Newly-discovered exoplanets from TESS provide the opportunity to assess therelative importance of atmospheric escape mechanisms proposed to explain thebimodal distribution of super-Earths and mini-Neptunes discovered with Kepler.We will measure X-ray spectra and fluxes of the host stars of a sample of TESSplanets as inputs to models comparing XUV-driven photoevaporation withcore-powered mass loss. Determining the relative importance of these mechanismsis important for studies of exoplanet habitability, particularly around M-dwarfswhere the cumulative XUV irradiation in the habitable zone is much higher.
Instrument
EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2
Temporal Coverage
2023-03-17T07:12:34Z/2023-03-25T11:47:49Z
Version
20.10_20230417_1156
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, Prof Peter Wheatley, 2024, 'Testing the origin of the exoplanet radius valley with new systems from TESS', 20.10_20230417_1156, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.57780/esa-[xxxxxxx]
