We aim at the detection of the quiescent X-ray emission from the M dwarfLP617-34, as invaluable calibration point for the activity-age relation of Mdwarfs at the faint/old end. Analogous to our previous targets, LP617-34 is awide companion to a white dwarf (WD), and we infer the age of the M dwarf (7.7Gyr) from the progenitor and cooling age of the WD. Our target is the oldestknown of such systems, and the only remaining one at >5Gyr that can be resolvedwith XMM-Newton (separation virgul 22). Transient X-ray emission was detected fromthe M dwarf during an XMM-Newton slew but its quiescent emission is required toconstrain the activity - age relation, which is key for understanding stellardynamos and the irradiation of planet atmospheres with high-energy photons.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2018-01-12T06:02:40Z/2018-01-12T19:47:18Z
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 Beate Stelzer, 2019, 'Calibrating the time-evolution of the high-energy emission of M stars', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-o0r4cto
