Since the early days of X-ray astronomy one of the central questions in ourunderstanding of accretion onto magnetic white dwarfs in compact binaries iswhether the flux ratio of their thermal and bremsstrahlung components is inaccordance with theoretical expectations or not. We propose to continue ourstudy of this issue with XMM-Newton observations of soft X-ray selected polars.The X-ray characteristics of our sample are complementary to the parameter spacecovered by previous observations of polars with XMM-Newton and Chandra.Extending the study of the spectral components, their flux contributions, andthe physical structure of the accretion regions to systems with extreme X-raycharacteristics is essential for a proper solution of this long-lasting controversy.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-03-12T12:34:41Z/2009-03-13T02:30:29Z
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 Klaus Reinsch, 2010, 'The energy budget of soft X-ray selected polars revisited', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-qxjfjaj
