Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1998-09-21
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
LaTeX file (6 pages), 2 ps figures, accepted for publications in Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters
Scientific paper
We present BeppoSAX results on the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253. Although extended, a large fraction of the X-ray emission comes from the nuclear region. Preliminary analysis of the LECS/MECS/PDS ~0.2-60 keV data from the central 4' region indicates that the continuum is well fitted by two thermal models: a ``soft'' component with kT ~ 0.9 keV, and a ``hard'' component with kT ~ 6 keV absorbed by a column density of ~ 1.2 x10**22 cm-2. For the first time in this object, the Fe K line at 6.7 keV is detected, with an equivalent width of ~ 300 eV. This detection, together with the shape of the 2--60 keV continuum, implies that most of the hard X-ray emission is thermal in origin, and constrains the iron abundances of this component to be ~0.25 of solar. Other lines clearly detected are Si, S and Fe L/Ne, in agreement with previous ASCA results. We discuss our results in the context of the starburst-driven galactic superwind model.
Bassani Loredana
Cappi Massimo
Cocco G. Di
Danese Lugi
Dean Anthony J.
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