X-ray emission from the old CTTS MP Muscae

Abstract

We study the properties of X-ray emitting plasma of MP Mus, an old classical T Tauri star. XMM-Newton/RGS spectra allow us to measure the plasma electron density, which probes whether X-ray emission is produced in the accretion process. X-ray emission from MP Mus originates from high density cool plasma but a hot flaring component is also present, suggesting that both coronal magnetic activity and accretion contribute to the observed X-ray emission. From the soft part of the X-ray emission from MP Mus, mostly produced by plasma heated in the accretion shock, we derive the accretion parameters and the characteristics of the shock-heated plasma.