We propose to harness the unprecedented sensitivity of XMM to obtain the firstdetailed picture of the X-ray emission from a Classical T Tauri star. ClassicalT Tauri stars possess complex, magnetically dominated circumstellarenvironments, in which a stellar field truncates an active accretion disk, andforces material to corotate with the star as it falls inwards to the stellarsurface. The magnetosphere-disk interaction leads to reconnection of field linesat the inner disk radius, and is probably responsible for driving bipolar jets.Thus Classical T Tauri stars possess several potential X-ray sources, powered byreconnection or shocks, with different velocities and locations in the system.This makes them prime candidates for detailed X-ray studies.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2001-02-23T12:36:25Z/2001-02-24T15:48:39Z
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 Kester Smith, 2002, 'Magnetospheric activity of a Classical T Tauri star', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-kdh5mh7
