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Diffuse X-ray emission from the spiral galaxy NGC 2403 discovered with Chandra

Filippo Fraternali, Massimo Cappi, Renzo Sancisi, Tom Oosterloo

astro-pharXiv:astro-ph/0206312

Abstract

We have detected diffuse soft X-ray emission (0.4-1 keV) from the disk of the spiral galaxy NGC 2403 with Chandra. This diffuse emission (with a total luminosity of 2.1 x 1038 erg/s and a gas temperature of 2-8 x 106 K) is well separated from the numerous bright point sources. NGC 2403 is a luminous spiral galaxy with a high rate of star formation. Recent HI observations have revealed an extended HI halo with anomalous velocities and a general inflow towards the central regions of the galaxy. This result and the present detection of a diffuse, hot X-ray emitting gas point at a very active disk-halo connection and galactic fountain types of phenomena.

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