Session H7: Extragalactic Astronomy and Gamma Ray Bursts

10:45 AM–12:33 PM, Sunday, April 1, 2012
Room: Embassy D

Sponsoring Unit: DAP
Chair: Elizabeth Hays, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Abstract ID: BAPS.2012.APR.H7.4

Abstract: H7.00004 : Stellar-mass compact object evolution from the deepest X-ray surveys of the extragalactic Universe

11:21 AM–11:33 AM

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Authors:

  Ann Hornschemeier
    (NASA/GSFC)

  Bret Lehmer
    (Johns Hopkins University)

The ever-increasing depth of X-ray surveys raises the possibility of detecting extremely X-ray faint source populations, including the X-ray faint early-type galaxy population. Such a population of galaxies presents the opportunity to study the long-term evolution of low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) populations. To this end, we have assembled a sample of $\sim 400$ low-luminosity early-type galaxies over $0.05 < z < 1.2$ in the three deep {\it Chandra} surveys (the CDF-S, E-CDF-S and CDF-N). Even with the 4~Ms {Chandra} Deep Field coverage currently available, the deepest survey of the extragalactic sky ever conducted at X-ray wavelengths, the vast majority of these galaxies ($>90$\%) are undetected, so our work relies heavily on stacking analysis. We compare our observational constraints with new theoretical models and discuss possibilities for future deep X-ray observations.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2012.APR.H7.4