SIMBAD references

2006ApJ...650..203M - Astrophys. J., 650, 203-211 (2006/October-2)

Diffuse, nonthermal X-ray emission from the galactic star cluster Westerlund 1.

MUNO M.P., LAW C., CLARK J.S., DOUGHERTY S.M., DE GRIJS R., PORTEGIES ZWART S. and YUSEF-ZADEH F.

Abstract (from CDS):

We present the diffuse X-ray emission identified in Chandra observations of the young, massive Galactic star cluster Westerlund 1. After removing pointlike X-ray sources down to a completeness limit of ~2x1031 ergs/s, we identify (3±1)x1034 ergs/s (2-8 keV) of diffuse emission. The spatial distribution of the emission can be described as a slightly elliptical Lorentzian core with a half-width at half-maximum along the major axis of 25''±1'', similar to the distribution of point sources in the cluster, plus a 5' halo of extended emission. The spectrum of the diffuse emission is dominated by a hard continuum component that can be described as a kT≳3 keV thermal plasma that has a low iron abundance (≲0.3 solar) or as nonthermal emission that could be stellar light that is inverse Compton scattered by MeV electrons. Only 5% of the flux is produced by a kT~0.7 keV plasma. The low luminosity of the thermal emission and the lack of a 6.7 keV iron line suggest that ≲40,000 unresolved stars with masses between 0.3 and 2 Mare present in the cluster, fewer than previously estimated. Moreover, the flux in the diffuse emission is a factor of several lower than would be expected from a supersonically expanding cluster wind, and there is no evidence for thermal remnants produced by supernovae. Less than 10–5 of the mechanical luminosity of the cluster is dissipated as 2-8 keV X-rays, leaving a large amount of energy that either is radiated at other wavelengths, is dissipated beyond the bounds of our image, or escapes into the intergalactic medium.

Abstract Copyright:

Journal keyword(s): Stars: Winds, Outflows - ISM: Supernova Remnants - X-Rays: ISM - X-Rays: Stars

CDS comments: End of parag. 3.3 : 346.3-0.5 is a misprint for 347.3-0.5

Simbad objects: 19

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