Black holes are seen over a huge range in mass in the Universe, ranging fromstellar-mass black holes in binary systems, to supermassive (1E6 - 1E9 M(sun))black holes at the centers of AGN. The recent discovery of low luminosity AGNwith black hole masses less than 1E6 M(sun) allows a unique probe of theproperties of accretion onto intermediate mass black holes. Only 6 of theseobjects have had previous significant X-ray observations, and have showntantalising evidence of extreme variability and even a soft excess. Here, wepropose to survey the 8 remaining objects with a mass less than 1E6 M(sun) andknown X-ray counterpart, more than doubling the sample of good X-rayobservations of these objects.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2011-05-03T17:07:10Z/2012-01-17T19:26:25Z
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 Edward Cackett, 2013, 'A survey of intermediate mass black holes in dwarf AGN', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-l4u6gnx
