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Title: CONTEMPORANEOUS XMM-NEWTON INVESTIGATION OF A GIANT X-RAY FLARE AND QUIESCENT STATE FROM A COOL M-CLASS DWARF IN THE LOCAL CAVITY

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Physics Department, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124 (United States)
  2. Astronomy Department, University of Washington, P.O. Box 351580, Seattle, WA 98195 (United States)

We report the serendipitous detection of a giant X-ray flare from the source 2XMM J043527.2-144301 during an XMM-Newton observation of the high latitude molecular cloud MBM20. The source has not been previously studied at any wavelength. The X-ray flux increases by a factor of more than 52 from quiescent state to peak of flare. A 2MASS counterpart has been identified (2MASS J04352724-1443017), and near-infrared colors reveal a spectral type of M8-M8.5 and a distance of (67 {+-} 13) pc, placing the source in front of MBM20. Spectral analysis and source luminosity are also consistent with this conclusion. The measured distance makes this object the most distant source (by about a factor of four) at this spectral type detected in X-rays. The X-ray flare was characterized by a peak X-ray luminosity of {approx}8.2 x 10{sup 28} erg s{sup -1} and integrated X-ray energy of {approx}2.3 x 10{sup 32} erg. The flare emission has been characterized with a two-temperature model with temperatures of {approx}10 and 46 MK (0.82 and 4.0 keV) and is dominated by the higher temperature component.

OSTI ID:
21574754
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 731, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/731/1/63; ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English