Active stars/binaries (ASB) have been proposed as a significant constituent ofthe diffuse background observed along the galactic ridge.Previous X-ray studiesof the ridge and its sources have always been hampered by the fact that thesearches for the presumed source population had to be carried out in low energyspectral bands and hence the spectral properties of the constituent populationshad to be extrapolated. With the XMM-Newton slew survey (XSS) a sufficientlydeep hard X-ray survey has become available. Among the XSS hard band sources wehave filtered out a set of 33 targets which allow detailed EPIC spectroscopy inthe r^ant 3 - 7 keV region and 6.7 keV iron line complex and allow toconstruct a representative sample of the presumed galactic ridge ASB population.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2016-04-16T05:00:51Z/2016-12-22T13:05:11Z
Version
PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE
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 Jurgen Schmitt, 2018, 'The origin of the diffuse X-ray emission along the galactic ridge', PPS_NOT_AVAILABLE, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-uhp380l
