The polar EF Eridani (2A 0311-227) was once one of the brightest soft X-raysources in the sky. For the past decade it has been in an extended inactivestate (with the exception of occasional short burps). We seek to study theresidual X-ray activity in this system. The data suggest that the residualoptical activity occurs either on the irradiated surface of the substellar masscompanion or in a coupling region where the secondary.s wind and/or its magneticfield interacts with the megaGauss field of the white dwarf. X-ray observationswill provide important clues to the magnetic geometry of polars, and the physicsof the coupling region.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2011-01-15T08:10:05Z/2011-01-16T04:06:07Z
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, Prof Frederick Walter, 2012, 'EF Eridani in the low state', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-3hul3td
