The elements in the Universe are synthesized primarily in stars and supernovae, where nuclear fusion favours the production of even-Z elements. In contrast, odd-Z elements are less abundant and their yields are highly dependent on detailed stellar physics, making theoretical predictions of their cosmic abundance uncertain. In particular, the origin of odd-Z elements such as phosphorus (P), chlorine (Cl) and potassium (K), which are important for planet formation and life, is poorly understood. While the abundances of these elements in Milky Way stars are close to solar values, supernova explosion models systematically underestimate their production by up to an order of magnitude, indicating that key mechanisms for odd-Z nucleosynthesis are currently missing from theoretical models. Here we report the observation of P, Cl and K in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant using high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy with X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission data, with the detection of K at above the 6 sigma level being the most significant finding. Supernova explosion models of normal massive stars cannot explain the element abundance pattern, especially the high abundances of Cl and K, while models that include stellar rotation, binary interactions or shell mergers agree closely with the observations. Our observations suggest that such stellar activity plays an important role in supplying these elements to the Universe.
We report the multi-temperature structure of the intracluster medium (ICM) in the Centaurus cluster core observed with XRISM/Resolve. Thanks to its high energy resolution, Resolve enables us to measure fine structures of highly ionized emission lines from Si to Fe and to directly determine the excitation temperature and the ionization temperature from the emission line ratio diagnostics. The observed spectrum in the Centaurus core is well-represented by a double-temperature thermal plasma at collisional ionization equilibrium state rather than an isothermal one. The line ratio diagnostics also support this biphasic temperature structure. Particularly, the observed line ratios show a trend of increasing ionization temperature with atomic mass, while the ionization and excitation temperatures of Fe show nearly the same temperature. The resultant line ratios, which are well-represented by the two temperatures ICM, similar to 1 . 6 and similar to 3 keV, are also fairly consistent with the expected numbers when assuming the radial single-temperature ICM was projected in the cluster core along the line of sight. Due to the limited low-energy sensitivity of the Resolve with the gate valve closed, we investigated the effect of the cool component using the XMM-Newton/RGS spectrum, but it ultimately did not affect our results. The observed flux ratio between the Fe XXV He alpha resonance and forbidden lines shows an about 20% reduction, suggesting the presence of resonant scattering.
A head-tail galaxy is thought to be a radio galaxy with bent active galactic nuclei jets interacting with the intracluster medium. Study of head-tail galaxies provides us with fruitful insights into the mechanisms of shock waves and turbulence, as well as magnetic-field amplification and cosmic-ray acceleration. A recent MeerKAT observation revealed that a head-tail galaxy in the galaxy cluster, Abell 3322, exhibits a peculiar "Omega" structure in its shape. In this paper, we investigated this Omega-tail galaxy using the upgraded Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope and the Australia Telescope Compact Array. We found that the southern jet tends to be brighter than the northern jet, with a brightness ratio of about 2. This can be attributed to Doppler boost and the inclination of the jets. Our broadband data suggest that the radio spectrum becomes steeper along the jet propagation direction, and the cosmic-ray aging model with a weak re-acceleration of cosmic rays is preferable to explain the index profile. We further found a gradient of the spectral index perpendicular to the jet propagation. We discussed the origin of the gradient and suggested that a shock wave along one side of the jets is present. The resultant ram pressure as well as the backflow made at the early stage of the jet may produce the tail component of this Omega-tail galaxy, while the observed Omega-shape structure is more likely due to a twin vortex seen in the low Reynolds number flow.
Galaxies with intense star formation often host multiphase, galaxy-scale winds powered by supernovae and fast stellar winds. These are strong enough to disrupt the star-forming interstellar medium, and they chemically enrich the surrounding circumgalactic medium. However, their launching mechanism remains unknown. Here we show that thermal gas pressure is sufficient to drive the multiphase wind in the prototypical starburst galaxy M82. Using a high energy-resolution (ΔE = 4.5 eV) XRISM Resolve spectrum, including detections of FeXXV 6.7 keV, ArXVII 3.1 keV, and SXVI 2.6 keV, we measure the temperature (T = 2.3^+0.5_-0.2× 10^7 K) and mass (M ≈ 6 ± 2 × 10^5 M_⊙) of the hot gas in the starburst and provide the first direct measurement of its line-of-sight velocity dispersion (σ= 595^+464_-128 km s^-1). These values are consistent with a freely-expanding wind exceeding the galactic escape velocity. The size of the FeXXV-emitting region suggests a hot gas outflow rate of Ṁ≈ 4 M_⊙ yr^-1, carrying a total energy of Ė≈ 2 × 10^42 erg s^-1. This is sufficient to drive the molecular, atomic, and ionized outflows while transporting up to ≈ 2 M_⊙ yr^-1 of hot gas to the intergalactic medium. The estimated supernova rate implies that ≈ 60
We present high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of the merging cluster Abell 754 using XRISM/Resolve. In GO1 phase, XRISM/Resolve observed Abell 754 in two deep pointings, targeting the eastern primary core ( 114 ks) and the middle of the X-ray filamentary structure ( 190 ks). Spectral fits to full field-of-view data reveal a line-of-sight velocity difference of 656 +/- 35 km s(-1) between the two pointing, corresponding to a bulk Mach number of 0.45 +/- 0.03. Velocity dispersions are measured to be 220(-29)(+26) km s(-1) and 279(-23)(+24) km s(-1)in the eastern and middle pointing, respectively. Within the eastern core, the velocity dispersion shows spatial variation, reaching 497(-117)(+144) km s(-1)in the southern core with high temperature- among the largest values yet reported in galaxy clusters to date. Narrow-band analysis of the Fe-K complex in this region reveals systematically higher temperatures derived from He-like and H-like Fe line ratio compared to those obtained via broadband fits, indicating multi-phase structures. Two-temperature modeling further separates a cooler core phase from a hotter, shock or turbulence-heated phase whose velocity is blueshifted, similar to that of the middle pointing. These results point to a mixing interface where post-shock gas from the south overlaps, in projection, with cooler core gas, inflating the observed line widths in this region. Weak-lensing analysis with Subaru/HSC and Suprime-cam confirms that the eastern component is about twice as massive as the western one, consistent with disruption and gas stripping of the latter. The curved morphology of the eastern X-ray core, together with the measured kinematics, is naturally explained by an off-axis, post-core-passage merger that imparts angular momentum and drives large-scale rotational and fallback flows.
The supermassive binary system, eta Carinae, is experiencing enormous wind-driven mass loss at a rate unparalleled in the rest of the Galaxy. Their wind-wind collision (WWC) continuously produces shock heated, X-ray-emitting plasmas. The XRISM X-ray observatory observed the system in 2023 and 2024 when the X-ray emission began to increase toward periastron passage in 2025. This paper reports unprecedentedly high-resolution X-ray spectra in the Fe K alpha band between 6.2 and 7.1 keV, obtained with the Resolve X-ray microcalorimeter. The hydrogen-like (Ly alpha) and helium-like (He alpha) lines reveal three velocity components. Two of them are broadened with maximum velocities of 2000-3000 km s-1, likely originating from the postshock companion wind. The other is relatively narrow, with a Gaussian broadening of only similar to 290 km s-1 in 1 sigma, which may originate from the postshock companion wind at the WWC stagnation point or penetrating the primary wind. The Fe fluorescent lines exhibit a moderate blueshift and broadening with velocities at 100-200 km s-1, consistent with the primary wind's velocity field. The spectra also confirm a Compton shoulder of the He alpha line complex for the first time. Both fluorescing and scattering spectral profiles indicate that the binary system is seen from the companion side during these observations. The flux ratio of the Compton-scattering emission to the fluorescent line suggests substantial hydrogen depletion of the primary wind, expected from CNO-cycled hydrogen nuclear fusion gas.
We present high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of the merging galaxy cluster A3667 with XRISM/Resolve. Two observations, targeting the cluster X-ray core and the prototypical cold front, were performed with exposures of 105 and 276 ks, respectively. We find that the gas in the core is blueshifted by v(z) similar to -200 km s(-1) relative to the brightest cluster galaxy, while the low-entropy gas inside the cold front is redshifted by v(z) similar to 200 km s(-1). As one moves further off-center across the front, the line-of-sight (LoS) velocity changes significantly, by Delta v(z)=535-154+167 km s(-1), back to the value similar to that in the core. There are no significant LoS velocity gradients perpendicular to the cluster symmetry axis. These features suggest that the gas forming the cold front is flowing in the plane oriented along the LoS, supporting an offset merger scenario in which the main cluster has passed in front of the subcluster and induced rotation of the core gas in the plane perpendicular to the sky. The region just inside the front exhibits the largest LoS velocity dispersion seen across two pointings, sigma(z) similar to 420 km s(-1), which can be interpreted as a developing turbulence or a projection of the LoS velocity shear within the front. The large LoS velocity jump across the cold front, combined with the lack of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability on the surface of the front, suggests some mechanism to suppress it. For example, a magnetic field with B > 5 mu G is required if the cold front is stabilized by magnetic draping.
Results from GRBAlpha, VZLUSAT-2 and GRBBeta CubeSats and their on-board gamma-ray detectors for monitoring transients are summarised in this article. GRBAlpha was a 1U CubeSat launched in March 2021 to a 550 km altitude polar orbit carrying a CsI(Tl) scintillator gamma-ray burst (GRB) detector with a sensitive range of approximately 30-900 keV. It successfully operated for over four years until June 2025 when it de-orbited. VZLUSAT-2 was a 3U CubeSat launched in January 2022 to a 535 km altitude polar orbit and de-orbited in November 2025 after almost four years of smooth operation. It carried on board two GRB detectors very similar to the one used on GRBAlpha. Both missions have detected about 360 gamma-ray transients, including over 170 long and short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), and including the most intense GRB ever recorded GRB 221009A and the second brightest GRB 230307A. The new family member, GRBBeta 2U CubeSat, integrated at Masaryk University, was launched in July 2024 to a 580 km altitude, 62 degree inclination orbit. It has been detecting GRBs since its launch without any trouble. Gamma-ray detectors on these nanosatellites are based on CsI(Tl) scintillator readout by silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). These missions also provide a unique opportunity to study the radiation damage of SiPMs in the low Earth orbit environment and monitor the radiation belts. We have demonstrated that CubeSats can be used in missions lasting beyond three years and routinely detect GRBs.
We report a weak-lensing (WL) mass measurement for the merging cluster Abell 754 and impose constraints on the merger trajectory. The trajectory analysis adopts a two-body model with a point-mass approximation and dynamical friction, refined using numerical simulations of major mergers and characterized by Euler angles. We first conduct WL analysis using the two-dimensional (2D) shear pattern from the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam in combination with Suprime-Cam images to assist in color selection. The WL mass map shows a distinct double-peak structure located around the western and eastern brightest cluster galaxies, as reported in the literature. The two-halo decomposition analysis, which utilizes 2D shear pattern over the entire region and considers the merging configuration extrapolated from uncorrelated large-scale structures, indicates mass values of M-200(W)=3.13(-1.00)(+1.53)& times;10(14)h(70)(-1)M(circle dot )and M-200(E)=6.41(-1.97)(+2.92)& times;10(14)h(70)(-1)M(circle dot). Thus, the eastern mass component associated with the X-ray double-shaped gas is the main cluster. No substantial structural component is detected in the line-of-sight velocity of the member galaxies. By combining the WL parameters, line-of-sight velocities, X-ray morphology, and prior information by X-ray kinematics, we estimate an impact parameter of approximately 0.77 Mpc at an initial separation of 2 Mpc from the main cluster. The merger plane is inclined at about 20 degrees relative to the line of sight. Interestingly, this system is an off-axis, near-line-of-sight merger. This characteristic arises because the trajectory within the merger plane is altered during the pericenter passage, causing the apparent motion to transition from predominantly along the line of sight before the core passage to mainly within the plane of the sky afterward. This study will assist in conducting numerical simulations to understand the XRISM observations.
The XRISM Resolve microcalorimeter array measured the velocities of hot intracluster gas at two positions in the Coma galaxy cluster: 3 ′ × 3 ′ squares at the center and at 6 ′ (170 kpc) to the south. We find the line-of-sight velocity dispersions in those regions to be σ z = 208 ± 12 km s −1 and 202 ± 24 km s −1 , respectively. The central value corresponds to a 3D Mach number of M = 0.24 ± 0.015 and a ratio of the kinetic pressure of small-scale motions to thermal pressure in the intracluster plasma of only 3.1% ± 0.4%, at the lower end of predictions from cosmological simulations for merging clusters like Coma, and similar to that observed in the cool core of the relaxed cluster A2029. Meanwhile, the gas in both regions exhibits high line-of-sight velocity differences from the mean velocity of the cluster galaxies, Δ v z = 450 ± 15 km s −1 and 730 ± 30 km s −1 , respectively. A small contribution from an additional gas velocity component, consistent with the cluster optical mean, is detected along a sight line near the cluster center. The combination of the observed velocity dispersions and bulk velocities is not described by a Kolmogorov velocity power spectrum of steady-state turbulence; instead, the data imply a much steeper effective slope (i.e., relatively more power at larger linear scales). This may indicate either a very large dissipation scale, resulting in the suppression of small-scale motions, or a transient dynamic state of the cluster, where large-scale gas flows generated by an ongoing merger have not yet cascaded down to small scales.
The energy range from a few hundred keV to a few MeV includes important probes such as nuclear gamma-rays and the 511 keV annihilation line. However, compared to X-rays and GeV/TeV gamma-rays, this range suffers from lower sensitivity by orders of magnitude. The upcoming NASA SMEX satellite mission Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI), scheduled for launch in 2027, is expected to break through this limitation with its Compton telescope utilizing a germanium semiconductor detector, covering the 0.2-5 MeV energy range. In addition to the main instrument, two Background and Transient Observer (BTO) detectors will be installed on COSI. The detectors are NaI(Tl) scintillators coupled with SiPMs, and they are being developed as a student collaboration project. BTO aims to 1) measure background radiation in orbit to maximize COSI's sensitivity and 2) detect GRBs and other gamma-ray transients. For this purpose, it is required to cover the lower-energy range from 30 keV to 2 MeV with < 20
The X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) is a Japanese International X-ray observatory, launched in September 2023. The XRISM science operations team (SOT) has been responsible for organizing and preparing for in-orbit science operations since the early stage of the project and has been performing quick-look and pipeline processes for data monitoring to provide the data to users as the operations of the payload instruments began in the initial operation phase. The target observations, including transient objects, were initiated from the nominal operations phase using the short-/long-term observation plans. The SOT has also contributed to performance verification and optimization activities to provide well-calibrated data and analysis tools and established a help desk to support guest observers (GOs) analyzing the XRISM data. The publicly solicited observations for GOs started from September 2024. These daily science operations have been carried out by dedicated scientists at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, with the support of the other SOT members and the mission and instrument teams. This study introduces the ground system used for the XRISM science operations and describes how in-orbit science operations have been established by the SOT from the system development phase to the cycle 1 period.
W49B is a unique Galactic supernova remnant with centrally peaked, “bar”-like ejecta distribution, which was once considered evidence for a hypernova origin that resulted in a bipolar ejection of the stellar core. However, chemical abundance measurements contradict this interpretation. Closely connected to the morphology of the ejecta is its velocity distribution, which provides critical details for understanding the explosion mechanism. We report the first ever observational constraint on the kinematics of the ejecta in W49B using the Resolve microcalorimeter spectrometer on the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM). Using XRISM/Resolve, we measured the line-of-sight velocity traced by the Fe He α emission, which is the brightest feature in the Resolve spectrum, to vary by ±300 km s ^−1 with a smooth east-to-west gradient of a few tens of kilometers per second per parsec along the major axis. Similar trends in the line-of-sight velocity structure were found for other Fe-group elements Cr and Mn, traced by the He α emission, and also for intermediate-mass elements Si, S, Ar, and Ca, traced by the Ly α emission. The discovery of the east–west gradient in the line-of-sight velocity, together with the absence of a twin-peaked line profile or enhanced broadening in the central region, clearly rejects the equatorially expanding disk model. In contrast, the observed velocity structure suggests bipolar flows reminiscent of a bipolar explosion scenario. An alternative scenario would be a collimation of the ejecta by an elongated cavity sculpted by bipolar stellar winds.
We present results from XRISM/Resolve observations of the core of the galaxy cluster Abell 2319, focusing on its kinematic properties. The intracluster medium (ICM) exhibits temperatures of approximately 8 keV across the core, with a prominent cold front and a high-temperature region (-11 keV) in the north-west. The average gas velocity in the 3' x 4' region around the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) covered by two Resolve pointings is consistent with that of the BCG to within 40 km s(-1) and we found modest average velocity dispersion of 230-250 km s(-1) . On the other hand, spatially resolved spectroscopy reveals interesting variations. A blueshift of up to similar to 230 km s(-1) is observed around the east edge of the cold front, where the gas with the lowest specific entropy is found. The region further south inside the cold front shows only a small velocity difference from the BCG; however, its velocity dispersion is enhanced to -400 km s(-1), implying the development of turbulence. These characteristics indicate that we are observing sloshing motion with some inclination angle following BCG and that gas phases with different specific entropy participate in sloshing with their own velocities, as expected from simulations. No significant evidence for a high-redshift ICM component associated with the subcluster Abell 2319B was found in the region covered by the current Resolve pointings. These results highlight the importance of sloshing and turbulence in shaping the internal structure of Abell 2319. Further deep observations are necessary to better understand the mixing and turbulent processes within the cluster.
Context. Accurate X-ray spectroscopic measurements are fundamental for deriving basic physical parameters of the most abundant baryon components in the Universe. The plethora of X-ray observatories currently operational enables a panchromatic view of the high-energy emission of celestial sources. However, uncertainties in the energy-dependent calibration of the instrument transfer functions (e.g. the effective area, energy redistribution, or gain) can limit - and historically, did limit - the accuracy of X-ray spectroscopic measurements. Aims. We revised the status of the cross-calibration among the scientific payload on board four operation missions: Chandra, NuSTAR, XMM-Newton, and the recently launched XRISM. XRISM carries the micro-calorimeter Resolve, which yields the best energy resolution at energies >= 2 keV. For this purpose, we used the data from a 10-day-long observational campaign targeting the nearby active galactic nucleus NGC 3783, carried out in July 2024. Methods. We present a novel model-independent method for assessing the cross-calibration status that is based on a multi-node spline of the spectra with the highest-resolving power (XRISM/Resolve in our campaign). We also estimated the impact of the intrinsic variability of NGC 3783 on the cross-calibration status due to the different time coverages of participating observatories and performed an empirical reassessment of the Resolve throughput at low energies. Results. Based on this analysis, we derived a set of energy-dependent correction factors of the observed responses, enabling a statistically robust analysis of the whole spectral dataset. They will be employed in subsequent papers describing the astrophysical results of the campaign.
We present a new CO observation toward the Type Ia supernova remnant 3C 397 using the Nobeyama 45 m radio telescope at an unprecedented angular resolution of similar to 18 ''. We newly found that the CO cloud at VLSR = 55.7-62.2 km s-1 (60 km s-1 cloud) shows a good spatial correspondence with the radio continuum shell. We also found an expanding gas motion of the 60 km s-1 cloud with an expansion velocity of similar to 3 km s-1, which is thought to be formed by the pre- and/or postsupernova feedback. By considering the positions of Galactic spiral arms and the X-ray/H i absorption studies, we concluded that 3C 397 is physically associated with the 60 km s-1 cloud rather than the previously known CO cloud at VLSR similar to 30 km s-1. Given that the previously measured preshock density is similar to 2-5 cm-3, the expanding motion of the 60 km s-1 cloud was likely formed by the presupernova feedback known as optically thick wind. The scenario is consistent with the fact that 3C 397 exploded inside a wind-blown bubble as a single degenerate system.
We present XRISM Resolve observations of the core of the hot, relaxed galaxy cluster Abell 2029 (A2029). We find that the line-of-sight bulk velocity of the intracluster medium (ICM) within the central 180 kpc is at rest with respect to the brightest cluster galaxy, with a 3 σ upper limit of ∣ v bulk ∣ < 100 km s −1 . We robustly measure the field-integrated ICM velocity dispersion to be σ v = 169 ± 10 km s −1 , obtaining similar results for both single-temperature and two-temperature plasma models to account for the cluster cool core. This result, if ascribed to isotropic turbulence, implies a subsonic ICM with Mach number M 3 D ≈ 0.22 and a nonthermal pressure fraction of 2.6 ± 0.3%. The turbulent velocity is similar to what was measured in the core of the Perseus cluster by Hitomi, but here in a more massive cluster with an ICM temperature of 7 keV, the limit on the nonthermal pressure fraction is even more stringent. Our result is consistent with expectations from simulations of relaxed clusters, but it is on the low end of the predicted distribution, indicating that A2029 is an exceptionally relaxed cluster with no significant impacts from either a recent minor merger or active galactic nucleus activity.
We report the results from the ground and on-orbit verifications of the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission timing system when the satellite clock is not synchronized to the Ground Positioning System (GPS) time. In this case, the time is determined by a free-run quartz oscillator of the clock, whose frequency changes depending on its temperature. In the thermal vacuum test performed in 2022, we obtained the GPS unsynchronized mode data and the temperature-versus-clock frequency trend. Comparing the time values calculated from the data and the true GPS times when the data were obtained, we confirmed that the requirement (within a 350 -mu s error in the absolute time, accounting for both the spacecraft bus and ground systems) was satisfied in the temperature conditions of the thermal vacuum test. We also simulated the variation of the timing accuracy in the on-orbit temperature conditions using the Hitomi on-orbit temperature data and found that the error remained within the requirement over similar to 3 x 10(5) s . The on-orbit tests were conducted in 2023 September and October as part of the bus system checkout. The temperature-versus-clock frequency trend remained unchanged from that obtained in the thermal vacuum test, and the observed time drift was consistent with that expected from the trend.
The Moon is the closest celestial gamma-ray emitting object. Its gamma-ray emission arises from interactions between Galactic cosmic rays (CRs) and the lunar surface. While the lunar GeV gamma-ray spectrum is dominated by a continuum from hadronic decay processes, the MeV emission exhibits both continuum and distinctive spectral lines from nuclear de-excitation and radioactive decay processes. Using Geant4 Monte Carlo particle simulations, we model the lunar gamma-ray spectrum. Our results demonstrate its consistency with Fermi-Large Area Telescope observations, and predict that next-generation MeV gamma-ray instruments will detect both the lunar MeV continuum and several key spectral line features, notably the 1.779 MeV line from ^28 Si de-excitation enhanced by the lunar surface composition, the e ^+ e ^− annihilation line, and radioactive decay lines from ^22 Na ( τ ≈ 3.75 yr) and long-lived ^26 Al ( τ ≈ 1 Myr). These gamma-ray lines are sensitive to CRs with energies ≲1 GeV nuc ^−1 , offering unique temporal probes of CR activity over different timescales. Observations of the lunar MeV gamma-ray spectrum will therefore open a new window to study the current irradiation of the solar-terrestrial environment by low-energy CRs and its long-term temporal evolution.