The existence of a warm-hot intergalactic medium (WHIM) can solve two puzzles:Why galaxy clusters do not follow classical scaling relations and Where are thelocal baryons observed at high z. Our XMM EPIC observations of the outskirts ofthe Coma cluster detect the WHIM in emission. Remarkably, a bright AGN is alsoprojected onto the Coma cluster. In AO3 we were granted 300 ks to detect theWHIM in absorption against this AGN, but received only 172 ks of good time. Theresults of this observation are quite interesting, if at low significance due tothe reduced exposure. We detect absobrtion features centered on the Coma z. Wehere request sufficient time to make up the lost exposure in order to place thisdetection on a firmer statistical basis.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2005-06-27T05:00:06Z/2006-06-07T17:19:19Z
Version
PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE
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, Prof Patrick Henry, 2008, 'X Comae X-rays the Stickman.s Legs', PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-twnl0v6
