We propose to carry out further monitoring of the central supermassive blackhole in Sgr A* in X-rays and the near-IR with simultaneous XMM-Newton and HSTobservations. Our goal is to determine the physical mechanisms governing theaccretion onto a supermassive black hole when the accretion luminosity is at anextremely low level. X-ray flares are very likely to be produced within 10Schwarzschild radii and hence probe the environment very close to the blackhole. By investigating the correlation of X-ray and near-IR light curves forflares of different luminosities and broad-band spectral characteristics we hopeto test whether current synchrotron/inverse Compton models for the flareproduction are valid.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2007-03-30T21:05:17Z/2007-04-04T19:54:54Z
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 Delphine Porquet, 2008, 'Coordinated XMM-Newton and HST monitoring of SgrA*', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ulwawwg
