Limits on the quiescent radio emission from the black hole binaries GRO J1655-40 and XTE J1550-564

We present the results of radio observations of the black hole binaries GRO J1655-40 and XTE J1550-564 in quiescence, with the upgraded Australia Telescope Compact Array. Neither system was detected. Radio flux density upper limits (3 sigma) of 26 micro Jy (at 5.5 GHz), 47 micro Jy (at 9 GHz) for GRO J1655-40, and 1.4 mJy (at 1.75 GHz), 27 micro Jy (at 5.5 GHz), 47 micro Jy (at 9 GHz) for XTE J1550-564 were measured. In conjunction with quasi-simultaneous Chandra X-ray observations (in the case of GRO J1655-40) and Faulkes Telescope optical observations (XTE J1550-564) we find that these systems provide the first evidence of relatively `radio quiet' black hole binaries at low luminosities; indicating that the scatter observed in the hard state X-ray:radio correlation at higher luminosities may also extend towards quiescent levels.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

The Galactic black hole transient H1743-322 during outburst decay: connections between timing noise, state transitions and radio emission

Multi-wavelength observations of Galactic black hole transients during outburst decay are instrumental for our understanding of the accretion geometry and the formation of outflows around black hole systems. H1743-322, a black hole transient observed intensely in X-rays and also covered in the radio band during its 2003 decay, provides clues about the changes in accretion geometry during state transitions and also the general properties of X-ray emission during the intermediate and the low-hard states. In this work, we report on the evolution of spectral and temporal properties in X-rays and the flux in the radio band with the goal of understanding the nature of state transitions observed in this source. We concentrate on the transition from the thermal dominant state to the intermediate state that occurs on a timescale of one day. We show that the state transition is associated with a sudden increase in power-law flux. We determine that the ratio of the power-law flux to the overall flux in the 3--25 keV band must exceed 0.6 to observe strong timing noise. Even after the state transition, once this ratio was below 0.6, the system transited back to the thermal dominant state for a day. We show that the emission from the compact radio core does not turn on during the transition from the thermal dominant state to the intermediate state but does turn on when the source reaches the low-hard state, as seen in 4U 1543-47 and GX 339-4. We find that the photon index correlates strongly with the QPO frequency and anti-correlates with the rms amplitude of variability. We also show that the variability is more likely to be associated with the power-law emission than the disk emission.Comment: 23 pages, 5 Figures, 1 Table, accepted for publication in Ap

Evidence for a compact jet dominating the broadband spectrum of the black hole accretor XTE J1550-564

[abridged] The black hole X-ray binary XTE J1550-564 was monitored extensively at X-ray, optical and infrared wavelengths throughout its outburst in 2000. We show that it is possible to separate the optical/near-infrared (OIR) jet emission from the OIR disc emission. Focussing on the jet component, we find that as the source fades in the X-ray hard state, the OIR jet emission has a spectral index consistent with optically thin synchrotron emission (alpha ~ -0.6 to -0.7, where F_nu \propto nu^alpha). This jet emission is tightly and linearly correlated with the X-ray flux; L_OIR,jet \propto L_X^(0.98 +- 0.08) suggesting a common origin. This is supported by the OIR, X-ray and OIR to X-ray spectral indices being consistent with a single power law (alpha = -0.73). Ostensibly the compact, synchrotron jet could therefore account for ~ 100 % of the X-ray flux at low luminosities in the hard state. At the same time, (i) an excess is seen over the power law decay of the X-ray flux at the point in which the jet would start to dominate, (ii) the X-ray spectrum slightly softens, which seems to be due to a high energy cut-off or break shifting to a lower energy, and (iii) the X-ray rms variability increases. This may be the strongest evidence to date of synchrotron emission from the compact, steady jet dominating the X-ray flux of an X-ray binary. For XTE J1550-564, this is likely to occur within the luminosity range ~ (2 e-4 - 2 e-3) L_Edd on the hard state decline of this outburst. However, on the hard state rise of the outburst and initially on the hard state decline, the synchrotron jet can only provide a small fraction (~ a few per cent) of the X-ray flux. Both thermal Comptonization and the synchrotron jet can therefore produce the hard X-ray power law in accreting black holes.Comment: MNRAS accepted, 12 pages, 9 figure

Broad Components in Optical Emission Lines from the Ultra-Luminous X-ray Source NGC 5408 X-1

High-resolution optical spectra of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 5408 X-1 show a broad component with a width of ~750 km/s in the HeII and Hbeta lines in addition to the narrow component observed in these lines and [O III]. Reanalysis of moderate-resolution spectra shows a similar broad component in the HeII line. The broad component likely originates in the ULX system itself, probably in the accretion disk. The central wavelength of the broad HeII line is shifted by 252 \pm 47 km/s between the two observations. If this shift represents motion of the compact object, then its mass is less than ~1800 M_sun.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Infrared Observations of the Candidate LBV 1806-20 & Nearby Cluster Stars

We report near-infrared photometry, spectroscopy, and speckle imaging of the hot, luminous star we identify as candidate LBV 1806-20. We also present photometry and spectroscopy of 3 nearby stars, which are members of the same star cluster containing LBV 1806-20 and SGR 1806-20. The spectroscopy and photometry show that LBV 1806-20 is similar in many respects to the luminous ``Pistol Star'', albeit with some important differences. They also provide estimates of the effective temperature and reddening of LBV 1806-20, and confirm distance estimates, leading to a best estimate for the luminosity of this star of $> 5 \times 10^6 L_{\odot}$. The nearby cluster stars have spectral types and inferred absolute magnitudes which confirm the distance (and thus luminosity) estimate for LBV 1806-20. If we drop kinematic measurements of the distance ($15.1 ^{+1.8}_{-1.3}$ kpc), we have a lower limit on the distance of $>9.5$ kpc, and on the luminosity of $>2 \times 10^6 L_{\odot}$, based on the cluster stars. If we drop both the kinematic and cluster star indicators for distance, an ammonia absorption feature sets yet another lower limit to the distance of $>5.7$ kpc, with a corresponding luminosity estimate of $>7 \times 10^5 L_{\odot}$ for the candidate LBV 1806-20. Furthermore, based on very high angular-resolution speckle images, we determine that LBV 1806-20 is not a cluster of stars, but is rather a single star or binary system. Simple arguments based on the Eddington luminosity lead to an estimate of the total mass of LBV 1806-20 (single or binary) exceeding $190 M_{\odot}$. We discuss the possible uncertainties in these results, and their implications for the star formation history of this cluster.Comment: 36 pages, including 8 figures (Figures 1 and 7 in JPG format due to space); Accepted for publication in Ap

Fundamental Plane of Black Hole Activity in Quiescent Regime

A correlation among the radio luminosity ($L_{\rm R}$), X-ray luminosity ($L_{\rm X}$), and black hole mass ($M_{\rm BH}$) in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and black hole binaries is known to exist and is called the "Fundamental Plane" of black hole activity. Yuan & Cui (2005) predicts that the radio/X-ray correlation index, $\xi_{\rm X}$, changes from $\xi_{\rm X}\approx 0.6$ to $\xi_{\rm X}\approx 1.2-1.3$ when $L_{\rm X}/L_{\rm Edd}$ decreases below a critical value $\sim 10^{-6}$. While many works favor such a change, there are also several works claiming the opposite. In this paper, we gather from literature a largest quiescent AGN (defined as $L_{\rm X}/L_{\rm Edd} < 10^{-6}$) sample to date, consisting of $75$ sources. We find that these quiescent AGNs follow a $\xi_{\rm X}\approx 1.23$ radio/X-ray relationship, in excellent agreement with the Yuan \& Cui prediction. The reason for the discrepancy between the present result and some previous works is that their samples contain not only quiescent sources but also "normal" ones (i.e., $L_{\rm X}/L_{\rm Edd} > 10^{-6}$). In this case, the quiescent sources will mix up with those normal ones in $L_{\rm R}$ and $L_{\rm X}$. The value of $\xi_{\rm X}$ will then be between $0.6$ and $\sim1.3$, with the exact value being determined by the sample composition, i.e., the fraction of the quiescent and normal sources. Based on this result, we propose that a more physical way to study the Fundamental Plane is to replace $L_{\rm R}$ and $L_{\rm X}$ with $L_{\rm R}/L_{\rm Edd}$ and $L_{\rm X}/L_{\rm Edd}$, respectively.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Discovery of a 115 Day Orbital Period in the Ultraluminous X-ray Source NGC 5408 X-1

We report the detection of a 115 day periodicity in SWIFT/XRT monitoring data from the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 5408 X-1. Our ongoing campaign samples its X-ray flux approximately twice weekly and has now achieved a temporal baseline of ~485 days. Periodogram analysis reveals a significant periodicity with a period of 115.5 +- 4 days. The modulation is detected with a significance of 3.2 e-4. The fractional modulation amplitude decreases with increasing energy, ranging from 0.13 above 1 keV to 0.24 below 1 keV. The shape of the profile evolves as well, becoming less sharply peaked at higher energies. The periodogram analysis is consistent with a periodic process, however, continued monitoring is required to confirm the coherent nature of the modulation. Spectral analysis indicates that NGC 5408 X-1 can reach 0.3 - 10 keV luminosities of ~2 e40 ergs/s. We suggest that, like the 62 day period of the ULX in M82 (X41.4+60), the periodicity detected in NGC 5408 X-1 represents the orbital period of the black hole binary containing the ULX. If this is true then the secondary can only be a giant or supergiant star.Comment: Accepted for Publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

Multiwavelength observations of the black hole transient Swift J1745-26 during the outburst decay

We characterized the broad-band X-ray spectra of Swift J1745-26 during the decay of the 2013 outburst using INTEGRAL ISGRI, JEM-X and Swift XRT. The X-ray evolution is compared to the evolution in optical and radio. We fit the X- ray spectra with phenomenological and Comptonization models. We discuss possible scenarios for the physical origin of a ~50 day flare observed both in optical and X- rays ~170 days after the peak of the outburst. We conclude that it is a result of enhanced mass accretion in response to an earlier heating event. We characterized the evolution in the hard X-ray band and showed that for the joint ISGRI-XRT fits, the e-folding energy decreased from 350 keV to 130 keV, while the energy where the exponential cut-off starts increased from 75 keV to 112 keV as the decay progressed.We investigated the claim that high energy cut-offs disappear with the compact jet turning on during outburst decays, and showed that spectra taken with HEXTE on RXTE provide insufficient quality to characterize cut-offs during the decay for typical hard X-ray fluxes. Long INTEGRAL monitoring observations are required to understand the relation between the compact jet formation and hard X-ray behavior. We found that for the entire decay (including the flare), the X-ray spectra are consistent with thermal Comptonization, but a jet synchrotron origin cannot be ruled out.Comment: Accepted for publication by MNRA

Leptonic/hadronic models for electromagnetic emission in microquasars: the case of GX 339-4

We present a general self-consistent lepto/hadronic jet model for the non-thermal electromagnetic emission of microquasars. The model is applied to the low-mass microquasar (LMMQ) GX 339-4 and predicts its high-energy features. We assume that both leptons and hadrons are accelerated up to relativistic energies by diffusive shock acceleration, and calculate their contribution to the electromagnetic spectrum through all main radiative processes. The radiative contribution of secondary particles (pions, muons and electron-positron pairs) is included. We use a set of simultaneous observations in radio and X-rays to constrain the model parameters and find the best fit to the data. We obtain different spectral energy distributions that can explain the observations, and make predictions for the high-energy emission. Observations with gamma-ray instruments like Fermi can be used to test the model and determine the proton content of the jets. Finally, we estimate the positron injection in the surrounding medium. Our findings support the suggested association between LMMQs and the observed distribution of the 511 keV line flux observed by INTEGRAL.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Strut-tie method of design and possible serviceability problems: an exploration by NLFE

The strut and tie method presents a rational and consistent approach to the design of all parts in a reinforced concrete structure. With this approach, the load carrying mechanism of the structure is represented by approximating the compressive stress fields as struts, and tensile stress fields as ties. The stress in the struts and ties should not exceed the allowable compressive strength of the concrete or yield strength of the steel respectively. In the design of structures by this method there are two important issues to be addressed. The first issue is that of the visualization of an appropriate strut-tie model for a given structural system. In many structures there may be various load paths available and hence no unique strut-tie model exists. The second issue is that of validity of chosen models in relation to the serviceability and ultimate load characteristics of the resulting structure. It is important that the ductility of the structure should be maintained by insuring that crushing of concrete prior to yielding of steel is avoided at design loads. Since the strut and tie method involves a redistribution of the stresses from the elastic pattern, it is necessary to determine the extent to which that re-distribution can be allowed for, while preserving the required performance from the structure. In this work, visualization of strut-tie models was carried out using elastic finite element analysis. The resulting stress fields were used to design structures which were analysed using an in-house non-linear finite element program and also physically tested in the laboratory