| Proposal ID | 040089 |
| Title | X-rays from Quiescent Black Holes: Accretion or Jet Powered |
| Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0400890101 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-wp6eozj |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Prof Wei Cui |
| Abstract | We propose to obtain X-ray spectra of transient black hole binaries (BHBs) inquiescence. The spectra are expected to provide a severe test of the Comptonorigin of X-rays from such sources, as expected from accretion-based models. Atvery low accretion rates, a Comptonized spectrum is expected to appear stronglycurved in a log-log plot. However, there is already tentative evidence for thepower-law shape of the quiescent X-ray spectrum. If confirmed, it would favor ajet origin of the X-ray emission. However, the quality of existing data is stillquite poor. The deep observations proposed here will allow a detailed look at the roles of accretion flows and jets in quiescent BHBs and thus cast light on the issues of accretion-jet coupling and particle acceleration in such systems. |
| Publications |
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| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2007-02-22T15:32:57Z/2007-03-28T03:08:31Z |
| 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. |
| Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
| Date Published | 2009-02-09T00:00:00Z |
| Last Update | 2025-01-27 |
| Keywords | "accretion jet coupling", "comptonized spectrum", "jet powered", "accretion flows", "power law shape", "particle acceleration", "xray emission", "xray spectra", "jet origin", "log log plot", "quiescent black holes", "low accretion rates", "quiescent xray spectrum", "cast light", "quiescent bhbs", "tentative evidence", "existing data", "compton origin", "x rays" |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Prof Wei Cui, 2009, 'X-rays from Quiescent Black Holes: Accretion or Jet Powered', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-wp6eozj |