X-ray discovery of a dwarf-galaxy galaxy collision

We report the discovery of a probable dwarf galaxy colliding with NGC 1232. This collision is visible only in the X-ray spectral band, and it is creating a region of shocked gas with a temperature of 5.8 MK covering an impact area 7.25 kpc in diameter. The X-ray luminosity is 3.7 x1038ergs s-1. The long lifetime of this gas against radiative and adiabatic cooling should permit the use of the luminous afterglow from such collisions to be used as a way of estimating their importance in galaxy evolution.Comment: 5 Pages, Published in ApJ 770, 17, 201

Chandra observations of the pulsar PSR B1929+10 and its environment

We report on two Chandra observations of the 3-Myr pulsar B1929+10, which reveal a faint compact (~9"x5") nebula elongated in the direction perpendicular to the pulsar's proper motion, two patchy wings, and a possible short (~3") jet emerging from the pulsar. In addition, we detect a tail extending up to at least 4' in the direction opposite to the pulsar's proper motion, aligned with the 15'-long tail detected in ROSAT and XMM-Newton observations. The overall morphology of the nebula suggests that the shocked pulsar wind is confined by the ram pressure due to the pulsar's supersonic speed. The shape of the compact nebula in the immediate vicinity of the pulsar seems to be consistent with the current MHD models. However, since these models do not account yet for the change of the flow velocity at larger distances from the pulsar, they are not able to constrain the extent of the long pulsar tail. The luminosity of the whole nebula as seen by Chandra is ~10^30 ergs/s in the 0.3-8 keV band, for the distance of 361 pc. Using the Chandra and XMM-Newton data, we found that the pulsar spectrum is comprised of non-thermal (magnetospheric) and thermal components. The non-thermal component can be described by a power-law model with photon index ~1.7 and luminosity 1.7x10^30 ergs/s in the 0.3-10 keV band. The blackbody fit for the thermal component, which presumably emerges from hot polar caps, gives the temperature kT~0.3 keV and projected emitting area 3x10^3 m^2, corresponding to the bolometric luminosity ~(1-2)x10^30 ergs/s.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures and 2 tables; accepted by ApJ; version with low-resolution figure

X-ray emission from J1446-4701, J1311-3430 and other black widow pulsars

We present the results of detailed X-ray analysis of two black-widow pulsars (BWPs), J1446-4701 and J1311-3430. PSR J1446-4701 is a BWP with orbital parameters near the median values of the sample of known BWPs. Its X-ray emission detected by $XMM-Newton$ is well characterized by a soft power-law (PL) spectrum (photon index $\Gamma \approx 3$), and it shows no significant orbital modulations. In view of a lack of radio eclipses and an optical non-detection, the system most likely has a low orbital inclination. PSR J1311-3430 is an extreme BWP with a very compact orbit and the lowest minimum mass companion. Our $Chandra$ data confirm the hard, $\Gamma \approx 1.3$, emission seen in previous observations. Through phase-restricted spectral analysis, we found a hint ($\sim 2.6 \sigma$) of spectral hardening around pulsar inferior conjunction. We also provide a uniform analysis of the 12 BWPs observed with $Chandra$ and compare their X-ray properties. Pulsars with soft, $\Gamma > 2.5$, emission seem to have lower than average X-ray and $\gamma$-ray luminosities. We do not, however, see any other prominent correlation between the pulsar's X-ray emission characteristics and any of its other properties. The contribution of the intra-binary shock to the total X-ray emission, if any, is not discernible in this sample of pulsars with shallow observations.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, accepted by Ap

X-ray Source Population in the Elliptical Galaxy NGC 720 with Chandra

With a Chandra ACIS-S3 observation, we detect 42 X-ray point sources in the elliptical galaxy NGC 720, including a possible central source. Most of these sources will be low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), and 12 are located within 2" of globular cluster candidates. We investigate both the hardness ratios and combined spectra of the sources. They exhibit a distribution of X-ray colors similar to those seen in other early-type galaxies. We find that there is a population of highly absorbed sources located at large distances from the center of the galaxy. The overall spatial distribution of sources is consistent with the ellipticity and position angle of the galaxy, but the sources appear to form several arcs. NGC 720 contains nine ultraluminous sources (L_x >= 10^39 ergs/s). This number is more than have previously been detected in an early-type galaxy but similar to the number seen in the Antennae merger system. The ratio L_ULX/L_B for NGC 720 is more than double the ratio for the S0 galaxy NGC 1553 and a factor of seven higher than for the elliptical galaxy NGC 4697, although uncertainties in the distance and the source spectral properties could bring these ratios into agreement. The X-ray source luminosity function is also nearly as flat as those seen in disk and merger systems. The large number of ULXs in NGC 720 and its relatively flat XLF may provide evidence against the association of all ULXs with young stars. We also see a possible high luminosity break in the luminosity function at 2x10^39 h_50^-2 ergs/s.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Chandra X-ray Observations of Newly Discovered, z ~ 1 Clusters from the Red-Sequence Cluster Survey

Observational studies of cluster evolution over moderate redshift ranges (to z ~ 1) are a powerful tool for constraining cosmological parameters, yet a comprehensive knowledge of the properties of these clusters has been hitherto unattained. Using a highly efficient optical selection technique, the Red-Sequence Cluster Survey (RCS) has unearthed a large sample of high redshift cluster candidates. All six of the clusters from this sample which have been observed with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory were detected in the X-ray. These Chandra follow-up observations (0.64 < z < 1.0) indicate that the clusters are systematically less luminous than their similarly rich, X-ray selected counterparts at lower redshifts, though they are consistent with standard Lx-Tx relationships. Comparisons with X-ray selected samples suggest that the discrepancy may be due in part to systematic differences in the spatial structure of the X-ray emitting gas. Our initial results from Chandra follow-up observations of six RCS clusters are presented, including beta model parameters and spectral information.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. To appear in Advances in Space Research. Presented at the 35th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, Paris, France, 18-25 July 2004 - Scientific Commission E1.2: Clusters of Galaxies: New Insights from XMM-Newton, Chandra and INTEGRA

Supernova Remnant 1987A: The Latest Report from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory

We continue monitoring supernova remnant (SNR) 1987A with the {\it Chandra X-ray Observatory}. As of 2004 January, bright X-ray spots in the northwest and the southwest are now evident in addition to the bright eastern ring. The overall X-ray spectrum, Since 2002 December, can be described by a planar shock with an electron temperature of $\sim$2.1 keV. The soft X-ray flux is now 8 $\times$ 10$^{-13}$ ergs cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$, which is about five times higher than four years ago. This flux increase rate is consistent with our prediction based on an exponential density distribution along the radius of the SNR between the H{\small II} region and the inner ring. We still have no direct evidence of a central point source, and place an upper limit of $L_X$ = 1.3 $\times$ 10$^{34}$ ergs s$^{-1}$ on the 3$-$10 keV band X-ray luminosity.Comment: 9 pages, AdSpR in pres

Investigating the X-ray enhancements of highly radio-loud quasars at z > 4

We have investigated the jet-linked \mbox{X-ray} emission from highly radio-loud quasars (HRLQs; $\log R>2.5$) at high redshift. We studied the X-ray properties of 15 HRLQs at $z>4$, using new {\it Chandra} observations for six objects and archival {\it XMM-Newton} and {\it Swift} observations for the other nine. We focused on testing the apparent enhancement of jet-linked \mbox{X-ray} emission from HRLQs at $z>4$. Utilizing an enlarged (24 objects) optically flux-limited sample with complete X-ray coverage, we confirmed that HRLQs at $z>4$ have enhanced X-ray emission relative to that of HRLQs at $z\approx$ 1--2 with matched UV/optical and radio luminosity, at a \mbox{4.0--4.6}~$\sigma$ level; the X-ray enhancements are confirmed considering both two-point spectral indices and inspection of broad-band spectral energy distributions. The typical factor of enhancement is revised to $1.9^{+0.5}_{-0.4}$, which is smaller than but consistent with previous results. A fractional IC/CMB model can still explain our results at high redshift, which puts tighter constraints on the fraction of IC/CMB X-rays at lower redshifts, assuming the physical properties of quasar jets do not have a strong redshift dependence. A dominant IC/CMB model is inconsistent with our data.Comment: 25 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Stellar Clusters in the NGC 6334 Star Forming Complex

The full stellar population of NGC 6334, one of the most spectacular regions of massive star formation in the nearby Galaxy, have not been well-sampled in past studies. We analyze here a mosaic of two Chandra X-ray Observatory images of the region using sensitive data analysis methods, giving a list of 1607 faint X-ray sources with arcsecond positions and approximate line-of-sight absorption. About 95 percent of these are expected to be cluster members, most lower mass pre-main sequence stars. Extrapolating to low X-ray levels, the total stellar population is estimated to be 20-30,000 pre-main sequence stars. The X-ray sources show a complicated spatial pattern with about 10 distinct star clusters. The heavily-obscured clusters are mostly associated with previously known far-infrared sources and radio HII regions. The lightly-obscured clusters are mostly newly identified in the X-ray images. Dozens of likely OB stars are found, both in clusters and dispersed throughout the region, suggesting that star formation in the complex has proceeded over millions of years. A number of extraordinarily heavily absorbed X-ray sources are associated with the active regions of star formation.Comment: To appear in the Astronomical Journal. A version with high-quality figures appears at http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/edf/NGC6334.pd

An X-ray and Multiwavelength Survey of Highly Radio-Loud Quasars at z > 4: Jet-Linked Emission in the Brightest Radio Beacons of the Early Universe

(Abridged) We present a systematic study of the X-ray and multiwavelength properties of a sample of 17 highly radio-loud quasars (HRLQs) at z > 4 with sensitive X-ray coverage from new Chandra and archival Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Swift observations. Eight of the new and archival observations are reported in this work for the first time. New Chandra observations of two moderately radio-loud and highly optically luminous quasars at z > 4 are also reported. Our HRLQ sample represents the top ~5% of radio-loud quasars in terms of radio loudness. We found that our HRLQs have an X-ray emission enhancement over HRLQs at lower redshifts (by a typical factor of ~3), and this effect, after controlling for several factors which may introduce biases, has been solidly estimated to be significant at the 3-4 sigma level. HRLQs at z=3-4 are also found to have a similar X-ray emission enhancement over z < 3 HRLQs, which supports further the robustness of our results. We discuss models for the X-ray enhancement's origin including a fractional contribution from inverse Compton scattering of cosmic microwave background photons. No strong correlations are found between the relative X-ray brightness and optical/UV emission-line rest-frame equivalent widths (REWs) for radio-loud quasars. However, the line REWs are positively correlated with radio loudness, which suggests that relativistic jets make a negligible contribution to the optical/UV continua of these HRLQs (contrary to the case where the emission lines are diluted by the relativistically boosted continuum). Our HRLQs are generally consistent with the known anti-correlation between radio loudness and X-ray power-law photon index. We also found that the two moderately radio-loud quasars appear to have the hardest X-ray spectra among our objects, suggesting that intrinsic X-ray absorption (N_H~10^23 cm^-2) may be present.Comment: ApJ in press; 9 figures, 13 table

The Small-scale Structure of N103B - Nature of Nuture?

We present new results from a 40.8 ks Chandra ACIS observation of the young supernova remnant (SNR) N103B located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The high resolution Chandra image reveals structure at the sub-arcsecond level, including several bright knots and filaments. Narrow-band imaging and spatially resolved spectroscopy reveal dramatic spectral variations in this remnant as well. In this paper we discuss whether these variations are due to inhomogeneities in the surrounding environment or were generated in the explosion which created the SNR.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, in "X-rays at Sharp Focus: Chandra Science Symposium", July 16-18, 200