X-RAY PROP GALAXIES · Determining star-formation activity and history in spiral galaxies from their X-ray and multi-wavelength properties
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2004-07-01 → 2007-06-30
- EU contribution
- €250,987
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- OIF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - X-RAY PROP GALAXIES (Determining star-formation activity and history in spiral galaxies from their X-ray and multi-wavelength properties)
This project studied the appearance and physical processes inside galaxies which are actively forming new stars. The tell-tale sign of such activity is a stronger emission of X-rays from those galaxies. The X-rays come mainly from two sources: hot gas (a few million degrees) in the star-forming regions, and compact objects (neutron stars and black holes) when gas is falling into them. The project studied some of those compact objects in more details. In particular, it studied some black holes, and monitored how their luminosity changed over time, probably as a result of a change in the amount of gas falling into them. It investigated what fraction of the gravitational energy released by the infalling gas comes out as radiation, and what fraction as mechanical energy (jets, winds). It studied the effect that such energy has on the region surrounding the black hole. Finally, it used the energy and spectral estimates to constrain the mass of these black holes, suggesting that they are up to 50-100 times the mass of the Sun.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Understanding the internal activity, structure and history of a galaxy is of fundamental importance in astrophysics. Different energy bands (optical, X-ray, radio, IR, UV, etc) probe different processes and different stages of a cycle that links star forma tion and evolution, heating and cooling of gas, creation of compact remnants. Hence, an integrated, multi-wavelength study is necessary to form a complete picture; in particular, X-ray observations are crucial. The new generation of X-ray telescopes (NASA' s Chandra and ESA's XMM-Newton) has now made detailed X-ray studies of nearby galaxies possible. My goal is to achieve a global understanding of the physical processes and star-formation activity in spiral galaxies. I shall study new X-ray data for a sampl e of four, suitably selected nearby spirals, and interpret them in parallel with information at other wavelengths. I shall use the X-ray properties of a galaxy as a tool to understand its global activity. More specifically, I shall determine the age, lumin osity, physical type and variability of the point-like X-ray sources (accreting neutron stars and black holes, supernova remnants, white dwarfs). I shall study the spatial distribution, temperature, metal abundance of the hot gas, comparing it with the dis tribution of the cold and warm gas and of the stars. I shall determine the relation between the observed properties of the X-ray sources and the current and past star-forming activity. I propose to conduct my research at Harvard and University College Lond on, because these institutions offer the best expertise in the analysis of X-ray data, as well as in theoretical astrophysics and multi-wavelength observational astronomy. In addition to the scientific training, I shall form new collaborations in the US, t o the benefit of my scientific and academic career. A strong link between the astrophysics groups at Harvard and UCL will allow a better exploitation of the combined Chandra and XMM-Newton data.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON · LONDONCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union