The low number of confirmed and well studied FGs has hampered so far theattempts to constrain the abundance and properties of these systems. The numberof well studied FG is about 10, with only 7 temperature estimates; moreover theyare spread over a large redshift range. Using SDSS and RASS data, we assembledone of the largest comprehensive and objective samples of FG candidatesavailable in the literature. We propose to use XMM to confirm the nature of 12optimally selected candidates, more than doubling the number of known FGs. TheirX-ray properties will be compared to a sample of field ellipticals and tocosmological simulations, in order to understand if FGs represent the finalevolutionary stage of galaxy groups or just the tip of the galaxy group distribution with peculiar LF.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2009-05-13T18:13:22Z/2009-12-26T05:52:19Z
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 Maruizio Paolillo, 2011, 'Characterizing the nature of Fossil Groups with XMM', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-aw01ndz
