We propose to observe four of the most luminous quasars known, which haveextremely high accretion rates and are at redshift virgul2-3, using XMM-Newton EPICPN and MOS with a total integration time of 135 ksec. We will obtain accuratemeasurements of the spectral slope in the quasars. virgul1.5-20 keV rest-frame bandand look for X-ray variations. Our prime goal is to test whether the X-rayspectral slope is an accretion-rate indicator for all AGN. Steep X-ray spectralslopes may identify our sources as the long sought high-redshift analogs ofnarrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2005-07-05T07:13:35Z/2005-11-01T06:25:41Z
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 Ohad Shemmer, 2006, 'A Search for Unusual X-ray Properties in High-z comma High-Accretion Rate Quasars', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-sprdm6g
