Our NuSTAR observations of two massive colliding wind binary systems presentedclear evidence of high-energy, non-thermal emission, which probably originatefrom inverse-Compton (IC) of stellar photons by high-energy electronsaccelerated at the wind-wind colliding (WWC) shocks. However, the observedemission is nearly constant unlike the WWC thermal emission, and this is notexpected from the standard IC mechanism. To understand the emission mechanism,we need more colliding wind binary systems with different stellar parameters. Wepropose two NuSTAR observations of another colliding wind binary system, gamma2Velorum, whichshows signatures of WWC X-ray activity and has a GeV gamma-ray counterpart, to detect high-energy non-thermal emission.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2018-10-08T23:54:19Z/2018-11-25T22:12:10Z
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 Kenji Hamaguchi, 2019, 'DETECTION OF NON-THERMAL X-RAY EMISSION FROM GAMMA2 VELORUM', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-0qmc17i
