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Classification of X-ray Sources in the Direction of Andromeda Using Optical Spectroscopy

Citation:

Green JM, Williams BF, Hatzidimitriou D. Classification of X-ray Sources in the Direction of Andromeda Using Optical Spectroscopy. In: Vol. 216. ; 2010. pp. 419.05.

Date Presented:

2010/05/1

Abstract:

A deep XMM survey has identified hundreds of bright X-ray sources from the direction of Andromeda. These sources are mostly comprised of supernova remnants, X-ray Binaries and background Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). We have obtained 35 optical spectra of their candidate counterparts using the 3.5-meter telescope at the Apache Point Observatory. After calibrating and extracting the objects' spectra from the sky background, we've been able to classify 8 as background AGN with red shifts (1.15< z <2.11). Preliminary classifications of the 27 others include 9 stars in Andromeda and 1 supernova remnant in Andromeda. With these results we are beginning to constrain the background contamination in the XMM survey and to find good high-mass X-ray binary candidates in Andromeda. Furthermore, future high-resolution spectroscopy of the background AGN may allow detailed absorption studies of the Andromeda interstellar medium.

Support for this work has been provided by NASA grant NNX06AF58G, through the XMM-Newton Guest Observer Facility.

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