Sulphur X-ray absorption in the local ISM

Abstract

ABSTRACT We present a study S K-edge using high-resolution HETGS Chandra spectra of 36 low-mass X-ray binaries. For each source, we have estimated column densities for S i, S ii, S iii, S xiv, S xv, and S xvi ionic species, which trace the neutral, warm, and hot phases of the Galactic interstellar medium. We also estimated column densities for a sample of interstellar dust analogues. We measured their distribution as a function of Galactic latitude, longitude, and distances to the sources. While the cold-warm column densities tend to decrease with the Galactic latitude, we found no correlation with distances or Galactic longitude. This is the first detailed analysis of the sulphur K-edge absorption due to ISM using high-resolution X-ray spectra.