The stellar winds of B supergiants (SGs) go through a discontinuous jump intheir terminal velocities and mass loss rates at spectral type B1 which isreferred to as the bistability of B SGs. Since wind shocks produce the X-rayemission and are highly dependent on the stellar wind parameters, B SGs providea natural laboratory to study the relationship between the radiative force,stellar wind, and X-ray emission. We are requesting EPIC-pn observations of 4known B SG X-ray sources located at or near the bistability jump. The X-rayfluxes show a decrease, but the cause is not known. Spectral analyses of theseEPIC observations will allow us to test the predictions of the stellar windshock model.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2004-02-13T21:44:32Z/2005-03-26T15:30:00Z
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 WAYNE WALDRON, 2006, 'AN XMM STUDY OF THE BISTABILITY JUMP IN THE STELLAR WINDS OF B SUPERGIANTS', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-gdvcuk8
