| Proposal ID | 088090 |
| Title | Deciphering accretion from a slow wind: the case of HXMB GX 301-2 |
| Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0880900101 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-cv2pvpo |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Dr Victoria Grinberg |
| Abstract | We propose a 70 ks XMM-Newton observation with simultaneous NuSTAR coverage ofthe HMXB GX 301-2 at phi = 0.5-0.7 at apastron of the highly eccentric orbitwhen the wind of the companion is less disturbed by tidal interaction with theneutron star and the source is bright enough to enable studies of short-termabsorption variability. This will only be the second XMM-Newton observation ofGX 301-2 and the first outside of the pre-periastron flare. It will allow us tostudy the structure of the dense, slow wind of the B1 Ia+ companion, Wray 997,and to probe wind accretion in such an extreme environment. We will additionallyilluminate the properties of the accretion columns through pulse-phase resolvedspectroscopy and through variability studies of the cyclotron lines. |
| Publications | No publications found for current proposal! |
| Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
| Temporal Coverage | 2022-02-02T12:06:57Z/2022-02-03T08:06:57Z |
| Version | 19.17_20220121_1250 |
| 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 | 2023-02-22T00:00:00Z |
| Last Update | 2026-03-04 |
| Keywords | "additionally illuminate", "gx 301", "XMM-Newton", "NuSTAR", "tidal interaction", "deciphering accretion", "cyclotron lines", "hmxb gx 301", "b1 ia", "slow wind", "xmm newton", "accretion columns", "slow wind \:", "eccentric orbit", "probe wind accretion", "hxmb gx 301", "nustar coverage", "XMM", "pre periastron flare", "neutron star", "wray 997" |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Victoria Grinberg, 2023, 'Deciphering accretion from a slow wind: the case of HXMB GX 301-2', 19.17_20220121_1250, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-cv2pvpo |