RX J 0042 . 3 + 4115 : a stellar mass black hole binary identified in M 31
نویسندگان
چکیده
Four XMM-Newton X-ray observations of the central region of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) have revealed an X-ray source that varies in luminosity over ∼1–3 10 38 erg s −1 between observations and also displays significant variability over timescales of a few hundred seconds. The power density spectra of lightcurves obtained in the 0.3–10 keV energy band from the three EPIC instruments on board XMM-Newton are typical of disc-accreting X-ray binaries at low accretion rates, observed in neutron star binaries only at much lower luminosities (∼ 10 36 erg s −1). However X-ray binaries with massive black hole primaries have exhibited such power spectra for luminosities >10 38 erg s −1. We discuss alternative possibilities where RX J0042.3+4115 may be a background AGN or foreground object in the field of view, but conclude that it is located within M31 and hence use the observed power spectra and X-ray luminosities to identify the primary as a black hole candidate.
منابع مشابه
The Open University ’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs Tracing a Z - track in the M 31 X - ray binary RX
Four XMM-Newton observations of the core of M 31, spaced at 6 month intervals, show that the brightest point X-ray source, RX J0042.6+4115, has a 0.4–10 keV luminosity of ∼5× 1038 erg s−1, and exhibits significant variability in intensity and X-ray spectrum over a time scale of ∼100 s including hard flares; such behaviour is only observed in Z-sources and transient black hole binaries in our Ga...
متن کاملTracing a Z-track in the M 31 X-ray binary RX J0042.6+4115
Four XMM-Newton observations of the core of M31, spaced at 6 month intervals, show that the brightest point X-ray source, RXJ0042.6+4115, has a 0.4–10 keV luminosity of ∼5 10 erg s−1, and exhibits significant variability in intensity and X-ray spectrum over a time scale of ∼100 s including hard flares; such behaviour is only observed in Z-sources and transient black hole binaries in our Galaxy....
متن کاملIdentifying a black hole X-ray transient in M 31 with XMM-Newton and Chandra
Stochastic variability in two out of four XMM-Newton observations of XMMUJ004303+4115 along with its power spectra and X-ray luminosities suggest a low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) with a black hole primary. However, Chandra observations resolve the object into two point sources. We use data from 35 Chandra observations to analyse the contributions of each source, and attribute the variability to C...
متن کاملar X iv : a st ro - p h / 04 09 12 2 v 1 6 S ep 2 00 4 Black hole hunting in the Andromeda Galaxy
We present a new technique for identifying stellar mass black holes in low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), and apply it to XMM-Newton observations of M31. We examine X-ray time series variability seeking power density spectra (PDS) typical of LMXBs accreting at a low accretion rate (which we refer to as Type A PDS); these are very similar for black hole and neutron star LMXBs. Galactic neutron sta...
متن کاملForty Years of X-Ray Binaries
In 2012 it was forty years ago that the discovery of the first X-ray binary Centaurus X-3 became known. That same year it was discovered that apart from the High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs) there are also Low-Mass X-ray Binaries (LMXBs), and that Cygnus X-1 is most probably a black hole. By 1975 also the new class of Be/X-ray binaries was discovered. After this it took 28 years before ESAs INTE...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
عنوان ژورنال:
دوره شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2003