| Proposal ID | 015141 |
| Title | The Nature of the Luminous Supersoft X-ray Sources |
| Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0151410101 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-5uf63pe |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Dr Katherine McGowan |
| Abstract | The highly luminous (>=10e37 erg/s) supersoft X-ray sources (SSS) are believed to be super-Eddington limited accreting white dwarfs undergoing surface hydrogenburning. The current paradigm for SSS (van den Heuvel et al. 1992) involves thermally unstable mass transfer from a 1-2 Msun companion. But this model hasnever been directly confirmed and yet is crucial for the evolution of cataclys-mic variables in general, and for the establishment of SSS as progenitors oftype Ia supernovae in particular. The key SSS is RXJ0513.9-6951 which hasrecurrent X-ray outbursts every 100-150d (lasting ~30d) during which the opticaldeclines by 1 mag. We request TOO status to be triggered by optical monitoringso as to follow directly the predicted expansion of the white dwarf photosphere. |
| Publications |
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| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2004-04-28T17:52:12Z/2004-05-28T10:58:24Z |
| 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. |
| Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
| Date Published | 2005-06-18T00:00:00Z |
| Last Update | 2025-01-27 |
| Keywords | "msun companion", "150d lasting", "recurrent xray outburst", "surface hydrogen burning", "optical declines", "cataclys mic variables", "type ia supernova", "key sss", "white dwarf photosphere", "predicted expansion" |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Katherine McGowan, 2005, 'The Nature of the Luminous Supersoft X-ray Sources', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-5uf63pe |