# A deeper look at the X-ray point source population of NGC 4472

## TL;DR

This study analyzes the X-ray point source population of NGC 4472 using deep Chandra data, revealing the properties, distribution, and association with globular clusters, and providing a comprehensive catalog of sources.

## Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of X-ray sources in NGC 4472, including luminosity functions, globular cluster associations, and differences between subpopulations, based on extensive observational data.

## Key findings

- 238 X-ray point sources identified within the galaxy.
- 80 sources associated with globular clusters.
- Red globular clusters are six times more likely to host X-ray sources.

## Abstract

In this paper we discuss the X-ray point source population of NGC 4472, an elliptical galaxy in the Virgo cluster. We used recent deep Chandra data combined with archival Chandra data to obtain a 380 ks exposure time. We find 238 X-ray point sources within 3.7' of the galaxy centre, with a completeness flux, F(X,0.5-2 keV)= 6.3x$10^{-16}$ $erg s^{-1} cm^{-2}$. Most of these sources are expected to be low mass X-ray binaries. We finding that, using data from a single galaxy which is both complete and has a large number of objects (~ 100) below 10$^{38}$ $erg s^{-1}$, the X-ray luminosity function is well fit with a single power law model. By cross matching our X-ray data with both space based and ground based optical data for NGC 4472, we find that 80 of the 238 sources are in globular clusters. We compare the red and blue globular cluster subpopulations and find red clusters are nearly six times more likely to host an X-ray source than blue clusters. We show that there is evidence that these two subpopulations have significantly different X-ray luminosity distributions. Source catalogues for all X-ray point sources, as well as any corresponding optical data for globular cluster sources, are also presented here.