We have recently shown that a population of powerful radio galaxies, thelow-excitation FRII radio galaxies, appears to have no accretion-related nuclearX-ray emission, despite having high-luminosity radio jets: plausibly theseobjects are accreting via a different, radiatively inefficient accretion modecompared to the better understood narrow-line radio galaxies and quasars. Thispicture is consistent with other information from the optical and infraredbands, but the crucial X-ray constraints come from a small and inhomogenoussample. We propose observations of a sample of low-excitation and narrow-lineradio galaxies which will greatly increase our sample size and allow us to makedefinitive statements about the nature of the accretion mode in these objects.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2007-05-24T01:47:04Z/2007-10-04T03:59:53Z
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 Martin Hardcastle, 2008, 'The X-ray nuclei of FRII radio galaxies: unification and accretion modes', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-e4cl1ab
