Hot Gas in Starburst Galaxies — X-Rays from NGC 2903 and NGC 4569

Abstract

In a number of edge-on spirals with nuclear starbursts X-ray halos have been detected. A common model for the origin of these soft X-ray emission above the spiral disks is the chimney model where accumulating type II supernova gas expands into the galactic halo. Because of the very low densities (≤ several 10⁻³ cm⁻³) and the problem to distinguish between X-rays from above the disk and within it, a detection of X-ray halos around galaxies observed at intermediate or low inclination is difficult. Two candidates for such a case are NGC 2903 (d=8.9 Mpc, Tschöke et al., in preparation) and NGC 4569 (d=16.8 Mpc, Virgo, Tschöke et al., in preparation), both at an inclination of 65°.