In an XMM-Newton raster observation of the bright Local Group spiral galaxy M 33 we study the population of X-ray sources (X-ray binaries, supernova remnants) down to a 0.2-4.5keV luminosity of 10^35^erg/s - more than a factor of 10 deeper than earlier ROSAT observations. EPIC hardness ratios and optical and radio information are used to distinguish between different source classes. The survey detects 408 sources in an area of 0.80 square degree. We correlate these newly detected sources with earlier M 33 X-ray catalogues and information from optical, infra-red and radio wavelengths. As M 33 sources we detect 21 supernova remnants (SNR) and 23 SNR candidates, 5 super-soft sources and 2 X-ray binaries (XRBs). There are 267 sources classified as hard, which may either be XRBs or Crab-like SNRs in M 33 or background AGN. The 44 confirmed and candidate SNRs more than double the number of X-ray detected SNRs in M 33. 16 of these are proposed as SNR candidates from the X-ray data for the first time. On the other hand, there are several sources not connected to M 33: five foreground stars, 30 foreground star candidates, 12 active galactic nucleus candidates, one background galaxy and one background galaxy candidate. Extrapolating from deep field observations we would expect 175 to 210 background sources in this field. This indicates that about half of the sources detected are within M 33.
We present an analysis of the individual observations of a deep XMM-Newton survey of the Local Group spiral galaxy M33. We detected a total of 350 sources with fluxes (in the 0.2-4.5keV energy band) in the range 6.7x10^-16^-1.5x10^-11^erg/s. This comprehensive study considers flux variability, spectral characteristics, and classification of the detected objects. Thirty-nine objects in our catalogue are new sources, while 311 were already detected in a previous analysis of most of the same data using combined images. We present improved positions of these sources and the X-ray parameters of each source in each individual observation that covers the source. We then used these parameters to systematically search for flux variability on time scales of hours to months or years. The long-term light-curves were generated for the 61 sources showing a significant variability of the (0.2-4.5)keV flux, by a factor of 1.2 to 144. The detected variability was then used to classify 8 new X-ray binary candidates in M33. Together with the hardness ratio method and cross-correlation with optical, infrared, and radio data, we also classify or confirm previous classification of 25 supernova remnants and candidates, 2 X-ray binaries, and 11 super-soft source candidates (7 of which are new SSS candidates). In addition, we classify 13 active galactic nuclei and background galaxies, 6 stars, and 23 foreground star candidates in the direction of M33. Further 206 objects are classified as 'hard', approximately half of which are sources intrinsic to M33. The relative contribution of the classified XRB and SSS in M33 is now comparable to M31. The luminosity distribution of SNRs in both spiral galaxies is almost the same, although the number of the detected SNRs in M33 remains much higher.
We present an extension to our XMM-Newton X-ray source catalogue of M 31, containing 39 newly found sources. In order to classify and identify more of the sources we search for X-ray time variability in XMM-Newton archival data the M31 centre field. As source list we use our extended catalogue based on observations covering the time span from June 2000 to July 2004. We then determine the flux or at least an upper limit at the source positions for each observation. Deriving the flux ratios for the different observations and searching for the maximum flux difference we determine variability factors. We also calculated the significance of the flux ratios. Using hardness ratios, X-ray variability and cross correlations with catalogues in the X-ray, optical, infrared and radio regimes, we detected three super soft source candidates, one supernova remnant and six supernova remnant candidates, one globular cluster candidate, three X-ray binaries and four X-ray binary candidates. Additionally we identified one foreground star candidate and classified fifteen sources with hard spectra, which may either be X-ray binaries or Crab-like supernova remnants in M31 or background active galactic nuclei. The remaining five sources stay unidentified or without classification. Based on the time variability results we suggest six sources, which were former classified as "hard", to be X-ray binary candidates. The classification of one source (XMMM31 J004236.7+411349) as supernova remnant, has to be rejected due to the distinct time variability we found. We now classify this source as a foreground star.
We carried out new observations of two fields in the star-forming northern ring of M31 with XMM-Newton with two exposures of about 100 ks each. A previous XMM-Newton survey of the entire M31 galaxy revealed extended diffuse X-ray emission in these regions. We study the population of X-ray sources in the northern disc of M31 by compiling a complete list of X-ray sources down to a sensitivity limit of ~7x10^34^erg/s (0.5-2.0keV) and improve the identification of the X-ray sources. The major objective of the observing programme was the study of the hot phase of the interstellar medium (ISM) in M31. The analysis of the diffuse emission and the study of the ISM is presented in a separate paper. We analysed the spectral properties of all detected sources using hardness ratios and spectra if the statistics were high enough. We also checked for variability. In order to classify the sources detected in the new deep XMM-Newton observations, we cross-correlated the source list with the source catalogue of a new survey of the northern disc of M31 carried out with the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope (Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury, PHAT) as well as with other existing catalogues We detected a total of 389 sources in the two fields of the northern disc ofM31 observed with XMM-Newton.We identified 43 foreground stars and candidates and 50 background sources. Based on the comparison to the results of the Chandra/PHAT survey, we classify 24 hard X-ray sources as new candidates for X-ray binaries (XRBs). In total, we identified 34 X-ray binaries and candidates and 18 supernova remnants (SNRs) and candidates. We studied the spectral properties of the four brightest SNRs and confirmed five new X-ray SNRs. Three of the four SNRs, for which a spectral analysis was performed, show emission mainly below 2 keV, which is consistent with shocked ISM. The spectra of two of them also require an additional component with a higher temperature. The SNR [SPH11] 1535 has a harder spectrum and might suggest that there is a pulsar-wind nebula inside the SNR. For all SNRs in the observed fields, we measured the X-ray flux or calculated upper limits. We also carried out short-term and long-term variability studies of the X-ray sources and found five new sources showing clear variability. In addition, we studied the spectral properties of the transient source SWIFT J004420.1+413702, which shows significant variation in flux over a period of seven months (June 2015 to January 2016) and associated change in absorption. Based on the likely optical counterpart detected in the Chandra/PHAT survey, the source is classified as a low-mass X-ray binary.
An XMM-Newton observation of the east radio lobe of the nearby radio galaxy Fornax A is reported. The diffuse hard X-ray emission associated with the east lobe, which was initially discovered by ASCA and ROSAT, is confirmed with significant signal statistics, after strictly removing 59 sources detected within the MOS field of view. Its X-ray spectrum is described by a single power-law model, which is absorbed by a medium with a column density consistent with that toward the object.
We present an analysis of the X-ray properties of the Magellanic-type galaxy NGC 55 based on two contiguous XMM-Newton observations. We detect a total of 137 X-ray sources in the field of view, down to a flux of ~5x10^-15^erg/cm^2^/s (0.3-6keV), 42 of which are located within the optical confines of the galaxy. On the basis of X-ray colour classification and after correcting for background objects, we conclude that our source sample includes ~20 X-ray binaries (XRBs), five supernova remnants and seven very soft sources (including two good candidate supersoft sources) associated with NGC 55. We also detect an X-ray source coincident with a previously identified globular cluster in NGC 55.
The XMM-Newton X-ray observatory has performed repeated observations of the CDFS in 33 epochs (2001-2010) through the XMM-CDFS Deep Survey. During the X-ray observations, XMM-OM targeted the central 17x17arcmin^2^ region of the X-ray field of view, providing simultaneous optical/UV coverage of the CDFS. The resulting set of data can be taken into account to build an XMM-OM catalogue of the CDFS, filling the UV spectral coverage between the optical surveys and GALEX observations. We present the UV catalogue of the XMM-CDFS Deep Survey. Its main purpose is to provide complementary UV average photometric measurements of known optical/UV sources in the CDFS, taking advantage of the unique characteristics of the survey. The data reduction is intended also to improve the standard source detection on individual observations, by cataloguing faint sources through the stacking of their exposure images. We reprocessed the XMM-OM data of the survey and we stacked the exposures from consecutive observations using the standard SAS tools to process the data obtained during single observations. Average measurements of detections with SAS good quality flags from individual observations and from stacked images have been joined to compile the catalogue. Sources have been validated through the cross-identification within the EIS and COMBO-17 surveys. Photometric data of 1129 CDFS sources are provided into the catalogue, and optical/UV/X-ray photometric and spectroscopic information from other surveys are also included. The stacking extends the detection limits by ~1 mag in the three UV bands, contributing 30% of the catalogued UV sources. The comparison with the available measurements in similar spectral bands confirms the validity of the XMM-OM calibration. The combined COMBO-17/X-ray classification of the "intermediate" sources (e.g. optically diluted and/or X-ray absorbed AGN) is also discussed.
We present the results obtained from the analysis of three XMM-Newton observations of M83. The aims of the paper are studying the X-ray source populations in M83 and calculating the X-ray luminosity functions of X-ray binaries for different regions of the galaxy. We detected 189 sources in the XMM-Newton field of view in the energy range of 0.2-12keV. We constrained their nature by means of spectral analysis, hardness ratios, studies of the X-ray variability, and cross-correlations with catalogues in X-ray, optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths.
The galaxy NGC1512 is interacting with the smaller galaxy NGC1510 and shows a peculiar morphology, characterised by two extended arms immersed in an HI disc whose size is about four times larger than the optical diameter of NGC1512. For the first time we performed a deep X-ray observation of the galaxies NGC1512 and NGC1510 with XMM-Newton to gain information on the population of X-ray sources and diffuse emission in a system of interacting galaxies. We identified and classified the sources detected in the XMM-Newton field of view by means of spectral analysis, hardness-ratios calculated with a Bayesian method, X-ray variability, and cross-correlations with catalogues in optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths. We also made use of archival Swift (X-ray) and Australia Telescope Compact Array (radio) data to better constrain the nature of the sources detected with XMM-Newton. We detected 106 sources in the energy range of 0.2-12keV, out of which 15 are located within the D_25_ regions of NGC1512 and NGC1510 and at least six sources coincide with the extended arms. We identified and classified six background objects and six foreground stars. We discussed the nature of a source within the D_25_ ellipse of NGC1512, whose properties indicate a quasi-stellar object or an intermediate ultra-luminous X-ray source. Taking into account the contribution of low-mass X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei, the number of high-mass X-ray binaries detected within the D_25_ region of NGC1512 is consistent with the star formation rate obtained in previous works based on radio, infrared optical, and UV wavelengths. We detected diffuse X-ray emission from the interior region of NGC1512 with a plasma temperature of kT=0.68(0.31-0.87)keV and a 0.3-10keV X-ray luminosity of 1.3E+38erg/s, after correcting for unresolved discrete sources.
We present an X-ray spectral analysis of 126 galaxies of the 12um galaxy sample (Rush et al. 1993, Cat. VII/157). By studying this sample at X-ray wavelengths, we aim to determine the intrinsic power, continuum shape and obscuration level in these sources. We improve upon previous works by the use of superior data in the form of higher signal-to-noise ratio spectra, finer spectral resolution and a broader bandpass from XMM-Newton. We pay particular attention to Compton thick active galactic nucleus (AGN) with the help of new spectral fitting models that we have produced, which are based on Monte Carlo simulations of X-ray radiative transfer, using both a spherical and torus geometry, and taking into account Compton scattering and iron fluorescence.
