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Einstein IPC Ultrasoft Sources Catalog

Metadata Updated: April 10, 2026

A survey of the entire Einstein IPC database (a total of 5934 sources) has been carried out in order to select objects with strong components of ultrasoft X-ray emission (i.e., emission below 0.5 keV). The selection criteria were based on ratios of counts within three broad energy bands (i.e., X-ray "colors"). A total of 516 objects have been selected, with 202 (39%) having been identified through correlations with other databases. Of the currently identified objects, 45% are active galactic nuclei, 28% are stellar objects, 6% are "normal" galaxies and galaxy clusters, and the remaining 21% are "nonstellar" Galactic objects such as cataclysmic variables, pulsars, and white dwarfs. The selection of sources for this survey was based on the analysis of counts in three broad energy bands defined as C1=0.16-0.56 keV, C2=0.56-1.08 keV, and C3= 1.08-3.5 keV. Ratios of these three bands constituted X-ray 'colors' which in turn were used to estimate the shape of the spectrum over the IPC bandpass. Based on models of X-ray spectra folded through the IPC response function, the following criteria were determined for the selection of ultrasoft sources: C1>0 and R1=C2/C1<0.36. These criteria guarantee an intrinsically soft X-ray spectrum that can be modeled by blackbody temperatures kT<50 keV, power-law spectral indices of >=2, or thermal plasma temperatures T<1 MK (million K). Details of the data analysis can be found in the Thompson et al. (1998) reference. This database was created by the HEASARC in April 1999 based on tables provided by the catalog authors to the CDS/ADC. This is a service provided by NASA HEASARC .

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: See this page for license information.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Created Date April 11, 2025
Metadata Updated Date April 10, 2026

Metadata Source

Harvested from NASA Data.json

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date April 11, 2025
Metadata Updated Date April 10, 2026
Publisher High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center
Maintainer
Identifier ivo://nasa.heasarc/ipcultsoft
Data Last Modified 2026-04-06
Category Astrophysics
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 026:00
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 2026c9a6-44af-4adc-bb94-fff4fe2c12f2
Harvest Source Id 58f92550-7a01-4f00-b1b2-8dc953bd598f
Harvest Source Title NASA Data.json
Homepage URL ivo://nasa.heasarc/ipcultsoft
License https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Program Code 026:000
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash cc002957636d52d219ec1dcfa37a13e13a67dd8fc672f6e4038c7452912053a4
Source Schema Version 1.1

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