All the X-ray binaries in the Universe: X-ray Emission from Normal and Starburst Galaxies Near and Far
Abstract
There has recently been quite a bit of excitement on the role of X-ray emission from galaxies in early heating of the IGM, demonstrating that understanding of X-ray emission from normal and starburst galaxies may have significant impact on structure formation in the Universe. The X-ray output from X-ray binaries and hot gas are both important and may rival the ionizing output of AGN at z>5, particularly for Hydrogen reionization. Here we present our research on constraining the X-ray SED of galaxies across cosmic time via several complementary approaches. In the very local universe (d <~ 30 Mpc including the Local Group) we are using NuSTAR to understand the accretion states and total output of black hole and neutron star binaries using the important lever arm of 0.5-30 keV emission. At intermediate distances (10-100 Mpc), we are comparing the X-ray output of galaxies with star formation histories and population synthesis model predictions using both Chandra and XMM data. In the slightly more distant universe (z~0.1-0.2) we can find rare analogs to primordial starbursts via wide-field optical/UV surveys that may be studied with Chandra. We will finish with a discussion of starburst galaxies emitting X-rays at z>4, which thanks to the extremely deep Chandra Deep Field-South 7 Ms survey, are better constrained than ever before. We discuss survey strategy and how the various pieces of the puzzle fit together regarding the X-ray output of galaxies and their X-ray binary populations over cosmic time. We discuss implications for next-generation missions and instruments, including those with wide-field survey capabilities and high throughput, especially the Athena mission.
- Publication:
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IAU General Assembly
- Pub Date:
- August 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015IAUGA..2258336H