation in the GC. From the Suzaku data we got independent estimates for the diffusion coefficient of subrelativistic protons in the GC, which was in the range $ 10^{26} - 10^{27}$ cm$^2$s$^{-1}$

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

Line and Continuum Emission from the Galactic Center. III. Origin of 6.4 keV Line Emission from Molecular Clouds in the Galactic Center

We analyze the 6.4 keV line and continuum emission from the molecular cloud Sgr B2 and the source HESS J1745-303, which is supposed to be a complex of molecular gas. From the HESS results it follows that Sgr A is a source of high energy protons, which penetrate into molecular clouds producing there a TeV gamma-ray flux. We present arguments that Sgr A may also produce a flux of subrelativistic protons which generate the 6.4 keV line and bremsstrahlung continuum emission from the clouds.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2008

Suzaku Observations of the cluster of galaxies Abell 2052

The results from Suzaku XIS observations of the relaxed cluster of galaxies Abell2052 are presented. Offset pointing data are used to estimate the Galactic foreground emission in the direction to the cluster. Significant soft X-ray excess emission above this foreground, the intra-cluster medium emission, and other background components is confirmed and resolved spectroscopically and radially. This excess can be described either by (a) local variations of known Galactic emission components or (b) an additional thermal component with temperature of about 0.2 keV, possibly associated with the cluster. The radial temperature and metal abundance profiles of the intra-cluster medium are measured within \sim 20 in radius (about 60% of the virial radius) from the cluster center . The temperature drops radially to 0.5-0.6 of the peak value at a radius of \sim 15'. The gas-mass-weighted metal abundance averaged over the observed region is found to be 0.21 +- 0.05 times solar.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

On the lack of strong O-line excess in the Coma cluster outskirts from Suzaku

About half of the baryons in the local Universe are thought to reside in the so-called warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) at temperatures of 0.1-10 million K. Thermal soft excess emission in the spectrum of some cluster outskirts that contains OVII and/or OVIII emission lines is regarded as evidence of the WHIM, although the origin of the lines is controversial due to strong Galactic and solar system foreground emission. We observed the Coma-11 field, where the most prominent thermal soft excess has ever been reported, with Suzaku XIS in order to make clear the origin of the excess. We did not confirm OVII or OVIII excess emission. The OVII and OVIII intensity in Coma-11 is more than 5 sigma below that reported before and we obtained 2 sigma upper limits of 2.8 and 2.9 photons cm^-2 s^-1 sr^-1 for OVII and OVIII, respectively. The intensities are consistent with those in another field (Coma-7) that we measured, and with other measurements in the Coma outskirts (Coma-7 and X Com fields with XMM-Newton). We did not confirm the spatial variation within Coma outskirts. The strong oxygen emission lines previously reported are likely due to solar wind charge exchange.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Suzaku Observations of the North Polar Spur: Evidence for Nitrogen Enhancement

We present observations of the North Polar Spur (NPS) using the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS) aboard the Suzaku X-ray satellite. The NPS is a large region of enhanced soft X-ray and radio emission projected above the plane of the Galaxy, likely produced by a series of supernovae and stellar winds from the nearby Sco-Cen OB association. The exceptional sensitivity and spectral resolution of the XIS below 1 keV allow unprecedented probing of low-energy spectral lines, including CVI (0.37 keV) and NVII (0.50 keV), and we have detected highly-ionized nitrogen toward the NPS for the first time. For this single pointing toward the brightest 3/4 keV emission (l = 26.8 deg, b = +22.0 deg), the best-fit NPS emission model implies a hot (kT ~ 0.3 keV), collisional ionization equilibrium (CIE) plasma with depleted C, O, Ne, Mg, and Fe abundances of less than 0.5 solar, but an enhanced N abundance, with N/O = 4.0 +0.4,-0.5 times solar. The temperature and total thermal energy of the gas suggest heating by one or more supernovae, while the enhanced nitrogen abundance is best explained by enrichment from stellar material that has been processed by the CNO cycle. Due to the time required to develop AGB stars, we conclude that this N/O enhancement cannot be caused by the Sco-Cen OB association, but may result from a previous enrichment episode in the solar neighborhood.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium Associated with the Coma Cluster

We present our XMM-Newton RGS observations of X Comae, an AGN behind the Coma cluster. We detect absorption by NeIX and OVIII at the redshift of Coma with an equivalent width of 3.3+/-1.8 eV and 1.7+/-1.3 eV, respectively (90% confidence errors or 2.3 sigma and 1.9 sigma confidence detections determined from Monte Carlo simulations). The combined significance of both lines is 3.0 sigma, again determined from Monte Carlo simulations. The same observation yields a high statistics EPIC spectrum of the Coma cluster gas at the position of X Comae. We detect emission by NeIX with a flux of 2.5+/-1.2 x 10^-8 photons cm^-2 s^-1 arcmin^-2 (90% confidence errors or 3.4 sigma confidence detection). These data permit a number of diagnostics to determine the properties of the material causing the absorption and producing the emission. Although a wide range of properties is permitted, values near the midpoint of the range are T = 4 x 10^6 K, n_H = 6 x 10^-6 cm^-3 corresponding to an overdensity with respect to the mean of 32, line of sight path length through it 41 Z/Zsolar^-1 Mpc where Z/Zsolar is the neon metallicity relative to solar. All of these properties are what has been predicted of the warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM), so we conclude that we have detected the WHIM associated with the Coma cluster.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Suzaku Observations of the Local and Distant Hot ISM

Suzaku observed the molecular cloud MBM12 and a blank field less than 3 degrees away to separate the local and distant components of the diffuse soft X-ray background. Towards MBM12, a local (D< 275 pc) O VII emission line was clearly detected with an intensity of 3.5 ph cm^{-2} s^{-1} sr^{-1}$ (or line units, LU), and the O VIII flux was <0.34 LU. The origin of this O VII emission could be hot gas in the Local Hot Bubble (LHB), charge exchange between oxygen ions in the solar wind (SWCX) and geocoronal or interplanetary material, or a combination of the two. If entirely from the LHB, the implied temperature and emission measure would predict 1/4 keV emission in excess of observations. There is no evidence in the X-ray light curve or solar wind data for a significant contribution from geocoronal SWCX. In any case, the observed O VII flux represents an upper limit to both the LHB emission and interplanetary SWCX in this direction. The off-cloud observation was performed immediately following the on-cloud. The net off-cloud O VII and O VIII intensities were (respectively) 2.34\pm0.33 and 0.77\pm0.16 LU, after subtracting the on-cloud foreground emission. Assuming the LHB and SWCX components did not change, these increases can be attributed to more distant Galactic disk, halo, or extragalactic emission. If the distant O VII and O VIII emission is from a thermal plasma in collisional equilibrium beyond the Galactic disk, a temperature of (2.1\pm0.1)\times10^6 K with an emission measure of (4\pm0.6)\times10^-3} cm^{-6}pc is inferred.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

X-ray Spectral Study of the extended emission,'the Cap', located 11.6 kpc above the disk of M82

The extended X-ray emission from 'the Cap' region located 11' (11.6 kpc) above the disk of the starburst galaxy M82 has been observed with Suzaku and XMM-Newton. Owing to the good energy resolution and the large collecting area of the XIS on Suzaku, combined with similar properties of the EPIC instrument on XMM-Newton, we have clearly detected K-shell emission lines from O VII, O VIII, Ne X, Mg XI, Mg XII and the Fe-L complex. Two optically-thin thermal plasma components are required to fit the observed X-ray spectra. We have determined the metal abundances of O, Ne, Mg, Si and Fe in this region for the first time. Their metal abundance ratios agree well with those of metal-poor stars and the model prediction of metals synthesized by type-II supernovae, but they are not consistent with the metallicities of type-Ia supernovae. This result is support for the idea that the origin of the metals in the Cap is type-II supernovae explosions occurring in the starburst regions in the M82 galaxy. We discuss the possible contribution from sputtered dust grains to the metals in the Cap. An emission line consistent with the C VI transition of n=4 to 1 at 0.459 keV is marginally detected, although it is not statistically significant at the 99% confidence level; the presence of this line would suggest charge-exchange processes in the Cap.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Evidence for Solar-Wind Charge-Exchange X-Ray Emission from the Earth's Magnetosheath

We report an apparent detection of the C VI 4p to 1s transition line at 459 eV, during a long-term enhancement (LTE) in the Suzaku north ecliptic pole (NEP) observation of 2005 September 2. The observed intensity of the line is comparable to that of the C VI 2p to 1s line at 367 eV. This is strong evidence for the charge-exchange process. In addition to the C VI lines, emission lines from O VII, O VIII, Ne X, and Mg XI lines showed clear enhancements. There are also features in the 750 to 900 eV range that could be due to some combination of Fe XVII and XVIII L-lines, higher order transitions of O VIII (3p to 1s and 6p to 1s), and a Ne IX line. From the correlation of the X-ray intensity with solar-wind flux on time scales of about half a day, and from the short-term (~10 minutes) variations of the X-ray intensity, these lines most likely arise from solar-wind heavy ions interacting with neutral material in the Earth's magnetosheath. A hard power-law component is also necessary to explain the LTE spectrum. The origin of this component is not yet known. Our results indicate that solar activity can significantly contaminate Suzaku cosmic X-ray spectra below ~1 keV. Recommendations are provided for recognizing such contamination in observations of extended sources.

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