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The eROSITA telescope array aboard the Spektrum Roentgen Gamma (SRG) satellite began surveying the sky in December 2019, with the aim of producing all-sky X-ray source lists and sky maps of an unprecedented depth. Here we present catalogues of both point-like and extended sources using the data acquired in the first six months of survey operations (eRASS1; completed June 2020) over the half sky whose proprietary data rights lie with the German eROSITA Consortium. We describe the observation process, the data analysis pipelines, and the characteristics of the X-ray sources. With nearly 930 000 entries detected in the most sensitive 0.2–2.3 keV energy range, the eRASS1 main catalogue presented here increases the number of known X-ray sources in the published literature by more than 60%, and provides a comprehensive inventory of all classes of X-ray celestial objects, covering a wide range of physical processes. A smaller catalogue of 5466 sources detected in the less sensitive but harder 2.3–5 keV band is the result of the first true imaging survey of the entire sky above 2 keV. We present methods to identify and flag potential spurious sources in the catalogues, which we applied for this work, and we tested and validated the astrometric accuracy via cross-comparison with other X-ray and multi-wavelength catalogues. We show that the number counts of X-ray sources in eRASSl are consistent with those derived over narrower fields by past X-ray surveys of a similar depth, and we explore the number counts variation as a function of the location in the sky. Adopting a uniform all-sky flux limit (at 50% completeness) of F05–2 keV > 5 × 10−14 erg s−1 cm−2, we estimate that the eROSITA all-sky survey resolves into individual sources about 20% of the cosmic X-ray background in the 1–2 keV range. The catalogues presented here form part of the first data release (DR1) of the SRG/eROSITA all-sky survey. Beyond the X-ray catalogues, DR1 contains all detected and calibrated event files, source products (light curves and spectra), and all-sky maps. Illustrative examples of these are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The XMM-Newton Distant Cluster Project (XDCP) aims at the identification of a well defined sample of X-ray selected clusters of galaxies at redshifts z ≥ 0.8. As part of this project, we analyse the deep archival XMM- Newton exposure of LBQS 2212-1759 to quantify the cluster content. We validate the optical follow-up strategy as well as the X-ray selection function. We base the cluster identification of the extended X-ray sources on deep imaging with the ESO-VLT and on the CFHT-LS. The confirmation of cluster candidates is done by VLT/FORS2 spectroscopy. Photometric redshifts from CFTH-LS D4 are utilised to confirm the effectiveness of the X-ray cluster selection method. The survey sensitivity is computed to have a flux limit of S0.5-2.0 keV ∼ 2.5×10-15 erg s-1 for 50% completeness in an area ∼0.13 deg2. We detect six clusters of galaxies above this level both in X-rays and the optical. Two newly discovered X-ray luminous clusters of galaxies in this work are at z ≥ 1.0 and one is at z = 0.41. The constructed log N -log S tends to favour a scenario where no evolution in the cluster X-ray luminosity function takes place. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. The XMM-Newton distant cluster project (XDCP) aims at the identification of a well defined sample of X-ray selected clusters of galaxies at redshifts z ⩾ 0.8. As part of this project, we analyse the deep XMM-Newton exposure covering one of the CFHTLS deep fields to quantify the cluster content. We validate the optical follow-up strategy as well as the X-ray selection function. Methods. We searched for extended X-ray sources in archival XMM-Newton EPIC observations. Multi-band optical imaging was performed to select high redshift cluster candidates among the extended X-ray sources. Here we present a catalogue of the extended sources in one the deepest ∼250 ks XMM-Newton fields targetting LBQS 2212-1759 covering ∼0.2 deg2. The cluster identification is based on deep imaging with the ESO VLT and from the CFHT legacy survey, among others. The confirmation of cluster candidates is done by VLT/FORS2multi-object spectroscopy. Photometric redshifts from the CFHTLS D4 were utilised to confirm the effectiveness of the X-ray cluster selection method. The survey sensitivity was computed with extensive Monte-Carlo simulations. Results. At a flux limit of S 0.5-2.0keV ∼ 2.5 × 10-15 erg s-1 we achieve a completeness level higher than 50% in an area of ∼0.13 deg2. We detect six galaxy clusters above this limit with optical counterparts, of which 5 are new spectroscopic discoveries. Two newly discovered X-ray luminous galaxy clusters are at z ⩾ 1.0, another two at z = 0.41, and one at z = 0.34. For the most distant X-ray selected cluster in this field at z = 1.45, we find additional (active) member galaxies from both X-ray and spectroscopic data. Additionally, we find evidence of large-scale structures at moderate redshifts of z = 0.41 and z = 0.34. Conclusions. The quest for distant clusters in archival XMM-Newton data has led to detection of six clusters in a single field, making XMM-Newton an outstanding tool for cluster surveys. Three of these clusters are at z ⩾ 1, which emphasises the valuable contribution of small, yet deep surveys to cosmology. Beta models are appropriate descriptions of the cluster surface brightness when performing cluster detection simulations to compute the X-ray selection function. The constructed log N - log S tends to favour a scenario where no evolution in the cluster X-ray luminosity function (XLF) takes place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe the initial results of a programme to detect and identify extended X-ray sources found serendipitously in XMM-Newton observations. We have analyzed 186 EPIC-PN images at high galactic latitude with a limiting flux of 1×10−14 ergcm−2s−1 and found 62 cluster candidates. Thanks to the enhanced sensitivity of the XMM-Newton telescopes, the new clusters found in this pilot study are on the average fainter, more compact, and more distant than those found in previous X-ray surveys. At our survey limit the surface density of clusters is about 5 deg−2. We also present the first results of an optical follow-up programme aiming at the redshift measurement of a large sample of clusters. The results of this pilot study give a first glimpse on the potential of serendipitous cluster science with XMM-Newton based on real data. The largest, yet to be fulfilled promise is the identification of a large number of high-redshift clusters for cosmological studies up to z=1 or 1.5. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report on the X-ray spectral variability of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051 observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) during a 1000-d period between 1996 May and 1999 March. The spectra were obtained as part of monitoring observations and from two long observations using the RXTE Proportional Counter Array (PCA). During the monitoring period the 2-10 keV flux of NGC 4051 varied between 10[sup -12] and 7 × 10[sup -11] erg cm[sup -2] s[sup -1]. We re-analysed RXTE PCA observations from a distinct low state in 1998 May using the latest background and detector response models. The RXTE and BeppoSAX observations of NGC 4051 during the low state show a very hard spectrum with a strong unresolved fluorescence line. This emission, probably caused by reflection from a molecular toms, is likely to be constant over long time-scales and is therefore assumed as an underlying component at all flux states. By subtracting the torus component we are able to determine the spectral variability of the primary continuum. In the variable component we observe a strong anticorrelation of X-ray flux and spectral hardness in the PCA energy band. We show that the changes in hardness are caused by slope variability of the primary power-law spectrum rather than by changing reflection or variable photoelectric absorption. The primary spectral index varies between F = 1.6 for the faintest states and Γ = 2.3 during the brightest states, at which level the spectral index approaches an asymptotic value. We find that the response of the flux of the 6.4-keV iron fluorescence line to changes in the continuum flux depends on the time-scale of the observation. The profile of the line is very broad and indicates an origin in the innermost regions of the accretion disc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on observations of the narrow-line Seyfert galaxy NGC 5506 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. The observations cover a time interval of ∼1000 d during which the source showed strong flux and spectral variability. The spectrum clearly shows iron fluorescence emission at 6.4 keV and significant reflection features. Both the equivalent width of the iron line and the relative strength of the reflected continuum are higher during low flux states. The variability of the reflection features can be explained by the presence of two reflected components: one that responds rapidly to flux changes of the primary continuum and a second, slowly variable, component originating from a distant reflector, e.g. a molecular torus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BL Lacertae object PKS 1413+135 is associated with a disc-dominated galaxy that heavily absorbs the BL Lac nucleus at optical and X-ray wavelengths. It has been argued whether this galaxy is actually the host galaxy of PKS 1413+135 or whether the BL Lac is a background QSO, gravitationally lensed by the apparent host galaxy. We have obtained deep high-resolution H-band images of this unusual BL Lac object using the UKIRT IRCAM3. Our observations show that the BL Lac nucleus is centred within ⩽0.05 arcsec of the galaxy. Based on this result, we assess the probability for the lensing scenario and come to the conclusion that the disc galaxy is indeed the host of PKS 1413+135. The galaxy shows peanut-shaped isophotes, suggesting the presence of a central bar, which is a common feature of AGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present second epoch optical spectra for 30 changing-look (CL) candidates found by searching for Type-1 optical variability in a sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) spectroscopically classified as Type 2. We use a random-forest-based light-curve classifier and spectroscopic follow-up, confirming 50 per cent of candidates as turning-on CLs. In order to improve this selection method and to better understand the nature of the not-confirmed CL candidates, we perform a multiwavelength variability analysis including optical, mid-infrared (MIR), and X-ray data, and compare the results from the confirmed and not-confirmed CLs identified in this work. We find that most of the not-confirmed CLs are consistent with weak Type 1s dominated by host-galaxy contributions, showing weaker optical and MIR variability. On the contrary, the confirmed CLs present stronger optical fluctuations and experience a long (from five to ten years) increase in their MIR fluxes and the colour W1–W2 over time. In the 0.2–2.3 keV band, at least four out of 11 CLs with available SRG / eROSITA detections have increased their flux in comparison with archival upper limits. These common features allow us to select the most promising CLs from our list of candidates, leading to nine sources with similar multiwavelength photometric properties to our CL sample. The use of machine learning algorithms with optical and MIR light curves will be very useful to identify CLs in future large-scale surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. XMM-Newton has observed the X-ray sky since early 2000. The XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre Consortium has published catalogues of X-ray and ultraviolet sources found serendipitously in the individual observations. This series is now augmented by a catalogue dedicated to X-ray sources detected in spatially overlapping XMM-Newton observations. Aims. The aim of this catalogue is to explore repeatedly observed sky regions. It thus makes use of the long(er) effective exposure time per sky area and offers the opportunity to investigate long-term flux variability directly through the source-detection process. Methods. A new standardised strategy for simultaneous source detection on multiple observations was introduced, including an adaptive-smoothing method to describe the image background. It was coded as a new task within the XMM-Newton Science Analysis System and used to compile a catalogue of sources from 434 stacks comprising 1789 overlapping XMM-Newton observations that entered the 3XMM-DR7 catalogue, have a low background and full-frame readout of all EPIC cameras. Results. The first stacked catalogue is called 3XMM-DR7s. It contains 71 951 unique sources with positions and parameters such as fluxes, hardness ratios, quality estimates, and information on inter-observation variability, directly derived from a simultaneous fit. Source parameters are calculated for the stack and for each contributing observation. About 15% of the sources are new with respect to 3XMM-DR7. Through stacked source detection, the parameters of repeatedly observed sources are determined with higher accuracy than in the individual observations. The method is more sensitive to faint sources and tends to produce fewer spurious detections. Conclusions. With this first stacked catalogue we demonstrate the feasibility and benefit of the approach. It supplements the large data base of XMM-Newton detections with additional, in particular faint, sources and adds variability information. In the future, the catalogue will be expanded to larger samples and continued within the series of serendipitous XMM-Newton source catalogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2020, a new, bright object, eRASSt J234402.9352640, was discovered in the second all-sky survey of SRG/eROSITA. The object brightened by a factor of at least 150 in 0.2-2.0 keV flux compared to an upper limit found six months previous, reaching an observed peak of 1:76+0:03 0:24 1011 erg cm2 s1. The X-ray ignition is associated with a galaxy at z = 0:10, making the peak luminosity log10(L0:2 keV=[ergs]) = 44:7 ± 0:1. Around the time of the rise in X-ray flux, the nucleus of the galaxy brightened by approximately 3 mag. in optical photometry, after correcting for the host contribution. We present X-ray follow-up data from Swift, XMM-Newton, and NICER, which reveal a very soft spectrum as well as strong 0.2-2.0 keV flux variability on multiple timescales. Optical spectra taken in the weeks after the ignition event show a blue continuum with broad, asymmetric Balmer emission lines, and high-ionisation ([OIII]--4959,5007) and low-ionisation ([NII]-6585, [SII]--6716,6731) narrow emission lines. Following the peak in the optical light curve, the X-ray, UV, and optical photometry all show a rapid decline. The X-ray light curve shows a decrease in luminosity of ~0.45 over 33 days and the UV shows a drop of ~0.35 over the same period. eRASSt J234402.9352640 also shows a brightening in the mid-infrared, likely powered by a dust echo of the luminous ignition. We find no evidence in Fermi-LAT -ray data for jet-like emission. The event displays characteristics of a tidal disruption event (TDE) as well as of an active galactic nucleus (AGN), complicating the classification of this transient. Based on the softness of the X-ray spectrum, the presence of high-ionisation optical emission lines, and the likely infrared echo, we find that a TDE within a turned-off AGN best matches our observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have monitored the Seyfert galaxy NGC 3227 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) since 1999 January. During late 2000 and early 2001 we observed an unusual hardening of the 2-10 keV X-ray spectrum which lasted several months. The spectral hardening was not accompanied by any correlated variation in flux above 8 keV. We therefore interpret the spectral change as transient absorption by a gas cloud of column density 2.6 × 10[SUP23] cm[SUP-2] crossing the line of sight to the X-ray source. A spectrum obtained by XMM-Newton during an early phase of the hard-spectrum event confirms the obscuration model and shows that the absorbing cloud is only weakly ionized. The XMM-Newton spectrum also shows that ∼10 per cent of the X-ray flux is not obscured, but this unabsorbed component is not significantly variable and may be scattered radiation from a large-scale scattering medium. Applying the spectral constraints on the cloud ionization parameter and assuming that the cloud follows a Keplerian orbit, we constrain the location of the cloud to be R ∼ 10-100 light-days from the central X-ray source, and its density to be n[SUBH] ∼ 10[SUP8] cm[SUP-3], implying that we have witnessed the eclipse of the X-ray source by a broad line region cloud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a sample of 383 X-ray selected galaxy groups and clusters with spectroscopic redshift measurements (up to z ∼ 0.79) from the 2XMMi/SDSS Galaxy Cluster Survey. The X-ray cluster candidates were selected as serendipitously detected sources from the 2XMMi-DR3 catalogue that were located in the footprint of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-DR7). The cluster galaxies with available spectroscopic redshifts were selected from the SDSS-DR10. We developed an algorithm for identifying the cluster candidates that are associated with spectroscopically targeted luminous red galaxies and for constraining the cluster spectroscopic redshift. A cross-correlation of the constructed cluster sample with published optically selected cluster catalogues yielded 264 systems with available redshifts. The present redshift measurements are consistent with the published values. The current cluster sample extends the optically confirmed cluster sample from our cluster survey by 67 objects. Moreover, it provides spectroscopic confirmation for 78 clusters among our published cluster sample, which previously had only photometric redshifts. Of the new cluster sample that comprises 67 systems, 55 objects are newly X-ray discovered clusters and 52 systems are sources newly discovered as galaxy clusters in optical and X-ray wavelengths. Based on the measured redshifts and the fluxes given in the 2XMMi-DR3 catalogue, we estimated the X-ray luminosities and masses of the cluster sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We compile a sample of X-ray-selected galaxy groups and clusters from the XMM-Newton serendipitous source catalogue (2XMMi-DR3) with optical confirmation and redshift measurement from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We present an analysis of the X-ray properties of this new sample with particular emphasis on the X-ray luminosity-temperature (LX - T) relation. Methods. The X-ray cluster candidates were selected from the 2XMMi-DR3 catalogue in the footprint of the SDSS-DR7. We developed a finding algorithm to search for overdensities of galaxies at the positions of the X-ray cluster candidates in the photometric redshift space and to measure the redshifts of the clusters from the SDSS data. For optically confirmed clusters with good quality X-ray data we derived the X-ray flux, luminosity, and temperature from proper spectral fits, while the X-ray flux for clusters with low-quality X-ray data was obtained from the 2XMMi-DR3 catalogue. Results. The detection algorithm provides the photometric redshift of 530 galaxy clusters. Of these, 310 clusters have a spectroscopic redshift for at least one member galaxy. About 75 percent of the optically confirmed cluster sample are newly discovered X-ray clusters. Moreover, 301 systems are known as optically selected clusters in the literature while the remainder are new discoveries in X-ray and optical bands. The optically confirmed cluster sample spans a wide redshift range 0.03-0.70 (median z = 0.32). In this paper, we present the catalogue of X-ray-selected galaxy groups and clusters from the 2XMMi/SDSS galaxy cluster survey. The catalogue has two subsamples: (i) a cluster sample comprising 345 objects with their X-ray spectroscopic temperature and flux from the spectral fitting; and (ii) a cluster sample consisting of 185 systems with their X-ray flux from the 2XMMi-DR3 catalogue, because their X-ray data are insufficient for spectral fitting. For each cluster, the catalogue also provides the X-ray bolometric luminosity and the cluster mass at R500 based on scaling relations and the position of the likely brightest cluster galaxy (BCG). The updated LX - T relation of the current sample with X-ray spectroscopic parameters is presented. We found the slope of the LX - T relation to be consistent with published ones. We see no evidence for evolution in the slope and intrinsic scatter of the LX - T relation with redshift when excluding the low-luminosity groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Studies of galaxy clusters provide stringent constraints on models of structure formation. Provided that selection effects are under control, large X-ray surveys are well suited to derive cosmological parameters, in particular those governing the dark energy equation of state. Aims. We forecast the capabilities of the all-sky eROSITA (extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array) survey to be achieved by the early 2020s. We bring special attention to modelling the entire chain from photon emission to source detection and cataloguing. Methods. The selection function of galaxy clusters for the upcoming eROSITA mission is investigated by means of extensive and dedicated Monte-Carlo simulations. Employing a combination of accurate instrument characterisation and a state-of-the-art source detection technique, we determine a cluster detection efficiency based on the cluster fluxes and sizes. Results. Using this eROSITA cluster selection function, we find that eROSITA will detect a total of approximately 105 clusters in the extra-galactic sky. This number of clusters will allow eROSITA to put stringent constraints on cosmological models. We show that incomplete assumptions on selection effects, such as neglecting the distribution of cluster sizes, induce a bias in the derived value of cosmological parameters. Conclusions. Synthetic simulations of the eROSITA sky capture the essential characteristics impacting the next-generation galaxy cluster surveys and they highlight parameters requiring tight monitoring in order to avoid biases in cosmological analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Thanks to the large collecting area (3 × ~1500 cm2 at 1.5 keV) and wide field of view (30' across in full field mode) of the X-ray cameras on board the European Space Agency X-ray observatory XMM-Newton, each individual pointing can result in the detection of up to several hundred X-ray sources, most of which are newly discovered objects. Since XMM-Newton has now been in orbit for more than 15 yr, hundreds of thousands of sources have been detected. Aims. Recently, many improvements in the XMM-Newton data reduction algorithms have been made. These include enhanced source characterisation and reduced spurious source detections, refined astrometric precision of sources, greater net sensitivity for source detection, and the extraction of spectra and time series for fainter sources, both with better signal-to-noise. Thanks to these enhancements, the quality of the catalogue products has been much improved over earlier catalogues. Furthermore, almost 50% more observations are in the public domain compared to 2XMMi-DR3, allowing the XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre to produce a much larger and better quality X-ray source catalogue. Methods. The XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre has developed a pipeline to reduce the XMM-Newton data automatically. Using the latest version of this pipeline, along with better calibration, a new version of the catalogue has been produced, using XMM-Newton X-ray observations made public on or before 2013 December 31. Manual screening of all of the X-ray detections ensures the highest data quality. This catalogue is known as 3XMM. Results. In the latest release of the 3XMM catalogue, 3XMM-DR5, there are 565 962 X-ray detections comprising 396 910 unique X-ray sources. Spectra and lightcurves are provided for the 133 000 brightest sources. For all detections, the positions on the sky, a measure of the quality of the detection, and an evaluation of the X-ray variability is provided, along with the fluxes and count rates in 7 X-ray energy bands, the total 0.2-12 keV band counts, and four hardness ratios. With the aim of identifying the detections, a cross correlation with 228 catalogues of sources detected in all wavebands is also provided for each X-ray detection. Conclusions. 3XMM-DR5 is the largest X-ray source catalogue ever produced. Thanks to the large array of data products associated with each detection and each source, it is an excellent resource for finding new and extreme objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Observations and cosmological simulations show galaxy clusters as a family of nearly self-similar objects with properties that can be described by scaling relations as a function of mass and time. Here we study the scaling relations between the galaxy velocity dispersion (σv) and X-ray quantities, such as X-ray bolometric luminosity (LBol X,500) and temperature (TX) in galaxy clusters at high redshifts (0.64 ⩽ z ⩽ 1.46). We also compare our results with the analogous study of the local HIFLUGCS sample. Methods. For the analysis, we use a set of 15 distant galaxy clusters extracted from the literature and selected via different methods. We also use a sample of ten newly discovered clusters selected via their X-ray emission by the XMM-Newton Distant Cluster Project (XDCP), with more than ten confirmed spectroscopic members per cluster. For both samples, the same method was used to determine σv. We also study the evolution of this scaling relation by comparing the high redshift results with the data from the HIFLUGCS sample, which is taken as a representative of the conditions in the local Universe. For such an analysis, we restrict the study to the clusters in the common LBol X,500 range. We also investigate the LX - TX and the σv- TX relations for the 15 clusters from the literature sample. Results. We report the results of the X-ray and kinematic analysis of ten newly detected high redshift clusters and provide their spectroscopic and kinematic details. For the entire distant sample, we find a slope fully consistent with the one typical of local clusters, albeit with a large associated uncertainty (∼26%). We repeat the fit by freezing the slope to the value found for the HIFLUGCS systems restricted to the same luminosity range as our sample to investigate the evolution of the amplitude alone.We find a positive offset of ΔA/A = 0.44 ± 0.22 if the self-similar evolution is neglected, hence indicating the possible need for including evolutionary effects. However, the LX - TX relation is found to be in good agreement with the local relation without any significant redshift evolution. Finally, the σv - TX relation appears to slightly deviate from the theoretical expectation that galaxies and gas particles have a similar specific kinetic energy. However, the associated uncertainty is currently too large for making any conclusive statement in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. This programme is aimed at obtaining one of the largest X-ray selected samples of identified active galactic nuclei to date in order to characterise such a population at intermediate fluxes, where most of the Universe's accretion power originates.We present the XMM-NewtonWide Angle Survey (XWAS), a new catalogue of almost a thousand X-ray sources spectroscopically identified through optical observations. Methods. A sample of X-ray sources detected in 68 XMM-Newton pointed observations was selected for optical multi-fibre spectroscopy. Optical counterparts and corresponding photometry of the X-ray sources were obtained from the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey. Candidates for spectroscopy were initially selected with magnitudes down to R ~ 21, with preference for X-ray sources having a flux F0.5-4.5keV ⩾ 10-14 erg s-1 cm-2. Optical spectroscopic observations were made using the Two Degree Field of the Anglo Australian Telescope, and the resulting spectra were classified based on optical emission lines. Results. We have identified through optical spectroscopy 940 X-ray sources over Ω ~ 11.8 deg2 of the sky. Source populations in our sample can be summarised as 65% broad line active galactic nuclei (BLAGN), 16% narrow emission line galaxies (NELGs), 6% absorption line galaxies (ALGs) and 13% stars. An active nucleus is also likely to be present in the large majority of the X-ray sources spectroscopically classified as NELGs or ALGs. Sources lie in high-galactic latitude (∣b∣ > 20 deg) XMM-Newton fields mainly in the southern hemisphere. Owing to the large parameter space in redshift (0 ⩽ z ⩽ 4.25) and flux (10-15 ⩽ F0.5-4.5keV ⩽ 10-12 erg s-1 cm-2) covered by the XWAS this work provides an excellent resource for the further study of subsamples and particular cases. The overall properties of the extragalactic objects are presented in this paper. These include the redshift and luminosity distributions, optical and X-ray colours and X-ray-to-optical flux ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the largest sample to date of spectroscopically confirmed x-ray luminous high-redshift galaxy clusters comprising 22 systems in the range 0.9 < z ≲1.6 as part of the XMM-Newton Distant Cluster Project (XDCP). All systems were initially selected as extended x-ray sources over 76.1 deg² of noncontiguous deep archival XMM-Newton coverage, of which 49.4 deg² are part of the core survey with a quantifiable selection function and 17.7 deg² are classified as 'gold' coverage as the starting point for upcoming cosmological applications. Distant cluster candidates were followed up with moderately deep optical and near-infrared imaging in at least two bands to photometrically identify the cluster galaxy populations and obtain redshift estimates based on the colors of simple stellar population models. We test and calibrate the most promising redshift estimation techniques based on the R-z and z-H colors for efficient distant cluster identifications and find a good redshift accuracy performance of the z-H color out to at least z ∼ 1.5, while the redshift evolution of the R-z color leads to increasingly large uncertainties at z ≳ 0.9. Photometrically identified high-z systems are spectroscopically confirmed with VLT/FORS 2 with a minimum of three concordant cluster member redshifts. We present first details of two newly identified clusters, XDCPJ0338.5+0029 at z = 0.916 and XDCP J0027.2+1714 at z = 0.959, and investigate the x-ray properties of SpARCS J003550-431224 at z = 1.335, which shows evidence for ongoing major merger activity along the line-of-sight. We provide x-ray properties and luminosity-based total mass estimates for the full sample of 22 high-z clusters, of which 17 are at z ⩾ 1.0 and seven populate the highest redshift bin at z > 1.3. The median system mass of the sample is M200... 2×1014 M... while the probed mass range for the distant clusters spans approximately (0.7-7) ×1014 M... The majority (>70%) of the x-ray selected clusters show rather regular x-ray morphologies, albeit in most cases with a discernible elongation along one axis. In contrast to local clusters, the z > 0.9 systems mostly do not harbor central dominant galaxies coincident with the x-ray centroid position, but rather exhibit significant brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) offsets from the x-ray center with a median value of about 50 kpc in projection and a smaller median luminosity gap to the second-ranked galaxy of Δm12 ...0.3 mag. We estimate a fraction of cluster-associated NVSS 1.4 GHz radio sources of about 30%, preferentially located within 10 from the x-ray center. This value suggests an increase of the fraction of very luminous cluster-associated radio sources by about a factor of 2.5-5 relative to lowz systems. The galaxy populations in z & 1.5 cluster environments show first evidence for drastic changes on the high-mass end of galaxies and signs of a gradual disappearance of a well-defined cluster red-sequence as strong star formation activity is observed in an increasing fraction of massive galaxies down to the densest core regions. The presented XDCP high-z sample will allow first detailed studies of the cluster population during the critical cosmic epoch at lookback times of 7.3-9.5Gyr on the aggregation and evolution of baryons in the cold and hot phases as a function of redshift and system mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present optical and X-ray data for a sample of serendipitous XMM–Newton sources that are selected to have 0.5–2 versus 2–4.5 keV X-ray hardness ratios which are harder than the X-ray background. The sources have 2–4.5 keV X-ray flux , and in this paper we examine a subsample of 42 optically bright sources; this subsample is 100 per cent spectroscopically identified. All but one of the optical counterparts are extragalactic, and we argue that the single exception, a Galactic M star, is probably a coincidental association rather than the correct identification of the X-ray source. The X-ray spectra of all the sources are consistent with heavily absorbed power laws , and all of them, including the two sources with 2–10 keV intrinsic luminosities of , appear to be absorbed active galactic nuclei (AGN). The majority of the sources show only narrow emission lines in their optical spectra, implying that they are type 2 AGN. Three sources have 2–10 keV luminosities of , and two of these sources have optical spectra which are dominated by narrow emission lines, that is, are type 2 QSOs. Only a small fraction of the sources (7/42) show broad optical emission lines, and all of these have . This implies that ratios of X-ray absorption to optical/ultraviolet extinction equivalent to times the Galactic gas-to-dust ratio are rare in AGN absorbers (at most a few per cent of the population), and may be restricted to broad absorption line QSOs. Seven objects appear to have an additional soft X-ray component in addition to the heavily absorbed power law; all seven are narrow emission-line objects with and 2–10 keV intrinsic luminosities . We consider the implications of our results in the light of the AGN unified scheme. We find that the soft components in narrow-line objects are consistent with the unified scheme provided that per cent of broad-line AGN (BLAGN) have ionized absorbers that attenuate their soft X-ray flux by >50 per cent. In at least one of the X-ray-absorbed BLAGN in our sample the X-ray spectrum requires an ionized absorber, consistent with this picture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy, NGC 4051, was observed in one of its prolonged low flux states by XMM–Newton in 2002 November. Here we present the results of an analysis of the European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) pn data obtained during the observation. Within the low state, the source shows complex spectral variability which cannot easily be explained by any simple model. However, by making a ‘flux–flux’ plot which combines the low state data with data obtained during a normal flux state, we demonstrate that the extremely hard spectrum observed above 2 keV results from a continuation of the spectral variability seen in the normal state, which is caused by spectral pivoting of the power-law continuum. The pivoting power law appears to be attached to a Comptonized thermal component of variable flux (blackbody temperature , consistent with the small black hole mass in NGC 4051) which dominates the soft X-ray band in the low state, and is probably the source of seed photons for Comptonization. Additional constant thermal and reflection components, together with absorption by ionized gas, seem to be required to complete the picture and explain the complex X-ray spectral variability seen in the low state of NGC 4051. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]