We propose to take advantage of the unprecedented sensitivity of XMM to detect coronal emission from the nearest brown dwarf. LP 944-20 is at only 5 pc. It was discovered back in 1975 by Luyten and Kowal, but only recently was it recognized to be a brown dwarf thanks to the lithium test (Tinney 1998). It has an age of about 0.5 Gyr, and a mass of about 60 Jupiters. With XMM we will detect coronal emission even if the X-ray luminosity is 1 million times fainter than the bolometric luminosity. LP 944-20 can provide the best answer to the question of whether brown dwarfs have coronae.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2001-01-07T14:26:23Z/2001-01-08T04:43:13Z
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.
European Space Agency, Dr Eduardo Martin, 2002, 'Search for X-ray Emission in the Nearest Known Brown Dwarf', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-9g5on15
