AGN in the XMM-Newton first-light image as probes for the interstellar   medium in the LMC
  The XMM-Newton first-light image revealed X-ray point sources which show heavily absorbed power-law spectra. The spectral indices and the probable identification of a radio counterpart for the brightest source suggest AGN shining through the interstellar gas of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The column densities derived from the X-ray spectra in combination with HI measurements will allow to draw conclusions on HI to H_2 ratios in the LMC and compare these with values found for the galactic plane. 
F. Haberl (MPE, Garching), K. Dennerl (MPE), M.D. Filipovic   (University of Western Sydney Nepean), B. Aschenbach (MPE), W....