A Study of the Loop I bubble by X-ray shodows of the Ophiuchus molecular cloud

GT The Ophiuchus molecular cloud at a distance of 170 pc is located near thecentre of the Loop I superbubble, which is filled with hot gas of a few millionK. The large absorbing column of 10^{22} cm^{2} will cast a deep shadow up toenergies of 1.5 keV. Ongoing dynamical processes (stellar winds, supernovae)within Loop I may lead to a nonequilibirum plasma state, which we can determineby the study of line ratios between 0.3 2.0 keV. We will perform on andoffcloud observations in order to distinguish between fore and backgroundspectra. Three adjacent pointings of 15 ksec will cover the steepest gradient inXray brightness. In combination with the Aquila Rift proposal it is possible toisolate the Xray spectrum of the hot gas produced by the ScoCen association. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]