It is a fundamental prediction from the LambdaCDM cosmology that massivegalaxies have an extended X-ray emitting corona produced by the accreted gasfrom the intergalactic space. Massive isolated spirals provide the best place tosearch for this accreted hot CGM and the missing baryons contained in it.Previous X-ray observations target on massive spirals either too distant or toonearby (M31). We propose mosaic XMM observations covering r<350kpc from theSombrero, the most massive spiral at d<30Mpc. We will search for signatures ofthe accretion atmosphere via the radial distributions of the X-ray intensity, aswell as the density, temperature, thermal pressure, radiative cooling timescale,and metallicity of the hot gas. We will also quantify the baryon budget of this extended hot CGM.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2022-06-23T16:22:19Z/2023-01-20T16:21:17Z
Version
20.09_20221024_1724
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 Jiangtao Li, 2024, 'X-raying accretion atmosphere of the most massive spiral in the local universe', 20.09_20221024_1724, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-dw2qh5s
