Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Aug 2000
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000a%26a...360..447t&link_type=abstract
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 360, p.447-456
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
9
Galaxies: Individual: Ngc 4303, Galaxies: Starburst, Galaxies: Active, X-Rays: Galaxies
Scientific paper
The late-type galaxy NGC 4303 (M61) is one of the most intensively studied barred galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. Its prominent enhanced star formation throughout large areas of the disk can be nicely studied due to its low inclination of about 27̂. We present observations of NGC 4303 with the ROSAT PSPC and HRI in the soft X-ray (0.1-2.4 keV). The bulk of the X-ray emission is located at the nuclear region. It contributes more than 80% to the total observed soft X-ray flux. The extension of the central X-ray source and the LX/LHα ratio point to a low luminous AGN (LINER) with a circumnuclear star-forming region. Several separate disk sources can be distinguished with the HRI, coinciding spatially with some of the most luminous H II regions outside the nucleus of NGC 4303. The total star formation rate amounts to 1-2 Msolar yr-1. The X-ray structure follows the distribution of star formation with enhancement at the bar-typical patterns. The best spectral fit consists of a power-law component (AGN and HMXBs) and a thermal plasma component of hot gas from supernova remnants and superbubbles. The total 0.1-2.4 keV luminosity of NGC 4303 amounts to 5×1040 erg s-1, consistent with comparable galaxies, like e.g. NGC 4569.
Hensler Gerhard
Junkes Norbert
Tschöke Daniel
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