scholarly journals Spectroscopy of Stellar X-ray Sources in the Magellanic Clouds

1984 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 305-312
Author(s):  
J. B. Hutchings
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Magellanic Cloud ◽  
Active Galaxies ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Dwarf Stars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Preliminary Comparison ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Optical Identifications ◽  
X Ray Binaries

In the Magellanic Clouds, about 75 candidate stellar X-ray sources have been detected. Most of these positions have now been investigated and optical identifications made for ~ 50%. The majority of sources are foreground dwarf stars or background active galaxies. Detailed investigations exist for 3 SMC sources and 6 LMC sources. It is possible to make a preliminary comparison with the population of galactic X-ray sources. The Magellanic Cloud X-ray binaries have a number of unique or remarkable properties and the most important ones are presented and discussed. These include the most rapid pulsars (SMC X-1, 0538–66), the possible precessing disk in LMC X-4, and the black hole candidates LMC X-3, LMC X-1. The properties of these objects relate to the evolution of stars in the Magellanic Clouds and how it differs from the Galaxy.

scholarly journals Be/X-Ray Binaries with Black Holes in the Galaxy and in the Magellanic Clouds

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janusz Ziolkowski
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Successful Candidate

I will start with the statistics indicating that the objects named in the title of my talk are either non-existing or very elusive to detect (not a single such object is known against 119 known Be/neutron star X-ray binaries). After brief reviewing of the properties of Be/X-ray binaries I discuss several objects that were proposed as the long sought for candidates for Be/black hole X-ray binaries. After three unsuccessful candidates (LS I +61° 303, LS 5039 and MAXI J1836-194), a successful candidate (AGL J2241+4454/MWC 656) was finally, very recently, announced.

scholarly journals On the apparent lack of Be X-ray binaries with black holes in the galaxy and in the Magellanic Clouds

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S275) ◽  
pp. 329-330
Author(s):  
Janusz Ziółkowski ◽  
Krzysztof Belczyński
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Stellar Population ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Population Synthesis ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Stellar Population Synthesis ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractIn the Galaxy there are 67 Be X-ray binaries known to-date. Out of those, 45 host a neutron star, and for the reminder the nature of a companion is not known. None, so far, is known to host a black hole. This disparity is referred to as a missing Be – black hole X-ray binary problem. The stellar population synthesis calculations following the formation of Be X-ray binaries (Belczyński & Ziółkowski 2009) predict that the ratio of the binaries with neutron stars to the ones with black holes is rather high FNS/BH ~ 30–50. A comparison of this ratio with the number of confirmed Be – neutron star X-ray binaries (45) indicates that the expected number of Be – black hole X-ray binaries is of the order of only ~0–2. This is entirely consistent with the observed Galactic sample. Therefore, there is no problem of the missing Be+BH X-Ray Binaries for the GalaxyIn the Magellanic Clouds there are 94 Be X-ray binaries known to-date. Out of those, 60 host a neutron star. Again, none hosts a black hole. The stellar population synthesis calculations carried out specifically for the Magellanic Clouds (Ziółkowski & Belczyński 2010) predict that the ratio of the Be X-ray binaries with neutron stars to the ones with black holes is only FNS/BH ~ 10. This value is rather too low, as it implies the expected number of Be+BH X-ray binaries of the order of ~6, while none is observed. We found, that to remove the discrepancy, one has to take into account a different history of the star formation rate in the Magellanic Clouds, with the respect to the Galaxy. New stellar population synthesis calculations are currently being carried out.

scholarly journals The Missing Population of Be+Black Hole X-Ray Binaries

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S252) ◽  
pp. 399-403
Author(s):  
Aleksander Sadowski ◽  
J. Ziółkowski ◽  
K. Belczyński ◽  
T. Bulik
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Stellar Population ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Population Synthesis ◽  
Period Range ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Stellar Population Synthesis ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Orbital Periods ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractAt present, 117 Be/neutron star (Be/NS) X-ray binaries (XRBs) are known in the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds, but not a single Be/black hole (Be/BH) binary was found so far. We carried out the calculations of stellar population synthesis to investigate the case of the apparently missing population of Be/BH XRBs. According to our calculations, the main reason of this disparity is the fact that within the orbital period range where Be XRBs are found (~10 to ~300 days), these systems are formed predominantly with a NS component. The systems with a BH component are formed predominantly with much longer orbital periods and they are not easy to detect.

scholarly journals A Survey of X-ray Point Sources in the Magellanic Clouds

1999 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
pp. 100-103
Author(s):  
A. P. Cowley ◽  
P. C. Schmidtke ◽  
V. A. Taylor ◽  
T.K. McGrath ◽  
J. B. Hutchings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stellar Population ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Magellanic Clouds ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Be Stars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

In this study we compare the global populations of stellar X-ray sources in the LMC, SMC, and the Galaxy. After removing foreground stars and background AGN from the samples, the relative numbers of the various types of X-ray point sources within the LMC and SMC are similar, but differ markedly from those in the Galaxy. The Magellanic Clouds are rich in high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXB), especially those containing rapidly rotating Be stars. However, the LMC and SMC both lack the large number of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXB) found in the Milky Way, which are known to represent a very old stellar population based on their kinematics, chemical composition, and spatial distribution.

scholarly journals Globular Cluster X-Ray Sources

1977 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan E. Grindlay
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Globular Clusters ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Astrophysics ◽  
X Ray ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Future Work ◽  
X Ray Binaries

The discoveries of both steady and bursting X-ray sources in globular clusters have made them as interesting for high energy astrophysics and X-ray astronomy as they were for unlocking galactic structure in Shapley’ s day. Globular clusters are massive (˜ 105M⊙) spherical clusters of primarily low mass (⋞0.8 M⊙) evolved stars and may be the oldest systems in the Galaxy. Thus when several globular clusters were tentatively identified as containing X-ray sources (Giacconiet al. 1974), it was apparent that either dynamical or evolutionary processes must be occurring among the ancient stars in globular clusters to produce the relatively short-lived X-ray sources. The existence of these X-ray sources has prompted considerable discussion as to their origin, since they exist with ˜100 times the probability per unit mass in globular clusters as in the Galaxy as a whole (Katz 1975; Clark 1975). They may be yet another example of X-ray binaries (e. g., Clark 1975; Fabianet al. 1975) or be due to accretion onto a single collapsed object (black hole) at the center of the cluster (Bahcall and Ostrlker 1975; Silk and Arons 1975). At present both of these classes of models are possible and generally consistent with the data, though each has its particular difficulties. We shall review the observational data and then the models in an effort to point out the present balance of evidence for the binaryvs.black hole models as well as the most promising directions for future work. Given the possibly high incidence of X-ray bursters in globular clusters, our discussion will refer to both observations and recent models for bursters. While this review will primarily address the X-ray sources in globular clusters, it is obvious that their eventual understanding will contribute much to studies of globular clusters in general and will prompt future studies in particular areas.

scholarly journals SS433 and the nature of ultra-luminous X-ray sources

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S238) ◽  
pp. 219-224
Author(s):  
P. A. Charles ◽  
A. D. Barnes ◽  
J. Casares ◽  
J. S. Clark ◽  
R. Cornelisse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Binary System ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
High Mass ◽  
X Ray ◽  
New Class ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractThe prototypical micro-quasar, SS433, one of the most bizarre objects in the Galaxy, is a weak X-ray source, yet the kinetic energy of its relativistic, precessing jets is vastly greater. In spite of its importance as the nearest example of directly observable relativistic phenomena, we know remarkably little about the nature of this binary system. There are ongoing arguments not only about the mass of the compact object, but even as to whether it is a black hole or a neutron star, an argument that recent high resolution optical spectroscopy has contributed to.Combined with the INTEGRAL discovery of a new class of highly obscured galactic high-mass X-ray binaries, one of which has been found to precess on a similar timescale to SS433, we suggest that these would indeed be seen by external observers as ULXs, once additional effects such as beaming (either relativistic or geometrical) are included.

scholarly journals Radiatively inefficient accretion in short-period black hole low mass X-ray binaries

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 456-457
Author(s):  
Riley M. T. Connors
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Statistical Evidence ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Central Object ◽  
Short Period ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Transient Sources ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Over Time

AbstractThere is statistical evidence for a dearth of short-period (Porb < 4h) black hole (BH) low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) in the Galaxy. At short periods accretion onto the central object (be it a BH) may become inefficient because the cooling timescale of the gas is greater than the accretion timescale (this is the well known ADAF model). The nature of the switch is important in terms of the outburst timescales of transient sources. The switch may be sharp or occur smoothly over time. I show that the dearth can be explained if the switch to inefficiency occurs sharply at some fraction of the Eddington luminosity of the BH (fLEdd).

scholarly journals X-Ray Determination of the Black-Hole Mass in Cygnus X-1

1998 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 388-389
Author(s):  
A. Kubota ◽  
K. Makishima ◽  
T. Dotani ◽  
H. Inoue ◽  
K. Mitsuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Optical Observations ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Supergiant Star ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Two Bodies

About 10 X-ray binaries in our Galaxy and LMC/SMC are considered to contain black hole candidates (BHCs). Among these objects, Cyg X-1 was identified as the first BHC, and it has led BHCs for more than 25 years(Oda 1977, Liang and Nolan 1984). It is a binary system composed of normal blue supergiant star and the X-ray emitting compact object. The orbital kinematics derived from optical observations indicates that the compact object is heavier than ~ 4.8 M⊙ (Herrero 1995), which well exceeds the upper limit mass for a neutron star(Kalogora 1996), where we assume the system consists of only two bodies. This has been the basis for BHC of Cyg X-1.

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