Oxford University Press, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2(343), p. L47-L52, 2003
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-8711.2003.06894.x
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We present initial XMM-Newton EPIC observations of the prototypical starburst galaxy M82. The superwind is seen to extend continuously from the starburst region to the X-ray emission associated with the Halpha 'cap'. We also find evidence for a ridge feature, probably associated with the superwind interacting with an HI streamer. Narrow band images, centred on individual X-ray lines, show differences in morphology, with higher energy lines being less spatially extended, and a systematic shift with energy in the region of peak emission. Spectral fits with two thermal and one power-law component provide a good fit to the spectra of the nuclear and inner wind regions, indicating a multiphase superwind. We discuss the implications of these observations on our understanding of superwinds.