The temperature of the hot X-ray gas contained within early-type galaxies is animportant diagnostic of the hydrodynamical processes that affect the gas.Previous studies of X-ray bright ellipticals indicate that they are all hotterthan the kinetic motion of the stars, and it has been suggested that the gas isin the potential well of a massive dark matter halo that is dynamically hotterthan the stars. X-ray faint galaxies have lost most of their gas, possiblybecause of a shallower dark matter potential well. If this is true, then the gasthat does remain in these galaxies should have a temperature that more closelyreflects the stellar kinetic temperature. We propose to observe three X-rayfaint galaxies to determine their temperature and test this prediction.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2004-01-06T00:23:24Z/2004-12-23T19:27:21Z
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, 2006, 'DETERMINING THE TEMPERATURE OF HOT GAS IN X-RAY FAINT EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-1drvvj1
