High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy and imaging of the nuclear outflow of the starburst galaxy NGC 253

Aims. Using XMM-Newton data, we have studied the nuclear outflow of the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253 in X-rays with respect to its morphology and to spectral variations along the outflow. Methods. We analysed XMM-Newton RGS spectra, RGS brightness profiles in cross-dispersion direction, narrow-band RGS and EPIC images, and EPIC PN brightness profiles of the nuclear region and of the outflow from NGC 253. Results. We detect a diversity of emission lines along the outflow of NGC 253. This includes the He-like ions of Si, Mg, Ne, and O and their corresponding ions in the next higher ionisation state. Additionally transitions from $\ion{Fe}{xvii}$ and $\ion{Fe}{xviii}$ are prominent. The derived temperatures from line ratios along the outflow range from 0.21 ± 0.01 to 0.79 ± 0.06 keV, and the ratio of $\ion{Fe}{xvii}$ lines indicates a predominantly collisionally ionised plasma. Additionally, we see indications of either a recombining or an underionised plasma in the $\ion{Fe}{xvii}$ line ratio. Derived electron densities are 0.106 ± 0.018 cm -3 for the nuclear region and 0.025 ± 0.003 cm -3 for the outflow region closest to the centre. The RGS image in the $\ion{O}{viii}$ line energy clearly shows the morphology of an outflow extending out to ~750 pc along the southeast minor axis, while the northwest part of the outflow is not seen in $\ion{O}{viii}$ due to the heavy absorption by the galactic disc. This is the first time that the hot wind fluid has been detected directly. The limb brightening in Chandra and XMM-Newton EPIC observations is only seen in the energy range that contains the $\ion{Fe}{xvii}$ lines (550-750 eV). In all other energy ranges between 400 and 2000 eV, no clear evidence of limb brightening could be detected.