Is the Milky Way Unique: Characterizing the X-Ray Properties of Milky Way Analogs in the SAGA Catalog

Author:
Li, Hao yu, Astronomy, University of Virginia
Advisor:
Kallivayalil, Nitya, AS-Astronomy, University of Virginia
Abstract:

We present 18 Milky Way-like galaxies from the Satellites Around Galactic Analogs (SAGA) catalog that have active X-ray activities at the galactic center. With X-ray data from Chandra Observatory, these black holes have observed luminosities $L_{2-10 leV}\sim 10^{38}-10^{41} erg\cdot s^{-1}$. Using additional information of far-UV from Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and infrared from Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), we calculate the star formation rate (SFR) for each galaxy and estimate its expected X-ray luminosity from XRBS $L_{2-10 leV}(XRB)\sim 10^{37}-10^{40} erg\cdot s^{-1}$. The high agreement between the observed and expected X-ray luminosity indicates the existence of XRBs in our selected candidates at the galactic center. Follow-up observation and analysis with other data archives can extend this relationship to a larger sample of galaxies.

Degree:
BA (Bachelor of Arts)
Language:
English
Issued Date:
2021/05/17