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X-ray spectral components of starburst galaxies
- Source :
- Astronomy & Astrophysics. 382:843-859
- Publication Year :
- 2002
- Publisher :
- EDP Sciences, 2002.
-
Abstract
- X-ray emission processes in starburst galaxies (SBGs) are assessed, with the aim of identifying and characterizing the main spectral components. Our survey of spectral properties, complemented with a model for the evolution of galactic stellar populations, leads to the prediction of a complex spectrum. Comparing the predicted spectral properties with current X-ray measurements of the nearby SBGs M82 and N253, we draw the following tentative conclusions: 1) X-ray binaries with accreting NS are the main contributors in the 2-15 keV band, and could be responsible for the yet uninterpreted hard component required to fit the observed 0.5-10 keV spectra of SBGs; 2) diffuse thermal plasma contributes at energies less than about 1 keV; 3) nonthermal emission, from Compton scattering of FIR and CMB radiation field photons off supernova-accelerated relativistic electrons, and AGN-like emission, are likely be the dominant emission at energies >30 keV; 4) supernova remnants make a relatively minor contribution to the X-ray continuum but may contribute appreciably to the Fe-K emission at 6.7 keV.<br />18 pages, 8 figures, A&A in press
- Subjects :
- Physics
Photon
Astrophysics::High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics (astro-ph)
Cosmic microwave background
Compton scattering
FOS: Physical sciences
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics::Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Electron
Astrophysics
Spectral line
Galaxy
Neutron star
Supernova
Space and Planetary Science
Astrophysics::Galaxy Astrophysics
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14320746 and 00046361
- Volume :
- 382
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Astronomy & Astrophysics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....5adad82d4b605e1fd4952c6d9d80cc0c
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20011679