Stephan's quintet with XMM-Newton

Author(s): Ginevra Trinchieri, Jack W. Sulentic, Wolfgang Pietsch, Dieter Breitschwerdt
Abstract: The prototype compact group known as Stephan's Quintet (SQ) was observed with XMM-Newton in order to complement the excellent resolution of Chandra with high sensitivity to extended emission. SQ is a dynamic environment whose main effect, at both X-ray and optical wavelengths, appears to be ISM stripping. This is manifested by: 1) secular evolution of morphological types towards earlier types and 2) growth of diffuse emission. Virtually all cold, warm, and hot gas in SQ is found outside of the member galaxies. XMM-Newton offers the opportunity to study the hot gas with unprecedented sensitivity. We find two main components: 1) extended high surface brightness emission from shocked gas associated with an ongoing collision and 2) even more extended and unrelaxed diffuse emission that follows the stripped stellar envelope of the group. Œ ESO 2005.
Organisation(s): Department of Astrophysics
External organisation(s): INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, University of Alabama, Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik
Journal: Astronomy & Astrophysics
Volume: 444
Pages: 697-710
No. of pages: 14
ISSN: 0004-6361
Publication date: 2005
Peer reviewed: Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012: 103003 Astronomy
Portal url: https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/af6f908d-7951-4656-bc28-537207e64652