Open AccessChandra observations of the Mice
Author(s) -
Read Andrew M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2003.06603.x
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , rosat , galaxy , astronomy , outflow , luminosity , point source , population , active galactic nucleus , luminosity function , demography , sociology , meteorology , optics
Presented here are high spatial and spectral resolution Chandra X‐ray observations of the famous interacting galaxy pair, the Mice, a system similar to, though less evolved than, the well‐known Antennae galaxies. Previously unpublished ROSAT High Resolution Imager data of the system are also presented. Starburst‐driven galactic winds outflowing along the minor axis of both galaxies (but particularly the northern one) are observed, and spectral and spatial properties, and energetics are presented. That such a phenomenon can occur in such a rapidly evolving and turbulent system is surprising, and this is the first time that the very beginning – the onset, of starburst‐driven hot gaseous outflow in a full‐blown disc–disc merger has been seen. Point‐source emission is seen at the galaxy nuclei, and within the interaction‐induced tidal tails. Further point‐source emission is associated with the galactic bar in the southern system. A comparison of the source X‐ray luminosity function and of the diffuse emission properties is made with the Antennae and other galaxies, and evidence of a more rapid evolution of the source population than the diffuse component is found. No evidence for variability is found between the Chandra and previous observations.