217 research outputs found
The Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey: optical catalogue and point-source counterparts to X-ray sources
As part of the Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey (GBS), we present a catalogue of
optical sources in the GBS footprint. This consists of two regions centered at
Galactic latitude b = 1.5 degrees above and below the Galactic Centre, spanning
(l x b) = (6x1) degrees. The catalogue consists of 2 or more epochs of
observations for each line of sight in r', i' and H{\alpha} filters. It is
complete down to r' = 20.2 and i' = 19.2 mag; the mean 5{\sigma} depth is r' =
22.5 and i' = 21.1 mag. The mean root-mean-square residuals of the astrometric
solutions is 0.04 arcsec. We cross-correlate this optical catalogue with the
1640 unique X-ray sources detected in Chandra observations of the GBS area, and
find candidate optical counterparts to 1480 X-ray sources. We use a false alarm
probability analysis to estimate the contamination by interlopers, and expect ~
10 per cent of optical counterparts to be chance alignments. To determine the
most likely counterpart for each X-ray source, we compute the likelihood ratio
for all optical sources within the 4{\sigma} X-ray error circle. This analysis
yields 1480 potential counterparts (~ 90 per cent of the sample). 584
counterparts have saturated photometry (r'<17, i'<16), indicating these objects
are likely foreground sources and the real counterparts. 171 candidate
counterparts are detected only in the i'-band. These sources are good qLMXB and
CV candidates as they are X-ray bright and likely located in the Bulge.Comment: 18 pages, 18 figures. Published in MNRAS. 2016MNRAS.458.4530
The Relationship Between X-ray Luminosity and Duty Cycle for Dwarf Novae and their Specific Frequency in the Inner Galaxy
We measure the duty cycles for an existing sample of well observed, nearby
dwarf novae using data from AAVSO, and present a quantitative empirical
relation between the duty cycle of dwarf novae outbursts and the X-ray
luminosity of the system in quiescence. We have found that , where
DC stands for duty cycle. We note that there is intrinsic scatter in this
relation greater than what is expected from purely statistical errors. Using
the dwarf nova X-ray luminosity functions from \citet{Pretorius12} and
\citet{Byckling10}, we compare this relation to the number of dwarf novae in
the Galactic Bulge Survey which were identified through optical outbursts
during an 8-day long monitoring campaign. We find a specific frequency of X-ray
bright () Cataclysmic Variables undergoing
Dwarf Novae outbursts in the direction of the Galactic Bulge of
. Such a specific frequency would give
a Solar neighborhood space density of long period CVs of
pc. We advocate the use of specific
frequency in future work, given that projects like LSST will detect DNe well
outside the distance range over which .Comment: 9 pagers, 4 figures Accepted for publication in MNRA
Constraining the nature of the accreting binary in CXOGBS J174623.5-310550
We report optical and infrared observations of the X-ray source CXOGBS
J174623.5-310550. This Galactic object was identified as a potential quiescent
low-mass X-ray binary accreting from an M-type donor on the basis of optical
spectroscopy and the broad Halpha emission line. The analysis of X-shooter
spectroscopy covering 3 consecutive nights supports an M2/3-type spectral
classification. Neither radial velocity variations nor rotational broadening is
detected in the photospheric lines. No periodic variability is found in I- and
r'-band light curves. We derive r' = 20.8, I = 19.2 and Ks = 16.6 for the
optical and infrared counterparts with the M-type star contributing 90% to the
I-band light. We estimate its distance to be 1.3-1.8 kpc. The lack of radial
velocity variations implies that the M-type star is not the donor star in the
X-ray binary. This could be an interloper or the outer body in a hierarchical
triple. We constrain the accreting binary to be a < 2.2 hr orbital period
eclipsing cataclysmic variable or a low-mass X-ray binary lying in the
foreground of the Galactic Bulge.Comment: (9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS
Caracterização de Genótipos de Cebola Quanto ao Conteúdo de Quercetina.
bitstream/CPACT-2010/12918/1/documento-277.pd
Spectroscopic classification of X-ray sources in the Galactic Bulge Survey
We present the classification of 26 optical counterparts to X-ray sources
discovered in the Galactic Bulge Survey. We use (time-resolved) photometric and
spectroscopic observations to classify the X-ray sources based on their
multi-wavelength properties. We find a variety of source classes, spanning
different phases of stellar/binary evolution. We classify CX21 as a quiescent
cataclysmic variable (CV) below the period gap, and CX118 as a high accretion
rate (nova-like) CV. CXB12 displays excess UV emission, and could contain a
compact object with a giant star companion, making it a candidate symbiotic
binary or quiescent low mass X-ray binary (although other scenarios cannot be
ruled out). CXB34 is a magnetic CV (polar) that shows photometric evidence for
a change in accretion state. The magnetic classification is based on the
detection of X-ray pulsations with a period of 81 2 min. CXB42 is
identified as a young stellar object, namely a weak-lined T Tauri star
exhibiting (to date unexplained) UX Ori-like photometric variability. The
optical spectrum of CXB43 contains two (resolved) unidentified double-peaked
emission lines. No known scenario, such as an AGN or symbiotic binary, can
easily explain its characteristics. We additionally classify 20 objects as
likely active stars based on optical spectroscopy, their X-ray to optical flux
ratios and photometric variability. In 4 cases we identify the sources as
binary stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
Variability of Optical Counterparts in the Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey
We present optical lightcurves of variable stars consistent with the
positions of X-ray sources identified with the Chandra X-ray Observatory for
the Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey. Using data from the Mosaic-II instrument on
the Blanco 4m Telescope at CTIO, we gathered time-resolved photometric data on
timescales from hr to 8 days over the of the X-ray survey
containing sources from the initial GBS catalog. Among the lightcurve
morphologies we identify are flickering in interacting binaries, eclipsing
sources, dwarf nova outbursts, ellipsoidal variations, long period variables,
spotted stars, and flare stars. of X-ray sources have at least one
potential optical counterpart. of these candidate counterparts are
detectably variable; a much greater fraction than expected for randomly
selected field stars, which suggests that most of these variables are real
counterparts. We discuss individual sources of interest, provide variability
information on candidate counterparts, and discuss the characteristics of the
variable population.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement
Discovery of a high state AM CVn binary in the Galactic Bulge Survey
We report on the discovery of a hydrogen-deficient compact binary (CXOGBS
J175107.6-294037) belonging to the AM CVn class in the Galactic Bulge Survey.
Deep archival X-ray observations constrain the X-ray positional uncertainty of
the source to 0.57 arcsec, and allow us to uniquely identify the optical and UV
counterpart. Optical spectroscopic observations reveal the presence of broad,
shallow He i absorption lines while no sign of hydrogen is present, consistent
with a high state system. We present the optical lightcurve from Optical
Gravitational Lensing Experiment monitoring, spanning 15 years. It shows no
evidence for outbursts; variability is present at the 0.2 mag level on
timescales ranging from hours to weeks. A modulation on a timescale of years is
also observed. A Lomb-Scargle analysis of the optical lightcurves shows two
significant periodicities at 22.90 and 23.22 min. Although the physical
interpretation is uncertain, such timescales are in line with expectations for
the orbital and superhump periods. We estimate the distance to the source to be
between 0.5 - 1.1 kpc. Spectroscopic follow-up observations are required to
establish the orbital period, and to determine whether this source can serve as
a verification binary for the eLISA gravitational wave mission.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter
The Global Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison: Data and modeling protocols for Phase 1 (v1.0)
We present protocols and input data for Phase 1 of the Global Gridded Crop Model Intercomparison, a project of the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP). The project includes global simulations of yields, phenologies, and many land-surface fluxes using 12–15 modeling groups for many crops, climate forcing data sets, and scenarios over the historical period from 1948 to 2012. The primary outcomes of the project include (1) a detailed comparison of the major differences and similarities among global models commonly used for large-scale climate impact assessment, (2) an evaluation of model and ensemble hindcasting skill, (3) quantification of key uncertainties from climate input data, model choice, and other sources, and (4) a multi-model analysis of the agricultural impacts of large-scale climate extremes from the historical record
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