X-Atlas: An Online Archive of Chandra's Stellar High Energy Transmission Gratings Observations

TL;DR

X-Atlas is a comprehensive, publicly accessible database of Chandra HETG stellar observations that enables systematic analysis of stellar X-ray spectra, revealing differences between star types and variability patterns.

Contribution

This work introduces X-Atlas, the first uniform, web-accessible database of Chandra HETG stellar spectra with tools for comparison and analysis, enhancing the study of stellar X-ray emission.

Findings

Systematic differences between high-mass and low-mass stars in X-ray spectra.

Evidence for at least two classes of high-mass stars based on spectral analysis.

High X-ray variability observed in both high- and low-mass stars, including Capella.

Abstract

The high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy made possible by the 1999 deployment of the Chandra X-ray Observatory has revolutionized our understanding of stellar X-ray emission. Many puzzles remain, though, particularly regarding the mechanisms of X-ray emission from OB stars. Although numerous individual stars have been observed in high-resolution, realizing the full scientific potential of these observations will necessitate studying the high-resolution Chandra dataset as a whole. To facilitate the rapid comparison and characterization of stellar spectra, we have compiled a uniformly processed database of all stars observed with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating (HETG). This database, known as X-Atlas, is accessible through a web interface with searching, data retrieval, and interactive plotting capabilities. For each target, X-Atlas also features predictions of the low-resolution ACIS spectra convolved from the HETG data for comparison with stellar sources in archival ACIS images. Preliminary analyses of the hardness ratios, quantiles, and spectral fits derived from the predicted ACIS spectra reveal systematic differences between the high-mass and low-mass stars in the atlas and offer evidence for at least two distinct classes of high-mass stars. A high degree of X-ray variability is also seen in both high and low-mass stars, including Capella, long thought to exhibit minimal variability. X-Atlas contains over 130 observations of approximately 25 high-mass stars and 40 low-mass stars and will be updated as additional stellar HETG observations become public. The atlas has recently expanded to non-stellar point sources, and Low Energy Transmission Grating (LETG) observations are currently being added as well.