A Search for X-Ray Flashes with XMM-Newton
Abstract
We searched for X-ray flashes (XRFs) -- which we defined as ~10s duration transient X-ray events observable in the 0.4-15 keV passband -- in fields observed using XMM-Newton with the EPIC/pn detector. While we find two non-Poissonian events, the astrophysical nature of the events is not confirmed in fully simultaneous observations with the EPIC/MOS detectors, and we conclude that the events are anomalous to the EPIC/pn detector. We find a 90% upper limit on the number of flashes per sky per year at two different incoming flash fluxes: 4.0x109 events / sky / year for a flux of 7.1x10-13 erg / cm2 / s and 6.8x107 events / sky / year for 1.4x10-11 erg / cm2 / s. These limits are consistent with an extrapolation from the BeppoSAX/WFC XRF rate at much higher fluxes (about a factor of 105), assuming an homogenous population, and with a previous, more stringent limit derived from ROSAT pointed observations.
Turn this paper into a full lesson
ArcXiv compiles a staged curriculum from this paper: 8-12 lessons across beginner → advanced, synthesised section guides, visuals, flashcards, a quiz, exercises, and on-demand deep dives per section. Grounded in the abstract, never invented.