X-RAY EMISSION FROM YOUNG STARS IN THE MASSIVE STAR-FORMING REGION IRAS 20126+4104

We present a 40 ks Chandra observation of the IRAS 20126+4104 core region. In the inner 6 '' two X-ray sources were detected, which are coincident with the radio jet source I20S and the variable radio source I20Var. No X-ray emission was detected from the nearby massive protostar I20N. The spectra of both detected sources are hard and highly absorbed, with no emission below 3 keV. For I20S, the measured 0.5-8 keV count rate was 4.3 counts ks(-1). The X-ray spectrum was fitted with an absorbed 1T APEC model with an energy of kT = 10 keV and an absorbing column of N-H = 1.2 x 10(23) cm(-2). An unabsorbed X-ray luminosity of about 1.4 x 10(32) erg s(-1) was estimated. The spectrum shows broad line emission between 6.4 and 6.7 keV, indicative of emission from both neutral and highly ionized iron. The X-ray light curve indicates that I20S is marginally variable; however, no flare emission was observed. The variable radio source I20Var was detected with a count rate of 0.9 counts ks(-1) but there was no evidence of X-ray variability. The best-fit spectral model is a 1T APEC model with an absorbing hydrogen column of N-H = 1.1 x 10(23) cm(-2) and a plasma energy of kT = 6.0 keV. The unabsorbed X-ray luminosity is about 3 x 10(31) erg s(-1).