Search Publications
Open questions on black hole binaries
Kaaret, P.
I discuss open questions regarding accreting black holes in binary systems, focusing on two questions: can we measure the spins of black holes and what is the nature of the ultraluminous X-ray sources. XMM-Newton could make significant strides in answering these questions and others over the next ten years. I suggest two observational programs des…
Searching for the missing baryons in the Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium
Barcons, X.
At low redshift (z<2), almost half of the baryons in the Universe are not found in bound structures like galaxies and clusters and therefore most likely reside in a Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM), as predicted by simulations. Attempts to detect WHIM filaments at cosmological distances in absorption towards bright background sources have y…
Suzaku observations of clusters of galaxies
Matsushita, K.; Suzaku SWG Team
We review results of Suzaku observations of the intracluster medium of clusters of galaxies whose O, Mg, Si, S and Fe abundances have been measured with good accuracy due to the good energy resolution and low background. Metal mass-to-light ratios were derived and we will discuss the origin of the metals. We also review the results of the search f…
Statistical properties of galaxy clusters
Böhringer, H.
Galaxy clusters are important probes to test cosmological models and interesting large-scale laboratories for astrophysical phenomena. For both applications a precise knowledge of global cluster properties, especially their mass is important. X-ray observations provide still the best key for the evaluation of cluster properties and the description…
Supernova remnants, planetary nebulae and superbubbles: Prospects for new XMM-Newton observations
Decourchelle, A.
Important results achieved over the last years on supernova remnants, planetary nebulae and superbubbles are briefly reviewed in the context of X-ray observations. I intend to review the important open scientific questions in these fields, and the specific contributions that can be made by XMM-Newton.
The X-ray-infrared/submillimetre connection and the legacy era of cosmology
Alexander, D. M.
We review some recent results on the identification and characterisation of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) obtained by cross correlating X-ray surveys with infrared and submillimetre surveys. We also look toward the scientific gains that could be achieved from an XMM-Newton survey of the medium-deep legacy fields that are being observed at ≈ 1-850 &…
Thread safe astronomy
Seaman, R.
Observational astronomy is the beneficiary of an ancient chain of apprenticeship. Kepler's laws required Tycho's data. As the pace of discoveries has increased over the centuries, so has the cadence of tutelage (literally, "watching over"). Naked eye astronomy is thousands of years old, the telescope hundreds, digital imaging a few decades, but to…
High spectral resolution X-ray observations of AGN
Kaastra, J. S.
A brief overview of some highlights of high spectral resolution X-ray observations of AGN is given, mainly obtained with the RGS of XMM-Newton. Future prospects for such observations with XMM-Newton are given.
Constraining the neutron star equation of state using XMM-Newton
Kaastra, J.; Méndez, M.; Jonker, P. G. +1 more
We have identified three possible ways in which future XMM-Newton, observations can provide significant constraints on the equation of state of neutron stars. First, using a long observation of the neutron star X-ray transient Cen X-4 in quiescence one can use the RGS spectrum to constrain the interstellar extinction to the source. This removes th…
Active galaxies
Matt, G.
In this paper I will review, in an unavoidably incomplete and biased way, the main results obtained by XMM-Newton on Active Galactic Nuclei. I will then highlight the major issues still open in which XMM-Newton can still give important contributions, expecially if the observing programs will shift in the future towards more long exposures of singl…