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Context. Wolf–Rayet (WR) stars are massive evolved stars that exhibit particularly fast and dense stellar winds. Although they constitute a very short phase near the end of a massive star's life, they play a crucial role in the evolution of massive stars and have a substantial impact on their surrounding environment. Aims. We present the most comprehensive and deepest X-ray study to date of the properties of the richest Wolf–Rayet population observed in a single stellar cluster, Westerlund 1 (Wd1). By examining the X-ray signatures of WR stars, we aim to shed light on the hottest plasma in their stellar winds and gain insights into whether they exist as single stars or within binary systems. Methods. This work is based on 36 Chandra observations obtained from the "Extended Westerlund 1 and 2 Open Clusters Survey" (EWOCS) project, plus 8 archival Chandra observations. The overall exposure depth Ms) and baseline of the EWOCS observations extending over more than one year enable us to perform a detailed photometric, colour, and spectral analysis, as well as to search for short- and long-term periodicity. Results. In X-rays, we detect 20 out of the 24 known Wolf–Rayet stars in Wd1 down to an observed luminosity of ~7 × 1029 erg s−1 (assuming a distance of 4.23 kpc to Wd1), with 8 WR stars being detected in X-rays for the first time. Nine stars show clear evidence of variability over the year-long baseline, with clear signs of periodicity. The X-ray colours and spectral analysis reveal that the vast majority of the WR stars are hard X-ray sources (kT≥2.0 keV). The Fe XXV emission line at ~6.7 keV, which commonly originates from the wind–wind collision zone in binary systems, is detected for the first time in the spectra of 17 WR stars in Wd1. In addition the ~6.4 keV fluorescent line is observed in the spectra of three stars, which are among the very few massive stars exhibiting this line, indicating that dense cold material coexists with the hot gas in these systems. Overall, our X-ray results alone suggest a very high binary fraction (≥80%) for the WR star population in Wd1. When combining our results with properties of the WR population from other wavelengths, we estimate a binary fraction of ≥92%, which could even reach unity. This suggests that either all the most massive stars are found in binary systems within Wd1, or that binarity is essential for the formation of such a rich population of WR stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The manifold phases in the evolution of a core-collapse (CC) supernova (SN) play an important role in determining the physical properties and morphology of the resulting supernova remnant (SNR). Thus, the complex morphology of SNRs is expected to reflect possible asymmetries and structures developed during and soon after the SN explosion. Aims. The aim of this work is to bridge the gap between CC SNe and their remnants by investigating how post-explosion anisotropies in the ejecta influence the structure and chemical properties of the remnant at later times. Methods. We performed three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamical simulations starting soon after the SN event and following the evolution of the system in the circumstellar medium, which includes the wind of the stellar progenitor, for 5000 yr, obtaining the physical scenario of a SNR. Here we focused the analysis on the case of a progenitor red supergiant of 19.8 M⊙. We also investigated how a post-explosion large-scale anisotropy in the SN affects the ejecta distribution and the matter mixing of heavy elements in the remnant during the first 5000 yr of evolution. Results. In the case of a spherically symmetric SN explosion without large-scale anisotropies, the remnant roughly keeps memory of the original onion-like layering of ejecta soon after the SN event. Nevertheless, as the reverse shock hits the ejecta, the element distribution departs from a homologous expansion because of the slowing down of the outermost ejecta layers due to interaction with the reverse shock. In the case of a large-scale anisotropy developed after the SN, we found that the chemical stratification in the ejecta can be strongly modified and the original onion-like layering is not preserved. The anisotropy may cause spatial inversion of ejecta layers, for instance leading to Fe/Si-rich ejecta outside the O shell, and may determine the formation of Fe/Si-rich jet-like features that may protrude the remnant outline. The level of matter mixing and the properties of the jet-like feature are sensitive to the initial physical (density and velocity) and geometrical (size and position) initial characteristics of the anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We investigate the role played by a pre-supernova (SN) ambient magnetic field in the dynamics of the expanding remnant of SN 1987A, and the origin and evolution of the radio emission from the remnant, in particular during the interaction of the blast wave with the nebula surrounding the SN. Methods. We modeled the evolution of SN 1987A from the breakout of the shock wave at the stellar surface to the expansion of its remnant through the surrounding nebula using three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations. The model considers the radiative cooling, the deviations from equilibrium of ionization, the deviation from temperature-equilibration between electrons and ions, and a plausible configuration of the pre-SN ambient magnetic field. We explore the strengths of the pre-SN magnetic field ranging between 1 and 100 μG at the inner edge of the nebula and we assume an average field strength at the stellar surface B0 ≈ 3 kG. From the simulations, we synthesize the thermal X-ray and the non-thermal radio emission and compare the model results with observations. Results. The presence of an ambient magnetic field with strength in the range considered does not change significantly the overall evolution of the remnant. Nevertheless, the magnetic field reduces the erosion and fragmentation of the dense equatorial ring after the impact of the SN blast wave. As a result, the ring survives the passage of the blast, at least during the time covered by the simulations (40 yr). Our model is able to reproduce the morphology and lightcurves of SN 1987A in both X-ray and radio bands. The model reproduces the observed radio emission if the flux originating from the reverse shock is heavily suppressed. In this case, the radio emission originates mostly from the forward shock traveling through the H II region and this may explain why the radio emission seems to be insensitive to the interaction of the blast with the ring. Possible mechanisms for the suppression of emission from the reverse shock are investigated. We find that synchrotron self-absorption and free–free absorption have negligible effects on the emission during the interaction with the nebula. We suggest that the emission from the reverse shock at radio frequencies might be limited by highly magnetized ejecta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Several observations of stellar jets show evidence of X-ray emitting shocks close to the launching site. In some cases, including young stellar objects (YSOs) at different stages of evolution, the shocked features appear to be stationary. We study two cases, both located in the Taurus star-forming region. HH 154, the jet originating from the embedded binary Class 0/I protostar IRS 5, and the jet associated with DG Tau, a more evolved Class II disk-bearing source or classical T Tauri star (CTTS). Aims. We investigate the effect of perturbations in X-ray emitting stationary shocks in stellar jets and the stability and detectability in X-rays of these shocks, and we explore the differences in jets from Class 0 to Class II sources. Methods. We performed a set of 2.5D magnetohydrodynamic numerical simulations that model supersonic jets ramming into a magnetized medium. The jet is formed of two components: a continuously driven component that forms a quasi-stationary shock at the base of the jet and a pulsed component consisting of blobs perturbing the shock. We explored different parameters for the two components. We studied two cases: HH 154, a light jet (less dense than the ambient medium), and a heavy jet (denser than the ambient medium) associated with DG Tau. We synthesized the count rate from the simulations and compared these data with available Chandra observations. Results. Our model is able to reproduce the observed jet properties at different evolutionary phases (in particular, for HH 154 and DG Tau) and can explain the formation of X-ray emitting quasi-stationary shocks observed at the base of jets in a natural way. The jet is collimated by the magnetic field forming a quasi-stationary shock at the base which emits in X-rays even when perturbations formed by a train of blobs are present. We found similar collimation mechanisms dominating in both heavy and light jets. Conclusions. We derived the physical parameters that can give rise to X-ray emission consistent with observations of HH 154 and DG Tau. We have also performed a wide exploration of the parameter space characterizing the model; this can be a useful tool to study and diagnose the physical properties of YSO jets over a broad range of physical conditions, from embedded to disk-bearing sources. We show that luminosity does not change significantly in variable jet models for the range of parameters explored. Finally, we provide an estimation of the maximum perturbations that can be present in HH 154 and DG Tau taking into account the available X-ray observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acceleration times of the highest-energy particles, which emit gamma-rays in young and middle-age supernova remnants (SNRs), are comparable with SNR age. If the number of particles starting acceleration was varying during early times after the supernova explosion then this variation should be reflected in the shape of the gamma-ray spectrum. We use the solution of the non-stationary equation for particle acceleration in order to analyse this effect. As a test case, we apply our method to describe gamma-rays from IC 443. As a proxy of the IC 443 parent supernova we consider SN1987A. First, we infer the time dependence of injection efficiency from evolution of the radio spectral index in SN1987A. Then, we use the inferred injection behaviour to fit the gamma-ray spectrum of IC 443.We show that the break in the proton spectrum needed to explain the gamma-ray emission is a natural consequence of the early variation of the cosmic ray injection, and that the very-high-energy gamma rays originate from particles which began acceleration during the first months after the supernova explosion.We conclude that the shape of the gamma-ray spectrum observed today in SNRs critically depends on the time variation of the cosmic ray injection process in the immediate post-explosion phases. With the same model, we also estimate the future possibility of detecting gamma-rays from SN 1987A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. According to the magnetospheric accretion model, hot spots form on the surface of classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs) in regions where accreting disk material impacts the stellar surface at supersonic velocity, generating a shock. Aims. We investigate the dynamics and stability of postshock plasma that streams along nonuniform stellar magnetic fields at the impact region of accretion columns. We study how the magnetic field configuration and strength determine the structure, geometry, and location of the shock-heated plasma. Methods. We model the impact of an accretion stream onto the chromosphere of a CTTS by 2D axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamic simulations. Our model considers the gravity, the radiative cooling, and the magnetic-field-oriented thermal conduction (including the effects of heat flux saturation). We explore different configurations and strengths of the magnetic field. Results. The structure, stability, and location of the shocked plasma strongly depend on the configuration and strength of the magnetic field. In the case of weak magnetic fields (plasma β ≳ 1 in the postshock region), a large component of B may develop perpendicular to the stream at the base of the accretion column, which limits the sinking of the shocked plasma into the chromosphere and perturbs the overstable shock oscillations induced by radiative cooling. An envelope of dense and cold chromospheric material may also develop around the shocked column. For strong magnetic fields (β < 1 in the postshock region close to the chromosphere), the field configuration determines the position of the shock and its stand-off height. If the field is strongly tapered close to the chromosphere, an oblique shock may form well above the stellar surface at the height where the plasma β ≈ 1. In general, we find that a nonuniform magnetic field makes the distribution of emission measure vs. temperature of the postshock plasma at T > 106 K lower than when there is uniform magnetic field. Conclusions. The initial magnetic field strength and configuration in the region of impact of the stream are expected to influence the chromospheric absorption and, therefore, the observability of the shock-heated plasma in the X-ray band. In addition, the field strength and configuration also influence the energy balance of the shocked plasma with its emission measure at T > 106 K, which is lower than expected for a uniform field. The above effects contribute to underestimating the mass accretion rates derived in the X-ray band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Synchrotron X-ray emission from the rims of young supernova remnants allows us to study the high-energy tail of the electrons accelerated at the shock front. Aims. The analysis of X-ray spectra can provide information on the physical mechanisms that limit the energy achieved by the electrons in the acceleration process. We aim at verifying whether the maximum electron energy in SN 1006 is limited by synchrotron losses and at obtaining information on the shape of the cutoff in the X-ray synchrotron emission. Methods. We analyzed the deep observations of the XMM-Newton SN 1006 Large Program. We performed spatially resolved spectral analysis of a set of small regions in the nonthermal limbs and studied the X-ray spectra by adopting models that assume different electron spectra. Results. We found out that a loss-limited model provides the best fit to all the spectra and this indicates that the shape of the cutoff in the electron momentum (p) distribution has the form exp[-(p/pcut)²]. We also detected residual thermal emission from shocked ambient medium and confirmed the reliability of previous estimates of the post-shock density. Conclusions. Our results indicate that radiative losses play a fundamental role in shaping the electron spectrum in SN 1006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We want to probe the physics of fast collision-less shocks in supernova remnants. We are interested in the non-equilibration of temperatures and particle acceleration. Specifically, we aim to measure the oxygen temperature with regards to the electron temperature. In addition, we search for synchrotron emission in the northwestern thermal rim. Methods. This study is part of a dedicated deep observational project of SN 1006 using XMM-Newton, which provides us with the currently best resolution spectra of the bright northwestern oxygen knot. We aim to use the reflection grating spectrometer to measure the thermal broadening of the Ovii line triplet by convolving the emission profile of the remnant with the response matrix. Results. The line broadening was measured as σe = 2:4 ± 0:3 eV, corresponding to an oxygen temperature of 275+72 -63 keV. From the EPIC spectra we obtain an electron temperature of 1:35±0:10 keV. The difference in temperature between the species provides further evidence of non-equilibration of temperatures in a shock. In addition, we find evidence of a bow shock that emits X-ray synchrotron radiation, which is at odds with the general idea that because of the magnetic field orientation only in the NE and SW region, X-ray synchrotron radiation should be emitted. We find an unusual Hα and X-ray synchrotron geometry, in that the Hα emission peaks downstream of the synchrotron emission. This may be an indication of a peculiar Hα shock in which the density is lower and the neutral fraction is higher than in other supernova remnants, resulting in a peak in Hα emission further downstream of the shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. The detection of very hot plasma in the quiescent corona is important for diagnosing heating mechanisms. The presence and the amount of such hot plasma is currently debated. The SphinX instrument on-board the CORONAS-PHOTON mission is sensitive to X-ray emission of energies well above 1 keV and provides the opportunity to detect the hot plasma component. Methods. We analysed the X-ray spectra of the solar corona collected by the SphinX spectrometer in May 2009 (when two active regions were present). We modelled the spectrum extracted from the whole Sun over a time window of 17 days in the 1.34-7 keV energy band by adopting the latest release of the APED database. Results. The SphinX broadband spectrum cannot be modelled by a single isothermal component of optically thin plasma and two components are necessary. In particular, the high statistical significance of the count rates and the accurate calibration of the spectrometer allowed us to detect a very hot component at ∼7 million K with an emission measure of ∼2.7 × 1044 cm-3. The X-ray emission from the hot plasma dominates the solar X-ray spectrum above 4 keV. We checked that this hot component is invariably present in both the high and low emission regimes, i.e. even excluding resolvable microflares. We also present and discuss the possibility of a non-thermal origin (which would be compatible with a weak contribution from thick-target bremsstrahlung) for this hard emission component. Conclusions. Our results support the nanoflare scenario and might confirm that a minor flaring activity is ever-present in the quiescent corona, as also inferred for the coronae of other stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent X-ray observations of the supernova remnant (SNR) IC 443 interacting with molecular clouds detected a new population of hard X-ray sources related to the remnant itself, which has been proposed to be fast ejecta fragments propagating within the dense environment. Encouraged by these studies, we obtained a deep XMM-Newton observation of the SNR Kes 69, which also shows signs of a shock-cloud interaction.We report on the detection of 18 hard X-ray sources in the field of Kes 69, which is a number sognificantly higher than expected for the Galactic source population in the field. The sources are spatially correlated with CO emission from the cloud in the remnant environment. The spectra of 3 of the 18 sources can be described as hard power-laws with photon indices smaller than two plus line emission associated with K-shell transitions. We discuss the two most promising scenarios for the interpretation of the sources, namely fast ejecta fragments (as in IC 443) and cataclysmic variables. While most of the observational evidence is consistent with the former interpretation, we cannot rule out the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]