Or . Small Scale H I Structure and the Soft X

The observed antlcorrelation between diffuse soft X-ray flux and H I column density has been explained as absorption of soft X-rays produced in a hot galactic halo, assuming that the neutral interstellar material is sufficiently clumped to reduce the soft X-ray absorption cross section by a factor of two to three. We have extended a 21 cm emission line study of H I column density variations at intermediate and high galactic latitudes to 10' spatial resolution. The results confirm conclusions from preliminary work at coarser resolution, and in combination with other data appear to rule out the hypothesis that clumping of neutral interstellar matter on any angular scale significantly reduces X-ray absorption cross sections in the 0.13 0.28 keV energy range. We conclude therefore that the observed anticorrelation is not primarily a consequence of absorption of soft X-rays produced in a hot galactic halo. Subject headings: interstellar: matter — radio sources: 21 cm radiation — X-rays: general Running Title: Small Scale H I Structure