Chandra Detection of the First X-ray Forest along the Line of Sight To Mkn 421

Details Chandra Detection of the First X-ray Forest along the Line of Sight To Mkn 421 Chandra Detection of the First X-ray Forest along the Line of Sight To Mkn 421

2005-04-07

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0504187v1

Astrophys.J. 629 (2005) 700-718

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

51 pages, 18 figures. Accepted for publication in the ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/431270

We present the first >=3.5 sigma (conservative) or >=5.8 sigma (sum of lines significance) detection of two Warm-Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM) filaments at z>0, which we find along the line of sight to the blazar Mkn 421. These systems are detected through highly ionized resonant metal absorption in high quality Chandra-ACIS and -HRC Low Energy Transmission Grating (LETG) spectra of Mkn 421, obtained following our two Target of Opportunity requests during two outburst phases. The two intervening WHIM systems that we detect, have OVII and NVII columns of N(OVII)=(1.0 +/- 0.3) x 1e15 cm-2} N(NVII)=(0.8 +/- 0.4) x 1e15 cm-2, and N(OVII)=(0.7 +/- 0.3) x 1e15 cm-2, N(NVII)=(1.4 +/- 0.5) x 1e15 cm-2 respectively. From the detected number of WHIM filaments along this line of sight we can estimate the number of OVII filaments per unit redshift with columns larger than 7e14 cm-2, dP(OVII)/dz(N(OVII)>=7e14) = 67^{+88}_{-43}, consistent, within the large 1-sigma errors, with the hydrodynamical simulation predictions of dP(OVII)/dz(N(OVII)>=7e14) = 30. Finally, we measure a cosmological mass density of X-ray WHIM filaments Omega_b = 0.027^{+0.038}_{-0.019} x 10^{[O/H]_{-1}}, consistent with both model predictions and the estimated number of 'missing' baryons at low redshift.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Chandra Detection of the First X-ray Forest along the Line of Sight To Mkn 421 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Chandra Detection of the First X-ray Forest along the Line of Sight To Mkn 421, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Chandra Detection of the First X-ray Forest along the Line of Sight To Mkn 421 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-363364