A dataset provided by the European Space Agency

Proposal ID 080241
Title Probing Galactic Center MeV-GeV Cosmic-ray Population with Sgr B2 Fe K Emission
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https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0802410101

DOI https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ymfjpzv
Principal Investigator, PI Dr Shuo Zhang
Abstract It has been a long-standing challenge to probe cosmic-ray particles at thecenter of our Galaxy. Low energy cosmic-ray protons (LECRp) with energies of MeVto GeV can produce 6.4 keV Fe K-alpha line and continuum X-ray emission throughinteraction with cold molecular materials. The Fe K-alpha emission from thedensest Galactic Center molecular cloud Sgr B2 has been decaying for the pastdecade, which has been dominated by reflection of a past Sgr A* X-ray outburst.However, as the X-ray reflection component keeps fading, a constant Fe K-alphaemission component will take the stage beginning early 2017. The flux level ofthe Sgr B2 Fe K- alpha emission measured in 2017-2018 will for the first timeput strong constraints on the MeV- GeV cosmic-ray proton population, not previously achievable.
Publications
Instrument EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage 2018-04-02T00:59:38Z/2018-04-03T05:36:18Z
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.
Creator Contact https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk
Date Published 2019-05-04T22:00:00Z
Keywords "flux level", "alpha line", "cold molecular materials", "past sgr", "sgr b2 fe", "kev fe", "continuum xray emission", "constant fe", "alpha emission component", "past decade", "xray outburst", "alpha emission", "2017 2018", "xray reflection component"
Publisher And Registrant European Space Agency
Credit Guidelines European Space Agency, Dr Shuo Zhang, 2019, 'Probing Galactic Center MeV-GeV Cosmic-ray Population with Sgr B2 Fe K Emission', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-ymfjpzv