Andrew M. Read

The XMM-Newton EPIC background: Production of background maps and event files

XMM-Newton background maps for the 3 EPIC instruments in their different instrument/mode/filter combinations and in several energy bands have been constructed using a superposition of many pointed observations. Event datasets for the different instrument/mode/filter combinations have also been constructed, with longer exposure times than previously created files. This document describes the construction of the background maps and event files, and their usage. Further details on how to obtain these background products, together with related software and these explanatory notes can be found at this http URL

The XMM-LSS survey. Survey design and first results

We have designed a medium deep large area X-ray survey with XMM - the XMM Large Scale Structure survey, XMM-LSS - with the scope of extending the cosmological tests attempted using ROSAT cluster samples to two redshift bins between 0

First‐look XMM–Newton EPIC observations of the prototypical starburst galaxy M82

We present results from XMM-Newton EPIC observations of the prototypical starburst galaxy M82. We find that the superwind, as seen in X-rays, extends continuously from the starburst region to the X-ray emission associated with the Hα cap. We also find evidence for morphological features associated with superwind/IGM interaction, with some interesting correlations with HI emission.

The X-ray properties of the merging galaxy pair NGC 4038/9 – the Antennae

We report the results of an X-ray spectral imaging observation of the Antennae with the ROSAT PSPC. 55% of the soft X-ray flux from the system is resolved into discrete sources, including components identified with the galactic nuclei and large HII regions, whilst the remainder appears to be predominantly genuinely diffuse emission from gas at a temperature ~4x10^6 K. The morphology of the emission is unusual, combining a halo which envelopes the galactic discs, with what appears to be a distorted, but well-collimated bipolar outflow. We derive physical parameters for the hot gas in both diffuse components, which are of some interest, given that the Antennae probably represents an elliptical galaxy in the making.

XMM–Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer observations of the prototypical starburst galaxy M82

We present results from XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer observations of the prototypical starburst galaxy M82. These high resolution spectra represent the best X-ray spectra to date of a starburst galaxy. A complex array of lines from species over a wide range of temperatures is seen, the most prominent being due to Lyman-� emission from abundant low Z elements such as N, O, Ne, Mg and Si. Emission lines from Helium-like charge states of the same elements are also seen in emission, as are strong lines from the entire Fe L series. Further, the OVII line complex is resolved and is seen to be consistent with gas in collisional ionization equilibrium. Spectral fitting indicates emission from a large mass of gas with a differential emission measure over a range of temperatures (from �0.2keV to �1.6keV, peaking at �0.7keV), and evidence for super-solar abundances of several elements is indicated. Spatial analysis of the data indicates that low energy emission is more extended to the south and east of the nucleus than to the north and west. Higher energy emission is far more centrally concentrated.

An XMM–Newton observation of the galaxy group MKW 4

We present an X-ray study of the galaxy group or poor cluster MKW 4. Working with XMM-Newton data we examine the distribution and properties of the hot gas which makes up the group halo. The inner halo shows some signs ofstructure, with circular or elliptical beta models providing a poor fit to the surface brightness profile. This may be evidence of large-scale motion in the inner halo, but we do not find evidence of sharp fronts or edges in the emission. The temperature of the halo declines in the core, with deprojected spectral fits showing a central temperature of ∼1.3 keV compared to ∼3 keV at 100 kpc. In the central ∼30 kpc of the group, multitemperature spectral models are required to fit the data, but they indicate a lack of gas at low temperatures. Steady-state cooling flow models provide poor fits to the inner regions of the group and the estimated cooling time of the gas is long except within the central dominant galaxy, NGC 4073. Abundance profiles show a sharp increase in the core of the group, with mean abundance rising by a factor of 2 in the centre of NGC 4073. Fitting individual elements shows the same trend, with high values of Fe, Si and S in the core. We estimate that ∼50 per cent of the Fe in the central 40 kpc was injected by Type Ia supernovae, in agreement with previous ASCA studies. Using our best-fitting surface brightness and temperature models, we calculate the mass, gas fraction, entropy and mass-to-light ratio of the group. At 100 kpc (∼0.1 virial radius) the total mass and gas entropy of the system (∼2 x 10 1 3 M O . and ∼300 keV cm 2 ) are quite comparable to those of other systems of similar temperature, but the gas fraction is rather low (∼1 per cent). We conclude that MKW 4 is a fairly relaxed group, which has developed a strong central temperature gradient but not a large-scale cooling flow.

An XMM-Newton observation of the galaxy group MKW 4

We present an X-ray study of the galaxy group or poor cluster MKW 4. Working with XMM-Newton data we examine the distribution and properties of the hot gas which makes up the group halo. The inner halo shows some signs ofstructure, with circular or elliptical beta models providing a poor fit to the surface brightness profile. This may be evidence of large-scale motion in the inner halo, but we do not find evidence of sharp fronts or edges in the emission. The temperature of the halo declines in the core, with deprojected spectral fits showing a central temperature of ∼1.3 keV compared to ∼3 keV at 100 kpc. In the central ∼30 kpc of the group, multitemperature spectral models are required to fit the data, but they indicate a lack of gas at low temperatures. Steady-state cooling flow models provide poor fits to the inner regions of the group and the estimated cooling time of the gas is long except within the central dominant galaxy, NGC 4073. Abundance profiles show a sharp increase in the core of the group, with mean abundance rising by a factor of 2 in the centre of NGC 4073. Fitting individual elements shows the same trend, with high values of Fe, Si and S in the core. We estimate that ∼50 per cent of the Fe in the central 40 kpc was injected by Type Ia supernovae, in agreement with previous ASCA studies. Using our best-fitting surface brightness and temperature models, we calculate the mass, gas fraction, entropy and mass-to-light ratio of the group. At 100 kpc (∼0.1 virial radius) the total mass and gas entropy of the system (∼2 x 10 1 3 M O . and ∼300 keV cm 2 ) are quite comparable to those of other systems of similar temperature, but the gas fraction is rather low (∼1 per cent). We conclude that MKW 4 is a fairly relaxed group, which has developed a strong central temperature gradient but not a large-scale cooling flow.

Chandra observations of the Mice

Presented here are high spatial and spectral resolution Chandra X-ray observations of the famous interacting galaxy pair, the Mice, a system similar to, though less evolved than, the well-known Antennae galaxies. Previously unpublished ROSAT High Resolution Imager data of the system are also presented. Starburst-driven galactic winds outflowing along the minor axis of both galaxies (but particularly the northern one) are observed, and spectral and spatial properties, and energetics are presented. That such a phenomenon can occur in such a rapidly evolving and turbulent system is surprising, and this is the first time that the very beginning - the onset, of starburst-driven hot gaseous outflow in a full-blown disc-disc merger has been seen. Point-source emission is seen at the galaxy nuclei, and within the interaction-induced tidal tails. Further point-source emission is associated with the galactic bar in the southern system. A comparison of the source X-ray luminosity function and of the diffuse emission properties is made with the Antennae and other galaxies, and evidence of a more rapid evolution of the source population than the diffuse component is found. No evidence for variability is found between the Chandra and previous observations.

The XMM-Large Scale Structure catalogue: X-ray sources and associated optical data. Version I

Following the presentation of the XMM-Large Scale Structure (XMM-LSS) survey X-ray source detection package by Pacaud et al., we provide the source lists for the first surveyed 5.5 deg 2 . The catalogues pertain to the [0.5-2] and [2-10] keV bands and contain in total 3385 point-like or extended sources above a detection likelihood of 15 in either band. The agreement with deep log N- log S is excellent. The main parameters considered are position, count rate, source extent with associated likelihood values. A set of additional quantities such as astrometric corrections and fluxes are further calculated while errors on the position and count rate are deduced from simulations. We describe the construction of the band-merged catalogue allowing rapid subsample selection and easy cross-correlation with external multiwavelength catalogues. A small optical Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey multiband subset of objects are associated with each source along with an X-ray/optical overlay. We make the full X-ray images available in FITS format. The data are available at the Centre de Donnees de Strasbourg and, in a more extended form, at the Milan XMM-LSS survey data base.

The XMM large-scale structure survey: A well-controlled X-ray cluster sample over the D1 CFHTLS area

We present the XMM Large-Scale Structure Survey (XMM-LSS) cluster catalogue corresponding to the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey Dl area. The list contains 13 spectroscopically confirmed, X-ray selected galaxy clusters over 0.8 deg 2 to a redshift of unity and so constitutes the highest density sample of clusters to date. Cluster X-ray bolometric luminosities range from 0.03 to 5 x 10 44 erg s -1 . In this study, we describe our catalogue construction procedure: from the detection of X-ray cluster candidates to the compilation of a spectroscopically confirmed cluster sample with an explicit selection function. The procedure further provides basic X-ray products such as cluster temperature, flux and luminosity. We detected slightly more clusters with (0.5-2.0 keV) X-ray fluxes of >2 x 10 -14 erg s -1 cm -2 than we expected based on expectations from deep ROSAT surveys. We also present the luminosity-temperature relation for our nine brightest objects possessing a reliable temperature determination. The slope is in good agreement with the local relation, yet compatible with a luminosity enhancement for the 0.15 < z < 0.35 objects having 1 < T < 2 keV, a population that the XMM-LSS is identifying systematically for the first time. The present study permits the compilation of cluster samples from XMM images whose selection biases are understood. This allows, in addition to studies of large-scale structure, the systematic investigation of cluster scaling law evolution, especially for low mass X-ray groups which constitute the bulk of our observed cluster population. All cluster ancillary data (images, profiles, spectra) are made available in electronic form via the XMM-LSS cluster data base.