New insights into the X-ray properties of the nearby barred spiral galaxy NGC 1672

TL;DR

This study uses new Chandra and XMM-Newton observations to analyze the X-ray properties of NGC 1672, revealing a faint central source and active starburst regions with ultraluminous X-ray sources, providing insights into its nuclear activity.

Contribution

First high-resolution imaging showing a faint central X-ray source and starburst ring in NGC 1672, suggesting possible low-level AGN activity or X-ray binaries.

Findings

Detection of a faint, hard central X-ray source (~10^39 erg/s)

Identification of ultraluminous X-ray sources near starburst regions

Presence of a circumnuclear starburst ring dominating X-ray emission

Abstract

We present some preliminary results from new Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray observations of the nearby barred spiral galaxy NGC1672. It shows dramatic nuclear and extra-nuclear star formation activity, including starburst regions located near each end of its strong bar, both of which host ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs). With the new high-spatial-resolution Chandra imaging, we show for the first time that NGC1672 possesses a faint ($L(X)~10^39 erg/s), hard central X-ray source surrounded by an X-ray bright circumnuclear starburst ring that dominates the X-ray emission in the region. The central source may represent low-level AGN activity, or alternatively the emission from X-ray binaries associated with star-formation in the nucleus.