scholarly journals Exploring a New Population of Compact Objects: X-ray and IR Observations of the Galactic Centre

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reba M. Bandyopadhyay ◽  
Andrew J. Gosling ◽  
Stephen E. Eikenberry ◽  
Michael P. Muno ◽  
Katherine M. Blundell ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 503 (2) ◽  
pp. 2973-2978
Author(s):  
G A Carvalho ◽  
S Pilling

ABSTRACT In this work, we analyse soft X-ray emission due to mass accretion on to compact stars and its effects on the time-scale to reach chemical equilibrium of eventual surrounding astrophysical ices exposed to that radiation. Reaction time-scales due to soft X-ray in water-rich and pure ices of methanol, acetone, acetonitrile, formic acid, and acetic acid were determined. For accretion rates in the range $\dot{m}=10^{-12}\!-\!10^{-8}\,{\rm M}_\odot$ yr−1 and distances in the range 1–3 LY from the central compact objects, the time-scales lie in the range 10–108 yr, with shorter time-scales corresponding to higher accretion rates. Obtained time-scales for ices at snow-line distances can be small when compared to the lifetime (or age) of the compact stars, showing that chemical equilibrium could have been achieved. Time-scales for ices to reach chemical equilibrium depend on X-ray flux and, hence, on accretion rate, which indicates that systems with low accretion rates may not have reached chemical equilibrium.


2021 ◽  
Vol 922 (2) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Yanli Qiu ◽  
Hua Feng

Abstract Most ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) are argued to be powered by supercritical accretion onto compact objects. One of the key questions regarding these objects is whether or not the hard X-rays are geometrically beamed toward the symmetric axis. We propose testing the scenario using disk irradiation to see how much the outer accretion disk sees the central hard X-rays. We collect a sample of 11 bright ULXs with an identification of a unique optical counterpart, and model their optical fluxes considering two irradiating sources: soft X-rays from the photosphere of the optically thick wind driven by supercritical accretion, and if needed in addition, hard X-rays from the Comptonization component. Our results indicate that the soft X-ray irradiation can account for the optical emission in the majority of ULXs, and the fraction of hard X-rays reprocessed on the outer disk is constrained to be no more than ∼10−2 in general. Such an upper limit is well consistent with the irradiation fraction expected in the case of no beaming. Therefore, no stringent constraint on the beaming effect can be placed according to the current data quality.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-126
Author(s):  
Ada Nebot Gómez-Morán ◽  
Christian Motch

We present an X-ray survey of the Galactic Plane conducted by the Survey Science Centre of the XMM-Newton satellite. The survey contains more than 1300 X-ray detections at low and intermediate Galactic latitudes and covering 4 deg<sup>2</sup> well spread in Galactic longitude. From a multi-wavelength analysis, using optical spectra and helped by optical and infrared photometry we identify and classify about a fourth of the sources. The observed surface density of soft X-ray (&lt;2 keV) sources decreases with Galactic latitude and although compatible with model predictions at first glance, presents an excess of stars, likely due to giants in binary systems. In the hard band (&gt;2 keV) the surface density of sources presents an excess with respect to the expected extragalactic contribution. This excess highly concentrates towards the direction of the Galactic Centre and is compatible with previous results from Chandra observations around the Galactic Centre. The nature of these sources is still unknown.


2016 ◽  
Vol 459 (1) ◽  
pp. L95-L99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Giannios ◽  
Duncan R. Lorimer
Keyword(s):  
X Ray ◽  

1989 ◽  
pp. 567-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. K. Skinner
Keyword(s):  

1974 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 194-212
Author(s):  
M. J. Rees

The physics of spherically symmetrical accretion onto a compact object is briefly reviewed. Neither neutron stars nor stellar-mass black holes are likely to be readily detectable if they are isolated and accreting from the interstellar medium. Supermassive black holes in intergalactic space may however be detectable. The effects of accretion onto compact objects in binary systems are then discussed, with reference to the phenomena observed in variable X-ray sources.


1981 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 155-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.P.J. van den Heuvel

The various ways in which compact objects (neutron stars and black holes) can be formed in interacting binary systems are qualitatively outlined on the basis of the three major modes of binary interaction identified by Webbink (1980). Massive interacting binary systems (M1 ≳ 10–12 M⊙) are, after the first phase of mass transfer expected to leave as remnants:(i) compact stars in massive binary systems (mass ≳ 10 M⊙) with a wide range of orbital periods, as remnants of quasi-conservative mass transfer; these systems later evolve into massive X-ray binaries.(ii) short-period compact star binaries (P ~ 1–2 days) in which the companion may be more massive or less massive than the compact object; these systems have high runaway velocities (≳ 100 km/sec) and start out with highly eccentric orbits, which are rapidly circularized by tidal forces; they may later evolve into low-mass X-ray binaries;(iii) single runaway compact objects with space velocities of ~ 102 to 4.102 km/sec; these are expected to be the most numerous compact remnants.Compact star binaries may also form from Cataclysmic binaries or wide binaries in which an O-Ne-Mg white dwarf is driven over the Chandrasekhar limit by accretion.


1995 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 334-335
Author(s):  
H.C. Pan ◽  
G.K. Skinner ◽  
R.A. Sunyaev ◽  
K.N. Borozdin

X1755-338 is an X-ray binary source which displays X-ray dips with a 4.4 hour period (White et al. 1984). It was previously noted as an unusually soft X-ray source by Jones (1977) and was suggested later as a black-hole candidate (BHC) by White & Marshall (1984), and White et al. (1984), based on the similarity of its location in an X-ray colour-colour diagram to that of a group of BHCs.The TTM is a coded-mask imaging spectrometer on board the KVANT module of the MIR space station. It is capable of producing images in the 2 – 30 keV band with an energy resolution of about 18% at 6 keV. The instrumental details are given in Brinkman et al. (1985).We observed X1755-338 in 1989 March-September during the period of the TTM Galactic Centre Survey.


1987 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 516-518
Author(s):  
Krishna M.V. Apparao ◽  
S.P. Tarafdar

Several Be stars are identified with bright X-ray sources. (Rappaport and Van den Heuvel, 1982). The bright X-ray emission and observed periodicities indicate the existence of compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars or black holes) near the Be stars. A prime example is the brightest X-ray source A0538-66 in LMC, which contains a neutron star with a rotation period of 59 ms. Apparao (1985) explained the X-ray emission, which occurs in periodic flares, by considering an inclined eccentric orbit for the neutron star around the assumed Be-star. The neutron star when it enters a gas ring (around the Be-star) accreting matter giving out X-rays.The X-ray emission from the compact objects, when the gas ring from the Be-star envelopes the objects, has interesting consequences. The X-ray emission produces an ionized region (compact object Stromgren sphere or COSS) in the gas surrounding the compact object (CO).


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S346) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Edward P. J. van den Heuvel

AbstractA summary is given of the present state of our knowledge of High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs), their formation and expected future evolution. Among the HMXB-systems that contain neutron stars, only those that have orbital periods upwards of one year will survive the Common-Envelope (CE) evolution that follows the HMXB phase. These systems may produce close double neutron stars with eccentric orbits. The HMXBs that contain black holes do not necessarily evolve into a CE phase. Systems with relatively short orbital periods will evolve by stable Roche-lobe overflow to short-period Wolf-Rayet (WR) X-ray binaries containing a black hole. Two other ways for the formation of WR X-ray binaries with black holes are identified: CE-evolution of wide HMXBs and homogeneous evolution of very close systems. In all three cases, the final product of the WR X-ray binary will be a double black hole or a black hole neutron star binary.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document