An overview of the EXTraS project: Exploring the X-ray Transient and Variable Sky

TL;DR

The EXTraS project analyzes XMM-Newton data to uncover and characterize transient and variable X-ray sources across a wide range of time scales and fluxes, providing valuable data and insights to the scientific community.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of the unexplored temporal domain in X-ray data, including fast transients and variability, with multiwavelength characterization and community data sharing.

Findings

Discovery of numerous variable X-ray sources

Characterization of variability across nine orders of magnitude in time

Identification of new transient phenomena

Abstract

The EXTraS project (Exploring the X-ray Transient and variable Sky) will harvest the hitherto unexplored temporal domain information buried in the serendipitous data collected by the European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) instrument onboard the ESA XMM-Newton X-ray observatory since its launch. This will include a search for fast transients, as well as a search and characterization of variability (both periodic and aperiodic) in hundreds of thousands of sources spanning more than nine orders of magnitude in time scale and six orders of magnitude in flux. X-ray results will be complemented by multiwavelength characterization of new discoveries. Phenomenological classification of variable sources will also be performed. All our results will be made available to the community. A didactic program in selected High Schools in Italy, Germany and the UK will also be implemented. The EXTraS project (2014-2016), funded within the EU/FP7 framework, is carried out by a collaboration including INAF (Italy), IUSS (Italy), CNR/IMATI (Italy), University of Leicester (UK), MPE (Germany) and ECAP (Germany).