We propose XMM observations of 11 ultra-luminous IRAS galaxies (ULIRG) recentlyobserved with ISO. The specific aim of our project is to test in hard X-ray thiswell defined, well studied sample of bright ULIRGs. The observation of the hardX-ray flux and of the FeK line properties will open a new prospective onimportant questions, like the understanding of the mechanism of primary energyproduction, the estimate of the X-ray emissivity of absorbed AGNs present in thenucleus and the evaluation of their contribution to the cosmic X-ray background.A physical knowledge of such local sources will be also crucially informativeabout the nature of their distant, high-z counterparts, likely to originate therecently discovered far-IR/sub-mm background.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2001-03-30T09:06:52Z/2002-11-19T11:43:30Z
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 Alberto Franceschini, 2004, 'An XMM Mini-survey of Ultraluminous IR Galaxies', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-hlsff99
