XMM-Newton X-Ray Spectroscopy of the B2 Bright Giant Canis Majoris
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2004
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Swarthmore College. Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
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Thesis (B.A.)
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en_US
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Full copyright to this work is retained by the student author. It may only be used for non-commercial, research, and educational purposes. All other uses are restricted.
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Abstract
How do hot stars produce X-rays? The two major theories involve radiatively driven wind shocks or magnetic coronal heating. We have acquired a high-resolution spectrum of the nearby B giant E Canis Majoris, from the Reflection Grating Spectrometer instrument of the XMM-Newton space telescope. Due to its brightness, E CMa provides a valuable opportunity to test these theories. We fit emission lines from the spectrum in order to draw conclusions about the conditions of velocity and height under which X-rays were generated. The emission lines indicate that the X-ray-emitting plasma has an average speed of 162 km S-l. Analysis of helium-like F /1 ratios yields a radius of emission between 1 and 2.1 R*. Characteristic plasma temperatures from a global fit are between 2 and 6 MK.