Accepted Cycle 6 Large / Very Large Proposals

Proposal Number	Subject Category	PI Name	Type	Time (Ks)	Title
06100312	SOLAR SYSTEM	Lisse	LP	291.6	Comet 9P/Tempel 1 During the Deep Impact Encounter
06200204	STARS AND WD	Waldron	VLP	594	A Chandra HETGS Survey of O-Stars
06200294	STARS AND WD	Kastner	LP	300	The X-ray Spectrum of a Planetary Nebula at High Resolution
06500333	SN, SNR AND ISOLATED NS	Slane	LP	190	The Structure and Composition of Pulsar Winds and their Nebulae
06500496	SN, SNR AND ISOLATED NS	Rutledge	VLP	800	Search for Sub-Millisecond Pulsars in 47 Tuc
06500950	SN, SNR AND ISOLATED NS	van Kerkwijk	LP	300	Spectra of Neutron Stars with Strongly Magnetized Hydrogen Atmospheres
06800101	CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES	Vikhlinin	LP	615	DARK ENERGY WITH X-RAY CLUSTERS: CHANDRA OBSERVATIONS OF 41 HIGH-REDSHIFT CLUSTERS FROM THE 400 deg^2 ROSAT PSPC SURVEY
06800102	CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES	Vikhlinin	LP	450	A CHANDRA TREASURY OBSERVATION OF THE BEST EXAMPLE OF A CLUSTER COLD FRONT
06800613	CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES	forman	LP	512	The History of AGN Activity in M87 and the Interaction of Nuclear Outbursts with the Surrounding Atmosphere
06900444	EXTRAGALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION AND SURVEYS	Nandra	VLP	1400	Deep Chandra Imaging of the Extended Groth Strip: The Co-evolution of Black Holes and Galaxies
06910168	GALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION AND SURVEYS	Townsley	LP	200	Massive Star Life, Death, and Rebirth in the Perseus Arm

Subject Category: SOLAR SYSTEM

Proposal Number: 06100312

Title: Comet 9P/Tempel 1 During the Deep Impact Encounter

PI Name: Carey Lisse

We propose a series of observations of the periodic comet 9P/Tempel 1 in conjunction with NASA's Deep Impact mission. This mission is a spacecraft that will release a 370 kg impactor into the nucleus of the comet on July 4, 2005 at high relative velocity. Our primary objective is to study the generation of prompt x-rays in the impact plume and the change in charge exchange created x-rays as the impact ejecta propgates through the neutral coma. To this end we plan to obtain ACIS-S imaging spectroscopy before, during, and following the impact.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
		9P/Tempel 1	ACIS-S	NONE	300

Subject Category: STARS AND WD

Proposal Number: 06200204

Title: A Chandra HETGS Survey of O-Stars

PI Name: Wayne Waldron

We are requesting HETGS observations of 6 normal O-stars to further explore the characteristics and the origin of the remarkably detailed X-ray line spectra that has been revealed by Chandra. These new targets have been carefully selected on the basis of their normal optical and UV spectra, instead of their X-ray brightness or peculiarity. Along with archival HETGS spectra, this collection will provide complete coverage of the O-star domain in the H-R diagram. The spectra from this unbiased sample will be assembled in a comprehensive X-ray atlas, which will be used to search for morphological trends in the emission lines as a function of stellar parameters. These trends will guide the development of quantitative models to explain the behavior of the X-ray emission lines of O-type stars.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
10:43:57.50	-59:32:51.00	HD93129AB	ACIS-S	HETG	145
18:03:52.40	-24:21:38.60	9 Sgr	ACIS-S	HETG	147
10:44:45.00	-59:33:54.70	HD93250	ACIS-S	HETG	194
06:40:58.70	+09:53:44.70	15 Mon	ACIS-S	HETG	108

Subject Category: STARS AND WD

Proposal Number: 06200294

Title: The X-ray Spectrum of a Planetary Nebula at High Resolution

PI Name: Joel Kastner

Planetary nebulae (PNs) provide unique insights into a wide range of astrophysical phenomena. X-ray imaging of PNs by CXO has now broken open the study of very high temperature gas in these objects. To make further progress, we require detailed information concerning gas temperature and composition as a function of position within X-ray emitting PN "hot bubbles." Such information can be obtained only from observations combining high spectral and spatial resolution. We propose a 300 ks LETG/ACIS-S exposure of BD+303639, a particularly X-ray-bright PN. Such a deep, high spectral resolution observation of a PN has yet to be attempted. The proposed observation thus represents a potential breakthrough in our understanding of the origin and evolution of PNs.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
19:34:45.20	+30:30:58.90	BD +303639	ACIS-S	LETG	300

Subject Category: SN, SNR AND ISOLATED NS

Proposal Number: 06500333

Title: The Structure and Composition of Pulsar Winds and their Nebulae

PI Name: Patrick Slane

Chandra studies of pulsar wind nebulae have revealed stunning new information on the composition of the winds, the presence of jets and equatorial outflows, and the structure in and around the wind termination shock. Monitoring observations reveal temporal variations in resolved structures that challenge our understanding of particle acceleration and energy flow in these systems. Here we propose deep observations of G54.1+0.3 and PSR B1509-58 in order to probe the complex structure in their interior regions at arcsecond resolution. These observations will allow us to measure the spectrum and morphology of these features in order to constrain models for particle acceleration, the formation and structure of jets, and the geometry of particle flows in PWNe.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
15:13:55.60	-59:08:08.90	PSR B1509-58	ACIS-I	NONE	190

Subject Category: SN, SNR AND ISOLATED NS

Proposal Number: 06500496

Title: Search for Sub-Millisecond Pulsars in 47 Tuc

PI Name: Robert Rutledge

We propose an observation with the ability to detect multiple isolated sub-millisecond pulsars among the unidentified X-ray sources in 47 Tuc, with significant secondary science. Observations in the X-ray band overcome the limited time resolution of even the best radio observations, allowing for the first time the setting of a new ``speed record'' for pulsars at sub-ms periods, below the now 20-year-old record of P = 1.558 ms. The detection of sub-ms pulsars would rule out equations of state for dense matter, provide even better clocks for their many physics applications, and create a strong impetus for future improvement of observational techniques. The absence of sub-ms pulsars would provide compelling evidence for a spin period limit.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
00:24:05.20	-72:04:49.90	47 Tuc	HRC-S	NONE	800

Subject Category: SN, SNR AND ISOLATED NS

Proposal Number: 06500950

Title: Spectra of Neutron Stars with Strongly Magnetized Hydrogen Atmospheres

PI Name: Marten van Kerkwijk

Neutron stars are unique laboratories for matter at extreme densities and magnetic field strengths. Much of the physics is encapsulated in neutron star spectra, but until recently no suitable sources were known. However, over the last year photospheric absorption features - likely due to hydrogen in strongly magnetized atmospheres - have been found for three nearby neutron stars. We propose to obtain high-quality, 300 ks LETG spectra of the two brightest sources. These data will allow examination of the absorption features and permit searches for other associated features. With detailed understandings of these lines one could measure the surface magnetic fields, compositions and temperatures, eventually leading to direct constraints on the equation of state at supra-nuclear densities.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
07:20:25.00	-31:25:50.20	RX J0720.4-3125	HRC-S	LETG	300

Subject Category: CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES

Proposal Number: 06800101

Title: DARK ENERGY WITH X-RAY CLUSTERS: CHANDRA OBSERVATIONS OF 41 HIGH-REDSHIFT CLUSTERS FROM THE 400 deg^2 ROSAT PSPC SURVEY

PI Name: Alexey Vikhlinin

We propose Chandra observations to measure temperature and gas mass in a sample of 41 high-z galaxy clusters from our 400 deg^2 ROSAT survey. This sample is comparable in number to all clusters in the local Universe (z<0.1) above a similar limiting mass, and covers a factor of 3 larger volume at z=0.4-1. Chandra observations will provide the total mass function estimates at =0.4, 0.5, and 0.65, which can be directly compared with the local measurements at =0.05. These data will provide a measurement of the dark energy equation of state via the cluster evolution test which is completely independent from SN Ia and CMB and has different degeneracies. Some targets in this proposal are in common with the HRC GTO proposal 06900018. These programs are not in conflict.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
02:30:26.60	+18:36:22.00	cl0230+1836	ACIS-I	NONE	70
03:28:36.10	-21:40:04.00	cl0328-2140	ACIS-I	NONE	60
04:05:24.30	-41:00:15.00	cl0405-4100	ACIS-I	NONE	80
05:21:10.50	-25:30:36.00	cl0521-2530	ACIS-I	NONE	15
09:56:02.80	+41:07:08.00	cl0956+4107	ACIS-I	NONE	40
02:16:33.70	-17:47:27.00	cl0216-1747	ACIS-I	NONE	65
03:55:59.30	-37:41:46.00	cl0355-3741	ACIS-I	NONE	30
00:30:33.60	+26:18:16.00	cl0030+2618	ACIS-I	NONE	20
13:57:19.40	+62:32:42.00	cl1357+6232	ACIS-I	NONE	45
08:53:13.40	+57:59:44.00	cl0853+5759	ACIS-I	NONE	25
12:22:01.90	+27:09:19.00	cl1222+2709	ACIS-I	NONE	50
12:12:19.20	+27:33:13.00	cl1212+2733	ACIS-I	NONE	15
12:02:13.70	+57:51:53.00	cl1202+5751	ACIS-I	NONE	60
03:33:10.30	-24:56:40.00	cl0333-2456	ACIS-I	NONE	40

Subject Category: CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES

Proposal Number: 06800102

Title: A CHANDRA TREASURY OBSERVATION OF THE BEST EXAMPLE OF A CLUSTER COLD FRONT

PI Name: Alexey Vikhlinin

We propose a 450 ksec observation of A3667, the best example of a cluster cold front. A deep image of the best cold front by the highest angular resolution X-ray telescope will push the study of the physics of the intracluster medium to the limit. Our main goals are 1) to observe the turbulence in the intracluster medium by direct imaging of any perturbations of the front surface; 2) to study transport processes in the ICM using the gas density and temperature profiles across the front with a spatial resolution of 1/5 of the Coulomb mean free path; 3) to characterize the magnetic field structure by mapping the onset of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. The proposed deep Chandra image of A3667 will be one of the treasury images of the X-ray astronomy.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
20:12:50.80	-56:50:53.90	Abell 3667	ACIS-I	NONE	450

Subject Category: CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES

Proposal Number: 06800613

Title: The History of AGN Activity in M87 and the Interaction of Nuclear Outbursts with the Surrounding Atmosphere

PI Name: william forman

We propose a 500 ksec ACIS-I observation to study the interaction between energy outbursts from the supermassive black hole (SMBH) in M87 and its surrounding gaseous atmosphere. We will inventory the plasma bubbles inflated by the SMBH, search for weak shocks, study the interaction of relativistic plasma in bubbles with the surrounding hot gas, measure turbulence in the cluster gas, study the microphysics of the interaction between the plasma in the bubbles and the surrounding gas, and estimate the gas viscosity by measuring the width of shock fronts. By determining the energy associated with bubbles and shocks, we can chronicle the mechanical power output of the SMBH. Finally we will study particle acceleration and cooling models by measuring inter-knot spectra along the jet.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
12:30:49.50	+12:23:28.00	M87	ACIS-I	NONE	500
12:30:49.50	+12:23:28.00	M87	ACIS-I	NONE	12

Subject Category: EXTRAGALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION AND SURVEYS

Proposal Number: 06900444

Title: Deep Chandra Imaging of the Extended Groth Strip: The Co-evolution of Black Holes and Galaxies

PI Name: Kirpal Nandra

The Extended Groth Strip (EGS) is a half square degree region that has been targeted intensively for galaxy evolution studies. A remarkable array of ultra-deep data have been or will be accumulated, to include radio, near/mid/far IR, optical and UV data of depth comparable to or better than any part of the sky. It is also the subject of the massive DEEP2 redshift survey, giving high quality Keck spectra for 16-17,000 galaxies. The clear gap in the coverage of the EGS is in the X-ray, and we therefore propose to augment the single deep Chandra pointing with 7 more, to image the whole strip. Our goal is to study the co-evolution of galaxies and black holes, by examining in detail the astrophysics of AGN activity, and its relationship to the host galaxy and surrounding large scale structure.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
14:22:54.80	+53:25:32.50	EGS-1	ACIS-I	NONE	200
14:21:45.20	+53:13:22.70	EGS-2	ACIS-I	NONE	200
14:20:40.50	+53:01:56.30	EGS-3	ACIS-I	NONE	200
14:19:36.40	+52:50:27.70	EGS-4	ACIS-I	NONE	200
14:18:32.90	+52:38:56.90	EGS-5	ACIS-I	NONE	200
14:16:49.50	+52:19:57.60	EGS-6	ACIS-I	NONE	200
14:15:47.50	+52:08:21.40	EGS-7	ACIS-I	NONE	200

Subject Category: GALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION AND SURVEYS

Proposal Number: 06910168

Title: Massive Star Life, Death, and Rebirth in the Perseus Arm

PI Name: Leisa Townsley

This joint Chandra/XMM mosaic of W4/W3/HB3 allows us to chronicle the X-ray output of the entire life cycle of high-mass stars, from their intrinsic and wind-collision emission, through their SN phase, and back to the embedded, protostellar X-rays heralding the next generation of massive star formation. In addition we see the feedback of these massive stars on the interstellar medium in the Perseus Arm: the stellar winds from a massive young cluster (IC 1805) have blown the W4 superbubble and chimney; perhaps an older superbubble is over 100 times brighter in X-rays due to supernovae in its interior (HB3), and the expansion of these bubbles is compressing the W3 molecular cloud and triggering a new generation of stars to form.

R.A.	Dec.	Target Name	Det.	Grating	Exp.Time
02:27:04.10	+61:52:22.00	W3(OH)	ACIS-I	NONE	80
02:25:40.60	+62:05:52.40	W3 Main IRS5	ACIS-I	NONE	40
02:26:50.80	+62:15:52.00	W3 North	ACIS-I	NONE	80

The Chandra X-Ray Center (CXC) is operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA. Email: cxchelp@head.cfa.harvard.edu Smithsonian Institution, Copyright © 1998-2024. All rights reserved.