A dataset provided by the European Space Agency

Proposal ID 001794
Title GP Com: Helium Cataclysmic Variable and Nitrogen and Neon Monster
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https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0017940101
DOI https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-n65vh0l
Principal Investigator, PI Dr Christopher Mauche
Abstract GP Com is a helium-star cataclysmic variable - a short-period (2792s) semidetached binary consisting of a CO white dwarf primary and a He white dwarfsecondary. GP Com is X-ray bright, nearby (d<100 pc), very likely a halo (PopII) object, and has highly anomalous abundances (little-to-no H, reduced C andO, enhanced N and Ne, and greatly reduced heavy metals). The enhanced Nabundance is hinted at by an existing ASCA spectrum, while the optically-derived abundances imply that the emission at virgul 1 keV is due not to Fe L-shellemission but to H- and He-like Ne (a la the LMXB 4U 1626-67). We propose a 41.9 ks XMM observation of GP Com to determine the nature (abundances, emission measure distribution, etc.) of the X-ray spectrum of this unusual CV.
Publications
Instrument EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage 2001-01-03T13:03:17Z/2001-01-04T04:45:02Z
Version 17.56_20190403_1200
Mission Description The European Space Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earths atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis.
Creator Contact https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk
Date Published 2002-08-02T00:00:00Z
Keywords "existing asca spectrum", "anomalous abundance little", "neon monster", "XMM", "xray spectrum", "helium cataclysmic variable", "shell emission", "lmxb 4u 1626", "white dwarf secondary", "gp com", "xray bright"
Publisher And Registrant European Space Agency
Credit Guidelines European Space Agency, Dr Christopher Mauche, 2002, 'GP Com: Helium Cataclysmic Variable and Nitrogen and Neon Monster', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-n65vh0l