We propose to search for coronal soft x-ray emission from several of the oldestmain sequence stars in the Galaxy. Our program stars have been pre-selected fromground-based observations to have He I 10830 Ang absorption lines with anequivalent width of 30 mA or more. If such stars follow a relation between He Iequivalent width and soft x-ray flux applicable to Population I dwarf stars,then they would be expected to have x-ray luminosities 5e-7 times theirbolometric luminosity, and as such would yield detectable sources in 20 ksexposures with the EPIC-pn camera on XMM-Newton. Our proposal seeks to push thedetection of coronal activity to the lowest stellar metallicities yet surveyed,namely Fe/H virgul -2.0 dex.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2014-08-01T21:21:30Z/2015-03-17T01:16:14Z
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 Graeme Smith, 2016, 'A Search for Coronal Activity Among Metal-Poor Subdwarfs', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-or8ofe8
