The luminosity of X-ray haloes around disc galaxies is a crucial quantity forconstraining theories for the assembly of disc galaxies. We have compiled aunique, physically realistic sample of hydrodynamical simulations of disc galaxyformation and evolution, predicting present day X-ray halo luminosities and thespatial distribution of the X-ray emission. Here we propose to test these novelmodels by obtaining deep XMM-Newton pointings of two massive, nearby, edge-ondisc galaxies. A detection of X-ray haloes around these massive disc galaxieswill for the first time prove that disc formation is on-going today.Alternatively, a non-detection will require a major re-thinking of the currentlyaccepted scenario for assembling disc galaxies.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2004-01-27T16:27:08Z/2004-01-28T01:19:01Z
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 KRISTIAN PEDERSEN, 2005, 'X-RAY HALOES OF MASSIVE GALAXIES: TESTING GALAXY FORMATION', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-i07ib9v
