Accreting white dwarfs (WDs) can be strong emitters of X-rays. In intermediatepolar (IP) type cataclysmic variables, the accreting material is funneled ontothe WD.s magnetic poles. The X-rays are produced by shock-heating, and thetemperature depends on the WD mass. Thus, X-ray spectra provide a WD massmeasurement. An important question is whether the WD mass distribution extendsup to the Chandrasekhar limit. The best place to look for high-mass WDs is amongIPs with the highest temperatures, making IPs found by INTEGRAL strongcandidates for hosting the most massive WDs. Here, we propose XMM-Newton andNuSTAR observations of two IGR sources that are likely IPs. The goals includedetecting the WD spin period to confirm the IP natures of the sources and to measure the WD masses.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2022-05-29T21:46:45Z/2022-07-03T05:55:09Z
Version
20.08_20220509_1852
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 John Tomsick, 2023, 'White Dwarf Masses and Spin Periods for Hard X-ray-Selected Galactic Sources', 20.08_20220509_1852, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-w7vn3ll
