Strong shocks are expected to be important during the AGN dominated epochs ofgalaxy formation and evolution. However these shocks have not yet been detectedat high redshifts. A great advantage of this proposal is that we will beobserving powerful AGN which should produce strong shocks, but at a redshiftwhere we can detect the hot gas easily. This is only possible because we willobserve relatively nearby young radio galaxies. Using XMM we found evidence fora strong shock (Mach 13) around the Compact Steep Spectrum (CSS) Radio Galaxy3C303.1. We propose to obtain XMM imaging of two powerful CSS sources which arelarger and lower redshift than 3C303.1. These observations will provide the keynext step in the study of radio source propagation.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2008-06-11T17:10:15Z/2008-06-11T21:52:13Z
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 Christopher O'Dea, 2009, 'X-ray from Hot Shocked Gas: Probing Radio Galaxy Propagation', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-v7xt5cb
