As was recently established, the energy source in Ultraluminous InfraredGalaxies (ULIRGs) depends on their interaction phase. AGN have been found in thelatest stages, while they are mostly not seen in the early merger phases. Wepropose to use XMM-Newton observations to constrain the fraction ofrecently-triggered AGN in the diffuse merger stage. We will look for a luminoushard (>3 keV) X-ray power-law (indicative of AGN activity not affected byobscuration) in a sample of 5 ULIRGs selected from the IRAS 1 Jy sample that donot show any AGN characteristic so far. These sources are excellent study casesfor the black hole-galaxy evolution paradigm. These proposed snapshotobservations will enable us to perform more extensive X-ray follow-up studies with Chandra and XMM.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2011-08-29T07:02:05Z/2012-01-27T11:18:15Z
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 Ezequiel Treister, 2013, 'The Fraction of Heavily-Obscured AGN Amongst Diffuse-Merger ULIRGs', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ax05shn
