2017MNRAS.467.3788B

We present results from a 30-ks Chandra observation of the important starburst galaxy NGC 2782, covering the 0.3-10 keV energy band. We find evidence of a superwind of small extent, which is likely in an early stage of development. We find a total of 27 X-ray point sources within a region of radius 2D₂₅ of the galaxy centre and that are likely associated with the galaxy. Of these, 13 are ultraluminous X-ray point sources (ULXs; L_X >= 10³⁹ erg s^- 1^) and a number have likely counterparts. The X-ray luminosities of the ULX candidates are 1.2-3.9 x 10³⁹ erg s^- 1^. NGC 2782 seems to have an unusually large number of ULXs. Central diffuse X-ray emission extending to ∼3 kpc from the nuclear region has been detected. We also find an X-ray structure to the south of the nucleus, coincident with Hα filaments and with a 5-GHz radio source. We interpret this as a blow-out region of a forming superwind. This X-ray bubble has a total luminosity (0.3-10 keV) of 5 x 10³⁹ erg s^–1 (around 15 per cent of the total luminosity of the extended emission), and an inferred wind mass of 1.5 x 10⁶ M_☉ . We also discuss the nature of the central X-ray source in NGC 2782, and conclude that it is likely a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus, with a total X-ray luminosity of L_X = 6 x 10⁴⁰ erg s^–1, with strong Fe line emission at 6.4 keV.