Galactic X-ray Background Research Articles

Statistical properties of cataclysmic variables in the local galactic disc: a joint analysis of Gaia and XMM–Newton data

ABSTRACT Cataclysmic variables (CVs) represent a key evolutionary phase of many low-mass stellar binaries and appear to collectively dominate the galactic X-ray background above ∼1 keV. Statistical properties of CVs, however, remain poorly understood, even in the solar neighbourhood. We aim to obtain an X-ray luminosity-complete sample of local CVs whose distances put them within three volumes. Here we present a pilot investigation on the X-ray and optical properties of local CVs or their candidates, mainly by cross-correlating the 3XMM DR8 and Gaia DR2 source catalogues. We first examine a nearly complete sample of CVs within 150 pc by characterizing their X-ray luminosity, X-ray to Gaia G-band flux ratio, and X-ray hardness ratio distributions, as well as their locations in the Gaia colour–magnitude diagram. We show that these distributions of this very local sample are consistent with those of a CV sample obtained at distances between 150 and 300 pc. We also present a catalogue of 15 new CV candidates within 500 pc based primarily on their X-ray to Gaia G-band flux ratios. The X-ray luminosities of these candidates are between 1029 to several 1031 erg s−1, and their stacked X-ray spectrum can be well described by a multitemperature optically thin thermal plasma model with a maximum temperature $T_{\rm max}=7.5^{+6.3}_{-2.4}$ keV. These properties are consistent with those of the very local CVs. In particular, one of the CV candidates is within 150 pc, indicating that a considerable number of local CVs are yet detected. These results provide a base for a more complete statistical understanding of CVs and their quantitative contribution to the galactic X-ray background.

Michael Juda (1959–2016)

Juda studied the soft, galactic X-ray background. He was Lead Flight Director for the Chandra X-ray Observatory. His leadership through many anomalies and improvements contributed greatly to its longevity and scientific productivity.

AGN and QSOs in the eROSITA All-Sky Survey

Context. The main element of the observing program of the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma orbital observatory is a four-year all-sky survey, in the course of which the entire sky will be scanned eight times. Aims. We analyze the statistical properties of AGN and QSOs that are expected to be detected in the course of the eROSITA all-sky survey (eRASS). Methods. According to the currently planned survey strategy and based on the parameters of the Galactic and extragalactic X-ray background as well as on the results of the recent calculations of the eROSITA instrumental background, we computed a sensitivity map of the eRASS. Using the best available redshift-dependent AGN X-ray luminosity function (XLF), we computed various characteristics of the eRASS AGN sample, such as their luminosity- and redshift distributions, and the brightness distributions of their optical counterparts. Results. After four years of the survey, a sky-average sensitivity of ~1x10^(-14) erg/s/cm^2 will be achieved in the 0.5-2.0keV band. With this sensitivity, eROSITA is expected to detect ~3 million AGN on the extragalactic sky (|b|>10deg). The median redshift of the eRASS AGN will be z~1 with ~40% of the objects in the z=1-2 redshift range. About 10^4 - 10^5 AGN are predicted beyond redshift z=3 and about 2 000 - 30 000 AGN beyond redshift z=4, the exact numbers depend on the poorly known behavior of the AGN XLF in the high-redshift and luminosity regimes. Of the detected AGN, the brightest 10% will be detected with more than ~38 counts per PSF HEW, while the faintest 10% will have fewer than ~9 counts. The optical counterparts of ~95% of the AGN will be brighter than I_(AB)=22.5mag. The planned scanning strategy will allow one to search for transient events on a timescale of half a year and a few hours with a 0.5-2.0keV sensitivity of ~2x10^(-14) to ~2x10^(-13) erg/s/cm^2, respectively.

BROADBAND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF THE GALACTIC RIDGE X-RAY EMISSION

Detailed spectral analysis of the Galactic X-ray background emission, or the Galactic Ridge X-ray Emission (GRXE), is presented. To study the origin of the emission, broad-band and high-quality GRXE spectra were produced from 18 pointing observations with Suzaku in the Galactic bulge region, with the total exposure of 1 Ms. The spectra were successfully fitted by a sum of two major spectral components; a spectral model of magnetic accreting white dwarfs with a mass of 0.66 (0.59-0.75) solar, and a softer optically-thin thermal emission with a plasma temperature of 1.2-1.5 keV which is attributable to coronal X-ray sources. When combined with previous studies which employed high spatial resolution of the Chandra satellite (e.g. Revnivtsev et al. 2009, Nature), the present spectroscopic result gives another strong support to a scenario that the GRXE is essentially an assembly of numerous discrete faint X-ray stars. The detected GRXE flux in the hard X-ray band was used to estimate the number density of the unresolved hard X-ray sources. When integrated over a luminosity range of ~10^30-10^34 erg/s, the result is consistent with a value which was reported previously by directly resolving faint point sources.

A search for diffuse X-ray emission from GeV-detected Galactic globular clusters

Recently, diffuse and extended sources in TeV gamma-rays as well as in X-rays have been detected in the direction of the Galactic globular cluster (GC) Terzan 5. Remarkably, this is among the brightest GCs detected in the GeV regime. The nature of both the TeV and the diffuse X-ray signal from Terzan 5 is not settled yet. These emissions most likely indicate the presence of several non-thermal radiation processes in addition to these giving rise to the GeV signal. The aim of this work is to search for diffuse X-ray emission from the GeV detected GCs M 62, NGC 6388, NGC 6541, M 28, M 80 and NGC 6139 to compare the obtained results with the signal detected from Terzan 5. This study will help to determine whether Terzan 5 stands out amongst other GC or whether a whole population of globular clusters feature similar properties. None of the six GCs show significant diffuse X-ray emission on similar scales as observed from Terzan 5 above the particle and diffuse galactic X-ray background components. The derived upper limits allow to assess the validity of different models that were discussed in the interpretation of the multi-wavelength data of Terzan 5. A scenario based on synchrotron emission from relativistic leptons provided by the millisecond pulsar population can not be securely rejected if a comparable magnetic field strength as in Terzan 5 is assumed for every GC. However, such a scenario seems to be unlikely for NGC 6388 and M 62. An inverse-Compton scenario relying on the presence of a putative GRB remnant with the same properties as the one proposed for Terzan 5 can be ruled out for all of the six GCs. Finally, the assumption that each GC hosts a source with the same luminosity as in Terzan 5 is ruled out for all GCs but NGC 6139. (abridged)

INTEGRAL constraints on the Galactic hard X-ray background from the Milky Way anticenter

We present results of a study of the Galactic ridge X-ray emission (GRXE) in hard X-rays with the IBIS telescope on board INTEGRAL in the region near the Galactic Anticenter (GA) at l=155 deg. We assumed a conservative 2 sigma upper limit on the flux from the GA in the 25-60 keV energy band of 1.25E-10 erg/s/cm^2 (12.8 mCrab) per IBIS field of view, or 6.6E-12 erg/s/cm^2 (0.7 mCrab) per degree longitude in the 135 deg. < l < 175 deg. region. This upper limit exceeds the expected GRXE intensity in the GA direction by an order of magnitude, given the near-infrared (NIR) surface brightness of the Milky Way in this region and the standard hard X-ray-to-NIR intensity ratio for the GRXE, assuming stellar origin. Based on the CGRO/EGRET surface brightness of the Galaxy above 100 MeV as a tracer of the cosmic-ray (CR) induced gamma-ray background, the expected GRXE flux in GA exceeds the measured 2 sigma upper limit by a factor of 4. Therefore, the non-detection of hard X-ray emission from the GA does not contradict the stellar nature of the GRXE, but is inconsistent with CR origin.

Study of the Intracluster and Intergalactic Medium in the Sculptor Supercluster with Suzaku

Abstract We studied the high-temperature plasma in the direction of the Sculptor supercluster at $z =$ 0.108 with Suzaku. Suzaku carried out four observations in the supercluster: namely, A 2811, A 2811 offset, A 2804, A 2801 regions in 2005 November–December, including the regions beyond the virial radii of these clusters. The spectra taken in regions outside of the virial radii of the member clusters were used as background that included both of the Galactic and Cosmic X-ray Background (CXB) components. Temperature and metal abundance profiles were determined to the virial radii of the member clusters, and we then searched for oxygen line emission in the region outside of the virial radii of the clusters. As a result, the temperature of the clusters decreased toward the virial radii, and the spectral fits for the filament region did not require any extra component other than the Galactic and CXB components. We constrained the intensities of the OVII and OVIII lines to be less than 8.1 and 5.1 $\times$ 10$^{-8}$ photons cm$^{-2}\ $s$^{-1}\ $arcmin$^{-2}\ $, respectively, as 2$\ \sigma$ upper limits in the filament region. The intensity of OVII indicates $n_{\rm H}$$&amp;lt;$ 1.6 $\times$ 10$^{-5}\ $cm$^{-3}$ ($Z/$0.1$\ Z_{\odot}$)$^{-1/2}$($L/$25 Mpc)$^{-1/2}$, which corresponds to an over density of $\delta$$&amp;lt;$ 60($Z/$0.1$\ Z_{\odot}$)$^{-1/2}$($L/$25 Mpc)$^{-1/2}$.

「あすか」の見た活動的銀河核と宇宙X線背景放射( :X線天文衛星「あすか」)

「あすか」の見た活動的銀河核と宇宙X線背景放射( :X線天文衛星「あすか」)

OVII and OVIII line emission in the diffuse soft X-ray background: heliospheric and galactic contributions

Aims. We study the 0.57 keV (O VII triplet) and 0.65 keV (O VIII) diffuse emission generated by charge transfer collisions between solar wind (SW) oxygen ions and interstellar H and He neutral atoms in the inner Heliosphere. These lines which dominate the 0.3-1.0 keV energy interval are also produced by hot gas in the galactic halo (GH) and possibly the Local Interstellar Bubble (LB). Methods. We developed a time-dependent model of the Solar Wind Charge-Exchange (SWCX) X-ray emission, based on the localization of the Solar Wind Parker spiral at each instant. We include input SW conditions affecting three selected fields, as well as shadowing targets observed with XMM-Newton, Chandra and Suzaku satellites and calculate X-ray emission in the oxygen lines O VII and O VIII in order to determine the SWCX contamination and the residual emission to attribute to the galactic soft X-ray background. We obtain ground level intensities and/or simulated lightcurves for each target and compare to X-ray data from the three instruments mentioned. Results. The local 3/4 keV emission (due essentially to O VII and O VIII) detected in front of shadowing clouds is found to be entirely explained by the CX heliospheric emission. No emission from the LB is needed at these energies. The observed and modeled range of the foreground oxygen emission is 0.3-4.6 LU (Line Units = photons cm -2 s -1 sr -1 ) for OVII and 0.02-2.1 LU for OVIII depending on directions and conditions. Using the model predictions we subtract the heliospheric contribution to the measured emission and derive the halo contribution. We also correct for an error in the preliminary analysis of the Hubble Deep Field North (HDFN). We find intensities of 4.9 +1.29 -1.04 LU, 6.25 +0.63 -0.98 LU, 11.15 +2.36 -1.41 LU for OVII and 1.41 +0.60 -0.49 LU, 1.62 +0.35 -0.49 LU, 1.97 +1.11 -0.71 LU for OVIII towards the Marano Field, the Hubble Deep Field-North, and the Lockman Hole respectively.

Resolving the Galactic ridge X-ray background

We use Chandra deep observations of the Galactic Center (GC) region to improve the constraints on the unresolved fraction of the Galactic ridge X-ray background in the 4–8 keV band. We emphasize the importance of correcting the measured source counts at low fluxes for bias associated with Poisson noise. We find that at distances of 2 � –4 � from Sgr A ∗ at least ∼40% of the total X-ray emission in the energy band 4–8 keV originates from point sources with luminosities L2−10 keV > 10 31 erg s −1 . From a comparison of the source number-flux function in the GC region with the known luminosity function of faint X-ray sources in the Solar vicinity, we infer that Chandra has already resolved a large fraction of the cumulative contribution of cataclysmic variables to the total X-ray flux from the GC region. This comparison further indicates that most of the yet unresolved X-ray flux from the GC region (∼60%) is likely produced by weak cataclysmic variables and coronally active stars with L2−10 keV < 10 31 erg s −1 . We conclude that the bulk of the high energy Galactic X-ray background in this direction is produced by discrete sources, and that this is likely to be the case for the rest of the Galactic ridge.

The Search for the Missing Baryons at Low Redshift

At low redshift, only about one-tenth of the known baryons lie in galaxies or the hot gas seen in galaxy clusters and groups. Models posit that these “missing baryons” are in gaseous form in overdense filaments that connect the much denser virialized groups and clusters. About 30% is cool (&lt;105 K) and is detected in Lyα absorption studies, but about half is predicted to lie in the 105–107 K regime. Gas is detected in the 2–5 × 105 K range through OVI absorption studies (7% of the baryons) and possibly near 105 K from broad Lyα absorption (20% of the baryons). Hotter gas (0.5–2 × 106 K) is detected at zero redshift by OVII and OVIII Kα X-ray absorption, and the OVII line strengths seem to correlate with the Galactic soft X-ray background, so it is probably produced by Galactic halo gas, rather than a Local Group medium. There are no compelling detections of the intergalactic hot gas (0.5–10 × 106 K) either in absorption or emission and these upper limits are consistent with theoretical models. Claimed X-ray absorption lines are not confirmed, while most of the claims of soft emission are attributable to artifacts of background subtraction and field-flattening. The missing baryons should become detectable with moderate improvements in instrumental sensitivity.

X-Ray Study of Temperature and Abundance Profiles of the Cluster of Galaxies Abell 1060 with Suzaku

Abstract We carried out observations of the central and 20$'$ east offset regions of the cluster of galaxies Abell 1060 with Suzaku. Spatially resolved X-ray spectral analysis has revealed temperature and abundance profiles of Abell 1060 out to 27$'\simeq 380\; h_{70}^{-1}$ kpc, which corresponds to $\sim$ 0.25 $r_{180}$. Temperature decrease of the intra-cluster medium from 3.4 keV at the center to 2.2 keV in the outskirt region was clearly observed. The abundances of Si, S, and Fe also decrease by more than 50% from the center to the outer region, while Mg shows a fairly constant abundance distribution at $\sim 0.7$ solar within $r \lesssim 17'$. O shows a lower abundance of $\sim 0.3$ solar in the central region ($r \lesssim 6'$), and indicates a similar feature with Mg; however, it is sensitive to the estimated contribution of the Galactic components of $kT_1 \sim$ 0.15 keV and $kT_2 \sim$ 0.7 keV in the outer annuli ($r \gtrsim 13'$). Systematic effects due to the point-spread function tails, contamination on the XIS filters, instrumental background, cosmic and/or Galactic X-ray background, and the assumed solar abundance tables were carefully examined. The results on the temperature and abundances of Si, S, and Fe are consistent with those derived by XMM-Newton at $r \lesssim$ 13$'$. The formation and metal-enrichment process of the cluster are discussed based on the present results.

Map of the Galaxy in the 6.7-keV emission line

Abstract We study the two-dimensional surface brightness distribution of the Galactic X-ray background emission outside the central degree around Sgr A* in the 6.7-keV line as measured by the Proportional Counter Array spectrometer of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observatory. The use of the emission line instead of continuum (3–20 keV) radiation and application of time-variability filtering to the long data set allows us to strongly suppress the contamination of the Galactic ridge X-ray emission (GRXE) map by bright point-sources. The surface brightness in the 6.7-keV line demonstrates very good correspondence with the near-infrared surface brightness over the whole Galaxy, supporting the notion that the GRXE consists mostly of integrated emission from weak Galactic X-ray sources. We find compatible linear correlations between near-infrared and 6.7-keV surface brightness for the bulge and disc of the Galaxy. This indicates that the populations of weak X-ray sources making up the GRXE in the disc and in the bulge are not significantly different.

AROSATSurvey of Contact Binary Stars

Contact binary stars are common variable stars which are all believed to emit relatively large fluxes of x-rays. In this work we combine a large new sample of contact binary stars derived from the ROTSE-I telescope with x-ray data from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS) to estimate the x-ray volume emissivity of contact binary stars in the galaxy. We obtained x-ray fluxes for 140 contact binaries from the RASS, as well as 2 additional stars observed by the XMM-Newton observatory. From these data we confirm the emission of x-rays from all contact binary systems, with typical luminosities of approximately 1.0 x 10^30 erg s^-1. Combining calculated luminosities with an estimated contact binary space density, we find that contact binaries do not have strong enough x-ray emission to account for a significant portion of the galactic x-ray background.

INTEGRALdiscovery of a bright highly obscured galactic X-ray binary source IGR J16318-4848

INTEGRALregularly scans the Galactic plane to search for new objects and in particular for absorbed sources with the bulk of their emission above 10− 20 keV. The first new INTEGRALsource was discovered on 2003 January 29, 0.5 ◦ from the Galactic plane and was further observed in the X-rays with XMM-Newton. This source, IGR J16318−4848, is intrinsically strongly absorbed by cold matter and displays exceptionally strong fluorescence emission lines. The likely infrared /optical counterpart indicates that IGR J16318−4848 is probably a High Mass X-Ray Binary neutron star or black hole enshrouded in a Compton thick environment. Strongly absorbed sources, not detected in previous surveys, could contribute significant ly to the Galactic hard X-ray background between 10 and 200 keV.

On the Origin of the Iron K Line in the Spectrum of the Galactic X‐Ray Background

We propose a mechanism for the origin of the Galactic ridge X-ray background that naturally explains the properties of the Fe K line, specifically the detection of the centroid line energy below 6.7 keV and the apparent broadness of the line. Motivated by recent evidence of nonthermal components in the spectrum of the Galactic X-ray/γ-ray background, we consider a model that is a mixture of thermal plasma components of perhaps supernova origin and nonthermal emission from the interaction of low-energy cosmic-ray electrons (LECRe) with the interstellar medium. The LECRe may be accelerated in supernova explosions or by ambient interstellar plasma turbulence. Atomic collisions of fast electrons produce characteristic nonthermal, narrow X-ray emission lines that can explain the complex Galactic background spectrum. Using the ASCA GIS archival data from the Scutum arm region, we show that a two-temperature thermal plasma model with kT ~ 0.6 and ~2.8 keV, plus a LECRe component models the data satisfactorily. Our analysis rules out a purely nonthermal origin for the emission. It also rules out a significant contribution from low-energy cosmic-ray ions, because their nonthermal X-ray production would be accompanied by a nuclear γ-ray line diffuse emission exceeding the upper limits obtained using OSSE, as well as by an excessive Galaxy-wide Be production rate. The proposed model naturally explains the observed complex line features and removes the difficulties associated with previous interpretations of the data which evoked a very hot thermal component (kT ~ 7 keV).

Cosmic rays from accreting isolated neutron stars

Interstellar matter that is accreted onto isolated magnetic neutron stars in the Galaxy ( ~ 109 by number) is accelerated and reflected back by (MHD) shocks, which envelope the stars. The integrated power in the Galaxy, Lcr,ns, is ≳ 1040 erg s–1, the energy distribution is a power law of spectral index > 2, and the particle energy can be raised to 106 GeV, consistent with the power and spectrum of primary cosmic rays in the Galaxy. The major contribution to Lcr,ns comes from a minority of ~ 107 isolated neutron stars which are located within dense clouds. Sources in these clouds, that are generally spread within the Galactic disc, can explain the concentration of high-energy cosmic rays in the Galactic plane, as deduced from pion decay spectra in gamma-ray observations. The soft X-ray luminosity from these neutron stars is consistent with the Galactic X-ray background. The accretion may be associated with ion-neutral bias, that is further enhanced by ion confinement in frozen-in magnetic fields, which can raise the relative abundance of first ionization potential (FIP) elements in the cosmic rays.

Study of Black Hole Candidates, Active Galactic Nuclei and Cosmic X-ray Background with Japan&apos;s X-ray Astronomy Satellites

Study of Black Hole Candidates, Active Galactic Nuclei and Cosmic X-ray Background with Japan&apos;s X-ray Astronomy Satellites

X-ray investigations of the hot ISM

At energies less than one keV, the intensity of the galactic x-ray background dominates that of the extragalactic background in almost every direction on the sky. below 1/4 keV, the galactic x-ray background has a galactic stellar component, but the dominant emitter seems to be hot interstellar matter. The origin of the general 3/4 keV x-ray background remains uncertain, but one component must also be the contribution from hot interstellar matter. An overview is given of recent x-ray investigations of the hot interstellar medium using data from the ROSAT XRT/PSPC instrument. Several prominent features in the low energy x-ray background that are interpreted as fossil supernova remnants are discussed.

A deep image of the diffuse soft X-ray background at the Galactic plane

A deep Einstein IPC image of the Galactic plane provides important information about the Galactic diffuse X-ray background. Free from contamination by sources with fluxes greater than about 4 x 10 exp -14 ergs/sq cm s and by X-rays from beyond the Galactic plane, the intensity and spectrum of the background at the Galactic plane are measured for the first time in the 0.16-3.5 keV band. The spectrum can be characterized by a thermal hot gas model with a temperature of about 4,000,000 K, and the M-band Galactic flux is about 3 x 10 exp -8 ergs/sq cm s sr. This background is enhanced in the M band at the Galactic plane, but it is keV regime. If discrete sources are to be responsible for the background, their surface density must be much greater than one source per resolution element of the IPC (i.e., about 0.4 sources/sq arcmin) because of the lack of a correlation among observed X-ray on scales comparable to the instrument resolution. This density constraint, together with a model study of the Galactic emission, leads to the conclusion that no known stellar population could be responsible for the bulk of the emission.