There is still substantial debate over whether luminous infrared galaxies arepowered primarily by AGN or star-formation. Although both processes are clearlyinvolved, and may be intimately related, the heavy obscuration in these sourcesmakes disentangling the components very difficult. Hard X-rays can penetratethis obscuration and reveal the hidden AGN, if present. With sufficiantlysensitive observations, it should even be possible to detect the X-ray emissionexpected from the star-formation processes, even if there is no accretingsupermassive black hole. XMM observations therefore have the potential solvethis long-standing mystery. Here we propose to observe 8 hyperluminous infraredgalaxiues - the most extreme examples - which form part of an unbiased sample.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2003-04-16T23:47:20Z/2003-08-01T03:35:11Z
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 Kirpal Nandra, 2004, 'Hyperluminous IRAS galaxies: solving the AGN/starburst mystery with XMM', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-tcslm4j
