Wolf-Rayet stars of the oxygen subclass (WO) are massive stars in their terminalevolutionary stage short before exploding as supernova or GRB. We predict thatWO stars emit hard X-rays. They posses the fastest stellar winds among allnon-degenerate stars, with velocities of 2 per cent of the speed of light.Strong shocks should develop in these winds and heat the plasma to 100 MK,resulting in X-ray emission. We request a 75 ksec observation of the closest WOstar, WR 142, to obtain EPIC spectra and measure the parameters of the hotplasma, as a stringent test for the theory of X-ray production in hot starwinds. In addition, our FoV will comprise 16 neighbouring OB stars. With theirX-ray spectra we will probe the causality behind the correlation between bolometric and X-ray luminosity.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2008-05-28T08:29:43Z/2008-05-31T00:09:15Z
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 Lidia Oskinova, 2009, 'The Fastest Stellar Winds as New Sources of Hard X-rays', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-nx8i1ny
