Recent studies have found that a large fraction of LMXBs within ellipticalgalaxies reside within globular clusters, prompting claims that all LMXBs areformed within globular clusters. If so, the total X-ray luminosity emanatingfrom LMXBs should scale directly with the globular cluster specific frequency,S_N. Conversely, if there is a significant field-born population of LMXBs thisrelation will be flatter. We have begun a program to test this claim, but weneed to observe galaxies with high values of S_N to confirm our findings. Wepropose observations of NGC4278 (S_N=8.7) and NGC4526 (S_N=7.7), two nearbygas-poor galaxies with high well-constrained values of S_N. These observationswill put stringent constraints on the field-born population of LMXBs in galaxies.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2004-05-23T17:13:02Z/2004-06-05T19:14:21Z
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 JIMMY IRWIN, 2005, 'DO ALL LMXBS FORM WITHIN GLOBULAR CLUSTERSquestionMark', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-8cw6l4w
