We have recently discovered the most distant QSO, ULAS J1120+0641, at z=7.085,just 760 Myr after the big bang. As the first luminous, persistent source to bediscovered at z>7, ULAS J1120 is a unique probe of the intergalactic medium deepin the epoch of reionization, and already constrains the neutral fraction to bemore than 10% at z=7. Its black hole is estimated to be 2.0e9 Msun, and thesmall size of the ionized region in which it is embedded implies it has beenshining for less than 10^7 yrs. Thus it also provides important constraints onthe formation and evolution of massive black holes. We propose to obtain anX-ray spectrum with XMM-Newton to examine the physical conditions in this youngQSO, and to better determine its ionizing spectrum for reionization modelling.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2012-05-23T10:49:06Z/2012-06-21T16:12:42Z
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 Mathew Page, 2013, 'X-ray spectroscopy of the first z>7 QSO', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-sfc98w7
