High-redshift (z) quasars are the farthest persistently bright X-ray pointsources in the universe. Although the high column densities towards high-zquasars were observed in the early days of ROSAT, we still do not know whetherthis absorption is intrinsic to the quasar, or is due to intervening material,or whether the continuum is simply curved as to mimic absorption. So far,observations of such sources were limited to the moderate resolution of CCDspectra. We propose to obtain a high S/N 180 ks RGS spectrum of a highlyabsorbed - yet extremely bright - quasar RBS 315 (z = 2.69) in order to finallyreveal the nature of its absorber: An outflow with absorption lines, the diffusephase of the intergalactic medium, or just curved continuum.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2013-01-13T20:22:28Z/2013-01-17T02:21:15Z
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, Prof Ehud Behar, 2014, 'The First High-Resolution Grating Spectrum of a High-Redshift Quasar', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-f4xpfwf
