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-alpha 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 0.2 keV to 1.6 keV, peaking
at 0.7 keV), 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.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, MNRAS accepte
