What dictates the formation of luminous black hole (BH) versus neutron star (NS)X-ray binaries (XRBs)? Recent studies have shown that some ultraluminous X-raysources in starburst and high specific star formation rate (sSFR) galaxies arepulsars, while low sSFR galaxies such as M31 have a dearth of accreting BHs.These discoveries have challenged our understanding of XRB evolution and theassociated accretion processes. We request a 420 ks NuSTAR observationsimultaneous with a 50 ks XMM-Newton observation of the starburst galaxy NGC6946 (The Fireworks Galaxy) to characterize the accreting BH and NS populationsand investigate the black hole fraction at luminosities below the NS Eddingtonlimit.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2020-07-08T21:29:46Z/2021-05-26T01:35:05Z
Version
19.16_20210326_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 Neven Vulic, 2022, 'A NUSTAR-XMM VIEW OF THE RESOLVED X-RAY BINARY POPULATION IN THE FIREWORKS GALAX', 19.16_20210326_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-v5pufby
