scholarly journals ALMA observations of A0620–00: fresh clues on the nature of quiescent black hole X-ray binary jets

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Gallo ◽  
Richard Teague ◽  
Richard M Plotkin ◽  
James C A Miller-Jones ◽  
David M Russell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Lorentz Factor ◽  
Spectral Shape ◽  
Power Density Spectrum ◽  
Shock Model ◽  
Density Spectrum ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Internal Shock

ABSTRACT We report on Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) continuum observations of the black hole X-ray binary A0620–00 at an X-ray luminosity nine orders of magnitude sub-Eddington. The system was significantly detected at 98 GHz (at 44 ± 7 $\mu$Jy) and only marginally at 233 GHz (20 ± 8 $\mu$Jy), about 40 d later. These results suggest either an optically thin sub-mm synchrotron spectrum, or highly variable sub-mm jet emission on month time-scales. Although the latter appears more likely, we note that, at the time of the ALMA observations, A0620–00 was in a somewhat less active optical-IR state than during all published multiwavelength campaigns when a flat-spectrum, partially self-absorbed jet has been suggested to extend from the radio to the mid-IR regime. Either interpretation is viable in the context of an internal shock model, where the jet’s spectral shape and variability are set by the power density spectrum of the shells’ Lorentz factor fluctuations. While strictly simultaneous radio–mm-IR observations are necessary to draw definitive conclusions for A0620–00, the data presented here, in combination with recent radio and sub-mm results from higher luminosity systems, demonstrate that jets from black hole X-ray binaries exhibit a high level of variability – either in flux density or intrinsic spectral shape, or both – across a wide spectrum of Eddington ratios. This is not in contrast with expectations from an internal shock model, where lower jet power systems can be expected to exhibit larger fractional variability owing to an overall decrease in synchrotron absorption.

scholarly journals Properties of Faint X-ray Activity of XTE J1908+094 in 2019

Galaxies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Debjit Chatterjee ◽  
Arghajit Jana ◽  
Kaushik Chatterjee ◽  
Riya Bhowmick ◽  
Sujoy Kumar Nath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Power Density Spectrum ◽  
Periodic Oscillations ◽  
Telescope Array ◽  
Density Spectrum ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Black Hole Candidate ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Spectral State

We study the properties of the faint X-ray activity of Galactic transient black hole candidate XTE J1908+094 during its 2019 outburst. Here, we report the results of detailed spectral and temporal analysis during this outburst using observations from Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). We have not observed any quasi-periodic-oscillations (QPOs) in the power density spectrum (PDS). The spectral study suggests that the source remained in the softer (more precisely, in the soft–intermediate) spectral state during this short period of X-ray activity. We notice a faint but broad Fe Kα emission line at around 6.5 keV. We also estimate the probable mass of the black hole to be 6.5−0.7+0.5M⊙, with 90% confidence.

scholarly journals Evidence for a Compact Object in the Aftermath of the Extra-Galactic Transient AT2018cow

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dheeraj Pasham ◽  
Wynn Ho ◽  
William Alston ◽  
Ronald Remillard ◽  
Mason Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Power Density Spectrum ◽  
High Time Resolution ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Density Spectrum ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Circumstellar Medium

Abstract Fast Blue Optical Transients (FBOTs) are mysterious extragalactic explosions that may represent a new class of astrophysical phenomena. Their fast time to maximum brightness of less than 10 days and decline over less than 2 months and unusual optical spectra and evolution are difficult to explain within the context of core-collapse of massive stars which are powered by radioactive decay of Nickel-56 and evolve slowly on months timescales. AT2018cow (at a redshift of 0.014) is an extreme FBOT both in terms of rapid evolution and high X-ray and bolometric luminosities. Several alternative hypotheses have been proposed to explain its unusual properties. These include shock interactions with dense circumstellar medium, tidal disruption of a star by a 10,000−million solar mass black hole, failed supernova with fallback accretion onto a newborn black hole, neutron star formed in a supernova or from merging compact objects, etc. Here, we present evidence for a high-amplitude (fractional root-mean-squared amplitude of>30%) quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) of AT2018cow’s soft X-rays with a centroid frequency of roughly 225 Hz (statistically significant at the 3.7-sigma level, or a false alarm probability of 0.02%). This signal is found in the average power density spectrum of data taken over the entire outburst lasting roughly 60 days and thus suggests that the signal is highly persistent over several hundreds of millions of cycles (60 daysx225 Hz). This high frequency (rapid timescale) of 225 Hz (4.4 ms) argues for the presence of a compact object in AT2018cow which can either be a neutron star or a black hole, and disfavors circumstellar medium interactions for the origin of X-ray emission. Also, the QPO’s timescale sets an upper limit on the compact object's mass to be 850 solar masses, and thus disfavors models with a heavier black hole. If the QPO represents the spin period of a neutron star we can set upper limits on its magnetic field under different scenarios. This work highlights a new way of using high time-resolution X-ray observations to study FBOTs.

scholarly journals Big Game Hunting in the Andromeda Galaxy: Identifying and Weighing Black Holes in Low Mass X-Ray Binaries

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 71-72
Author(s):  
R. Barnard
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Power Density Spectrum ◽  
Density Spectrum ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractWe have devised a new technique for identifying stellar mass black holes in low mass X-ray binaries, and have applied it to XMM-Newton observations of two X-ray sources in M31. In particular we search for low accretion rate power density spectra; these are very similar for all LMXB, whether the primary is a black hole or a neutron star. Galactic neutron star LMXB exhibit these distinctive PDS at very low luminosities (~ 1036 erg s–1) while black hole LMXB can exhibit them at luminosities > 1038 erg s–1! Following the work of van der Klis (1994), we assume a maximum accretion rate (as a fraction of the Eddington limit) for low accretion rate PDS that is constant for all LMXB, and obtain an empirical value of ~10% Eddington. We have so far discovered two candidate black hole binaries in M31, exhibiting low accretion rate PDS at up to 3 x 1038 and 5 x 1037 erg s–1. If we assume that they are at <10% Eddington, they have minimum masses of 20 and 4 M⊙ respectively. Furthermore, any LMXB exhibiting a low accretion rate power density spectrum at a luminosity > 5 x 1037 erg s–1 is likely to have a black hole primary.

scholarly journals An underlying clock in the extreme flip-flop state transitions of the black hole transient Swift J1658.2-4242

2020 ◽  
Vol 641 ◽  
pp. A101 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bogensberger ◽  
G. Ponti ◽  
C. Jin ◽  
T. M. Belloni ◽  
H. Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Periodic Oscillation ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Power Density Spectrum ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
Coronal Emission ◽  
Flip Flop ◽  
Density Spectrum ◽  
X Ray

Aims. Flip-flops are top-hat-like X-ray flux variations, which have been observed in some transient accreting black hole binary systems, and feature simultaneous changes in the spectral hardness and the power density spectrum (PDS). They occur at a crucial time in the evolution of these systems, when the accretion disc emission starts to dominate over coronal emission. Flip-flops remain a poorly understood phenomenon, so we aim to thoroughly investigate them in a system featuring several such transitions. Methods. Within the multitude of observations of Swift J1658.2-4242 during its outburst in early 2018, we detected 15 flip-flops, enabling a detailed analysis of their individual properties and the differences between them. We present observations by XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, Astrosat, Swift, Insight-HXMT, INTEGRAL, and ATCA. We analysed their light curves, searched for periodicities, computed their PDSs, and fitted their X-ray spectra, to investigate the source behaviour during flip-flop transitions and how the interval featuring flip-flops differs from the rest of the outburst. Results. The flip-flops of Swift J1658.2-4242 are of an extreme variety, exhibiting flux differences of up to 77% within ∼100 s, which is much larger than what has been seen previously. We observed radical changes in the PDS simultaneous with the sharp flux variations, featuring transitions between the quasi-periodic oscillation types C and A, which have never been observed before. Changes in the PDS are delayed, but more rapid than changes in the light curve. Flip-flops occur in two intervals within the outburst, separated by about two weeks in which these phenomena were not seen. Transitions between the two flip-flop states occurred at random integer multiples of a fundamental period of 2.761 ks in the first interval and 2.61 ks in the second. Spectral analysis reveals the high and low flux flip-flop states to be very similar, but distinct from intervals lacking flip-flops. A change of the inner temperature of the accretion disc is responsible for most of the flux difference in the flip-flops. We also highlight the importance of correcting for the influence of the dust scattering halo on the X-ray spectra.

scholarly journals Inertial oscillation modes of an inclined dipolar magnetosphere as a source of band-limited noise in X-ray pulsars

2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Pavel Abolmasov ◽  
Anton Biryukov
Keyword(s):  
Equilibrium Points ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Periodic Oscillation ◽  
Power Density Spectrum ◽  
Inertial Oscillation ◽  
Noise Component ◽  
Density Spectrum ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Band Limited

ABSTRACT Magnetic fields of strongly magnetized stars can trap conducting matter due to frozen-in condition. In the force-free regime, the motion of the matter along the field lines may be considered in the ‘bead on a wire’ approximation. Such a motion, if gravity and centrifugal forces are taken into account, has equilibrium points, some of which are stable. In most cases, stability is possible in about several per cent of the possible locations. Corresponding oscillation frequencies span the range from zero to $\sqrt{3}$ of the spin frequency. We suggest that this variability mode may be excited in some X-ray pulsars during the outbursts and create the peaked broad-band noise component near the break frequency in the power density spectrum, as well as produce some of the quasi-periodic oscillation features in this frequency range. Existence of this variability does not require any changes in mass accretion rate and involves only a small amount of matter infiltrating from the disc and magnetic flow due to interchange instabilities.

The Early X‐Ray Emission from V382 Velorum (Nova Velorum 1999): An Internal Shock Model

2001 ◽  
Vol 551 (2) ◽  
pp. 1024-1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Mukai ◽  
Manabu Ishida
Keyword(s):  
Shock Model ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Internal Shock

Coronal vertical structure variations in normal branch of GX 17+2: AstroSat’s SXT and LAXPC perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (2) ◽  
pp. 2214-2228
Author(s):  
S Malu ◽  
K Sriram ◽  
V K Agrawal
Keyword(s):  
Cross Correlation ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Power Density Spectrum ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Density Spectrum ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Correlation Studies ◽  
Reflection Model ◽  
Normal Branch

ABSTRACT We performed spectro-temporal analysis in the 0.8–50 keV energy band of the neutron star Z source GX 17+2 using AstroSat Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) and Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) data. The source was found to vary in the normal branch (NB) of the hardness–intensity diagram. Cross-correlation studies of LAXPC light curves in soft and hard X-ray band unveiled anticorrelated lags of the order of few hundred seconds. For the first time, cross-correlation studies were performed using SXT soft and LAXPC hard light curves and they exhibited correlated and anticorrelated lags of the order of a hundred seconds. Power density spectrum displayed normal branch oscillations (NBOs) of 6.7–7.8 Hz (quality factor 1.5–4.0). Spectral modelling resulted in inner disc radius of ∼12–16 km with Γ ∼ 2.31–2.44 indicating that disc is close to the innermost stable circular orbit and a similar value of disc radius was noticed based on the reflection model. Different methods were used to constrain the corona size in GX 17+2. Using the detected lags, corona size was found to be 27–46 km (β = 0.1, β = vcorona/vdisc) and 138–231 km (β = 0.5). Assuming the X-ray emission to be arising from the boundary layer (BL), its size was determined to be 57–71 km. Assuming that BL is ionizing the disc’s inner region, its size was constrained to ∼19–86 km. Using NBO frequency, the transition shell radius was found to be around 32 km. Observed lags and no movement of the inner disc front strongly indicate that the varying corona structure is causing the X-ray variation in the NB of Z source GX 17+2.

scholarly journals Radiative Processes and Geometry of Spectral States of Black-hole Binaries

2000 ◽  
Vol 195 ◽  
pp. 153-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Zdziarski
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Power Density Spectrum ◽  
Main Process ◽  
Density Spectrum ◽  
Black Hole Binaries ◽  
Nonthermal Electrons ◽  
Radiative Processes ◽  
Soft State ◽  
Spectral States

I review radiative processes responsible for X-ray emission in the hard (low) and soft (high) spectral states of black-hole binaries. The main process in the hard state appears to be thermal Comptonization (in a hot plasma) of blackbody photons emitted by a cold disk. This is supported by correlations between the spectral index, the strength of Compton reflection, and the peak frequencies in the power-density spectrum, as well as by the frequency-dependence of Fourier-resolved spectra. Spectral variability may then be driven by the variable truncation radius of the disk. The soft state appears to correspond to the smallest truncation radii. However, the lack of high-energy cutoffs observed in the soft state implies that its main radiative process is Compton scattering of disk photons by nonthermal electrons. The bulk-motion Comptonization model for the soft state is shown to be ruled out by the data.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document