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Discovery of a non‐thermal X‐ray filament in the Galactic Centre
Author(s) -
Sakano Masaaki,
Warwick Robert S.,
Decourchelle Anne
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/asna.200385034
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , protein filament , synchrotron , x ray , thermal , thermal emission , astronomy , photon , spectral line , spectral index , synchrotron radiation , optics , genetics , meteorology , biology
We report the discovery of an X‐ray filament, XMMJ174540–2904.5, in the Galactic Centre region. Images from Chandra and XMM‐Newton show the X‐ray source is extended and coincides with a non‐thermal radio structure of somewhat larger extent. The X‐ray spectrum is clearly not thermal in nature, and is well approximated as a heavily absorbed power‐law continuum with a photon index ≈2. Combining the radio and X‐ray spectra, we concluded that the emission in both wavebands probably originates in the synchrotron process. We discuss some possible origins for this peculiar non‐thermal structure.