The Discovery of Diffuse X-Ray Emission in NGC 2024, One of the Nearest Massive Star-forming Regions

Abstract

We analyzed deep 75 ks Chandra ACIS-I data of NGC 2024 with the aim of searching for diffuse X-ray emission in this most nearby (415 pc) of massive star-forming regions. After removing point sources, extended emission was detected in the central circular region with a radius of 0.5 pc, and it is spatially associated with this young massive stellar cluster. Its X-ray spectrum exhibits a very hard continuum (kT > 8 keV) and shows signs of having a He-like Fe Kα line with a 0.5-7 keV absorption-corrected luminosity of 2 × 1031 ergs s-1. Undetected faint point sources, estimated from the luminosity function of the detected sources, contribute less than 10% to this emission. Hence, the emission is truly diffuse in nature. Because of the proximity of NGC 2024 and the long exposure, this discovery is one of the strongest pieces of evidence in support of the existence of diffuse X-ray emission in massive star-forming regions. © 2006. The American Astronomical Society. All right reserved.