Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995apj...439..176w&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal, Part 1 (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 439, no. 1, p. 176-184
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
76
Galactic Winds, High Temperature Gases, Interstellar Matter, X Ray Astronomy, X Ray Sources, X Ray Spectra, Rosat Mission, Spatial Distribution, Spectrum Analysis, X Ray Spectroscopy
Scientific paper
We present our ROSAT observation of the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 4631, a nearby Sc/SBd galaxy best known for its extended radio halo. Because of the low foreground Galactic X-ray-absorbing gas column density, NHI approximately = 1.4 x 1020/sq cm, this observation is sensitive to gas of temperature greater than or approximately = a few x 105 K. We detected soft (approximately 0.25 keV) X-ray radiation out to more than 8 kpc above the midplane of the galaxy. The stongest X-ray emission in the halo is above the central disk, a region of about 3 kpc radius which shows high star formation activity. The X-ray emission in the halo is bordered by two extended filaments of radio continuum emission. We also found diffuse X-ray emission from hot gas in the galaxy's disk. The spectrum of the radiation can be characterized by a thermal plasma with a temperature of 3 x 106 K and a radiative cooling rate of approximately 8 x 1039 ergs/sec. This rate is only a few percent of the estimated supernova energy release in the interstellar medium of the galaxy. Analysis of the X-ray spectrum shows evidence for the presence of a cooler (several times 105 K) halo gas component that could consume a much larger fraction of the supernova energy. We found strong evidence for disk/halo interaction. Hot gas apparently blows out from supershells in the galaxy's disk at a rate of approximately 1 solar mass/yr. This outflow of hot gas drags magnetic field lines up in the halo and forms a magnetized gaseous halo. If the magnetic field lines are still anchored to the disk gas at large disk radii, the outflowing gas may be confined high above the disk by magnetic pressure. We have identified a strong X-ray source which coincides spatially with an H I supershell. However, the source is likely an extremely luminous X-ray binary with Lx(0.1-2 keV) approximately = 5 x 1039 ergs/sec, which makes it a stellar mass black hole candidate.
Braun Robert
Norman Colin A.
Steakley Michael F.
Walterbos Rene A. M.
Wang Daniel Q.
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