Observation of X-Ray Emission from M31
Abstract
We have observed X-ray emission from M31 in the 0.5-5.0 keV band, using rocket-borne proportional counters. The integrated flux corresponds to (2.2 l 0.6) x 1 0 ergs 1 at M3 1, and is confined chiefly to a region coinciding with the optical image of the galaxy. The spectrum has a slope similar to the bright Galactic X-ray sources. The intensity, spectral, and spatial data suggest that the bulk of X-ray emission from M3 1, and by inference from most normal galaxies, is due to a small group of highly luminous sources, in agreement with the Galactic X-ray luminosity function. Subject headings: galaxies, individual - spectra, X-ray - X-ray sources
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 1974
- DOI:
- 10.1086/152874
- Bibcode:
- 1974ApJ...190..285B