Deep Chandra X-ray Observation Research Articles

Revealing the “missing” low-mass stars in the S254-S258 star forming region by deep X-ray imaging

(abbreviated) In the central part of the S254-S258 star forming complex, a dense embedded cluster of very young stellar objects (S255-IR) is sandwiched between the two HII regions S255 and S257. This interesting configuration had led to different speculations such as dynamical ejection of the B-stars from the central cluster or triggered star formation in a cloud that was swept up in the collision zone between the two expanding HII regions. The presence or absence of low-mass stars associated with these B-stars can discriminate between the possible scenarios. We performed a deep Chandra X-ray observation of the S254-S258 region in order to efficiently discriminate young stars from the numerous older field stars in the area. We detected 364 X-ray point sources, providing a complete sample of all young stars in the observed region down to ~0.5 Msun. A clustering analysis identifies three significant clusters, containing 64 X-ray sources in total. After accounting for X-ray background contaminants, this implies that about 250 X-ray sources constitute a widely scattered population of young stars. This number agrees well with the expectation for the low-mass population associated to the B-stars in S255 and S257 as predicted by an IMF extrapolation. These results are consistent with the scenario that these two B-stars represent an earlier stellar population and that their expanding HII regions have swept up the central cloud and trigger star formation therein.

A VERY DEEPCHANDRAOBSERVATION OF A2052: BUBBLES, SHOCKS, AND SLOSHING

We present the first results from a very deep (∼650 ks) Chandra X-ray observation of A2052, as well as archival Very Large Array radio observations. The data reveal detailed structure in the inner parts of the cluster, including bubbles evacuated by radio lobes of the active galactic nucleus (AGN), compressed bubble rims, filaments, and loops. Two concentric shocks are seen, and a temperature rise is measured for the innermost one. On larger scales, we report the first detection of an excess surface brightness spiral feature. The spiral has cooler temperatures, lower entropies, and higher abundances than its surroundings, and is likely the result of sloshing gas initiated by a previous cluster–cluster or sub-cluster merger. Initial evidence for previously unseen bubbles at larger radii related to earlier outbursts from the AGN is presented.

An X-ray survey of low-mass stars in Trumpler 16 with Chandra

Aims. We identify and characterize low-mass stars in the ~3 Myr old Trumpler 16 region by means of a deep Chandra X-ray observation, and study their optical and near-IR properties. We compare the X-ray activity of Trumpler 16 stars with the known characteristics of Orion and Cygnus OB2 stars.

Enrichment in the Centaurus cluster of galaxies

We perform a detailed spatially-resolved, spectroscopic, analysis of the core of the Centaurus cluster of galaxies using a deep Chandra X-ray observation and XMM-Newton data. The Centaurus cluster core has particularly high metallicity, upto twice Solar values, and we measure the abundances of Fe, O, Ne, Mg, Si, S, Ar, Ca and Ni. We map the distribution of these elements in many spatial regions,and create radial profiles to the east and west of the centre. The ratios of the most robustly determined elements to iron are consistent with Solar ratios, indicating that there has been enrichment by both Type Ia and Type II supernovae. For a normal initial stellar mass function it represents the products of about 4x10^10 solar masses of star formation. This star formation can have occured either continuously at a rate of 5 solar masses per year for the past 8 Gyr or more,or was part of the formation of the central galaxy at earlier times. Either conclusion requires that the inner core of the Centaurus cluster has not suffered a major disruption within the past 8 Gyr, or even longer.

The discovery of an expanding X-ray source in the HH 154 protostellar jet

Context. Protostellar jets are a new class of X-ray sources which has been discovered with both XMM-Newton and Chandra. The mechanism responsible for the X-ray emission is still not clear. Self-shocking in jets, shocks where the jet hits the surrounding medium, reflected or scattered stellar X-ray emission have all been invoked as possible explanations. Aims. One key diagnostic discriminating among physical emission mechanisms is the motion of the X-ray source: hydrodynamical numerical models of continuous protostellar jets plowing through a uniform medium show an X-ray emitting shock front moving at several hundreds km s -1 . In the nearest X-ray emitting protostellar jet, HH 154, this is detectable, with the spatial resolution of the Chandra X-ray observatory, over a few years baseline, allowing a robust discrimination among different mechanisms. Methods. We have performed, in October 2005, a deep Chandra X-ray observation of HH 154. Comparison with the previous (2001) Chandra observation allows to detect proper motion down to the level predicted by models of X-ray emitting shocks in the jet. Results. The 2005 Chandra observation of HH 154 shows unexpected morphological changes of the X-ray emission in comparison with the 2001 data. Two components are present: a stronger, point-like component with no detectable motion and a weaker component which has expanded in size by approximately 300 AU over the 4 years time base of the two observations. This expansion corresponds to approximately 500 km s -1 , very close to the velocity of the X-ray emitting shock in the simple theoretical models. Conclusions. The 2005 data show a more complex system than initially thought (and modeled), with multiple components with different properties. The observed morphology is possibly indicating a pulsed jet propagating through a non-homogeneous medium, likely with medium density decreasing with distance from the driving source. Detailed theoretical modeling and deeper X-ray observations will be needed to understand the physics of this fascinating class of sources.

A very deep Chandra observation of the Perseus cluster: shocks, ripples and conduction

We present the first results from a very deep Chandra X-ray observation of the core of the Perseus cluster of galaxies. A pressure map reveals a clear thick band of high pressure around the inner radio bubbles. The gas in the band must be expanding outward and the sharp front to it is identified as a shock front, yet we see no temperature jump across it; indeed there is more soft emission behind the shock than in front of it. We conclude that in this inner region either thermal conduction operates efficiently or the co-existing relativistic plasma seen as the radio mini-halo is mediating the shock. If common, isothermal shocks in cluster cores mean that we cannot diagnose the expansion speed of radio bubbles from temperature measurements alone. They can at times expand more rapidly than currently assumed without producing significant regions of hot gas. Bubbles may also be significantly more energetic. The pressure ripples found in earlier images are identified as isothermal sound waves. A simple estimate based on their amplitude confirms that they can be an effective distributed heat source able to balance radiative cooling.We see multiphase gas with about 10{sup 9}M{sub {circle_dot}} at a temperature of about 0.5 keV. Much, but not all, of this cooler gas is spatially associated with the optical filamentary nebula around the central galaxy, NGC1275. A residual cooling flow of about 50M{sub {circle_dot}} yr{sup -1} may be taking place. A channel is found in the pressure map along the path of the bubbles, with indications found of outer bubbles. The channel connects in the S with a curious cold front.