First observation of Jupiter by XMM-Newton

Abstract

We present the first X-ray observation of Jupiter by XMM-Newton. Images taken with the EPIC cameras show prominent emission, essentially all confined to the 0.2-2.0 keV band, from the planet's auroral spots; their spectra can be modelled with a combination of unresolved emission lines of highly ionised oxygen (OVII and OVIII), and a pseudo-continuum which may also be due to the superposition of many weak lines. A 2.8 sigma enhancement in the RGS spectrum at 21-22 A (~0.57 keV) is consistent with an OVII identification. Our spectral analysis supports the hypothesis that Jupiter's auroral emissions originate from the capture and acceleration of solar wind ions in the planet's magnetosphere, followed by X-ray production by charge exchange. The X-ray flux of the North spot is modulated at Jupiter's rotation period. We do not detect evidence for the ~45 min X-ray oscillations observed by Chandra more than two years earlier. Emission from the equatorial regions of the planet's disk is also observed. Its spectrum is consistent with that of scattered solar X-rays.

arXiv comment7 pages, 9 figures; to be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics

References in corpus (5)

• The European Photon Imaging Camera on XMM-Newton: The MOS Cameras
• The XMM-Newton Optical/UV Monitor Telescope
• The origin of the Fe K features in Markarian 205 and Markarian 509
• Detection of Saturnian X-ray emission with XMM-Newton
• X-ray emission from Saturn

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• Solar Control on Jupiter's Equatorial X-ray Emissions: 26-29 November 2003 XMM-Newton Observation
• Latest results on Jovian disk X-rays from XMM-Newton
• EBIT Charge-Exchange Measurements and Astrophysical Applications
• Chandra Observation of an X-ray Flare at Saturn: Evidence for Direct Solar Control on Saturn's Disk X-ray Emissions
• X-rays from Saturn: A study with XMM-Newton and Chandra over the years 2002-05
• The ion-induced charge-exchange X-ray emission of the Jovian Auroras: Magnetospheric or solar wind origin?
• Discovery of Diffuse Hard X-ray Emission around Jupiter with Suzaku
• First Terrestrial Soft X-ray Auroral Observation by The Chandra X-ray Observatory
• Jupiter's X-ray aurora during UV dawn storms and injections as observed by XMM-Newton, Hubble, and Hisaki
• X-ray Emissions from the Jovian System
• Charge exchange emission and cold clumps in multi-phase galactic outflows
• Suzaku observation of Jupiter's X-rays around solar maximum