GT - We propose to measure the parameters of the absorption feature at virgul600 eVoriginally detected by BBXRT in H1426+428. Sharp absorption features appear tobe common in the soft X-ray spectra of BL Lac objects, as shown by severaldetections made with BBXRT: the lines are generally attributed to blue-shiftedLyman alpha OVIII resonance absorption, implying rapid mass outflow from theactive nucleus. However the exact nature and origin of these features is stillunclear. The RGS will provide an accurate measure of the line energy and width,of the column density and the ionisation level of the gas, ultimately givingclues to the origin of the gas itself.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2001-06-16T00:49:21Z/2001-06-16T19:52:15Z
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 Bert Brinkman, 2002, 'X-ray spectroscopy of the BL Lac H1426+428', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-vipokn2
