1,645 research outputs found
Time-Delayed transfer functions simulations for LMXBs
Recent works (Steeghs & Casares 2002, Casares et al. 2003, Hynes et al. 2003)
have demonstrated that Bowen flourescence is a very efficient tracer of the
companion star in LMXBs. We present a numerical code to simulate time-delayed
transfer functions in LMXBs, specific to the case of reprocessing in emission
lines. The code is also able to obtain geometrical and binary parameters by
fitting observed (X-ray + optical) light curves using simulated annealing
methods. In this work we present the geometrical model for the companion star
and the analytical model for the disc and show synthetic time-delay transfer
functions for different orbital phases and system parameters.Comment: Contribution presented at the conference "Interacting Binaries:
Accretion, Evolution and Outcomes", held in Cefalu, Sicily (Italy) in July
2004. To be published by AIP (American Institute of Physics), eds. L. A.
Antonelli, L. Burderi, F. D'Antona, T. Di Salvo, G.L. Israel, L. Piersanti,
O. Straniero, A. Tornambe. 4 pages, 4 figure
Rotational Broadening and Doppler Tomography of the Quiescent X-Ray Nova Centaurus X-4
We present high and intermediate resolution spectroscopy of the X-ray nova
Centaurus X-4 during its quiescent phase. Our analysis of the absorption
features supports a K3-K5V spectral classification for the companion star,
which contributes approximately 75 % of the total flux at Halpha. Using the
high resolution spectra we have measured the secondary star's rotational
broadening to be V_rot*sin(i) = 43 +/- 6 km/s and determined a binary mass
ratio of q=0.17 +/- 0.06. Combining our results for K_2 and q with the
published limits for the binary inclination, we constrain the mass of the
compact object and the secondary star to the ranges 0.49 < M_1 < 2.49 Msun and
0.04 < M_2 < 0.58 Msun. A Doppler image of the Halpha line shows emission
coming from the secondary star, but no hotspot is present. We discuss the
possible origins of this emission.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, accepted by MNRA
The Spectrum of the Black Hole X-ray Nova V404 Cygni in Quiescence as Measured by XMM-Newton
We present XMM observations of the black hole X-ray nova V404 Cygni in
quiescence. Its quiescent spectrum can be best fitted by a simple power-law
with slope 2. The spectra are consistent with that expected for the
advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF). V404 Cyg was roughly equal in
luminosity compared to the previous observation of Chandra. We see variability
of a factor of 4 during the observation. We find no evidence for the presence
of fluorescent or H-like/He-like iron emission, with upper limits of 52 eV and
110 eV respectively. The limit on the fluorescent emission is improved by a
factor of 15 over the previous estimate, and the restriction on H-like/He-like
emission is lower than predicted from models by a factor of roughly 2.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, ApJ accepte
A possible black hole in the gamma-ray microquasar LS 5039
The population of high energy and very high energy gamma-ray sources,
detected with EGRET and the new generation of ground-based Cherenkov
telescopes, conforms a reduced but physically important sample. Most of these
sources are extragalactic (e.g., blazars), while among the galactic ones there
are pulsars and SN remnants. The microquasar LS 5039, previously proposed to be
associated with an EGRET source by Paredes et al. (2000), has recently been
detected at TeV energies, confirming that microquasars should be regarded as a
class of high energy gamma-ray sources. To model and understand how the
energetic photons are produced and escape from LS 5039 it is crucial to unveil
the nature of the compact object, which remains unknown. Here we present new
intermediate-dispersion spectroscopy of this source which, combined with values
reported in the literature, provides an orbital period of 3.90603+/-0.00017 d,
a mass function f(M)=0.0053+/-0.0009 M_sun, and an eccentricity e=0.35+/-0.04.
Atmosphere model fitting to the spectrum of the optical companion, together
with our new distance estimate of d=2.5+/-0.1 kpc, yields R_opt=9.3+0.7-0.6
R_sun, log (L_opt/L_sun)=5.26+/-0.06, and M_opt=22.9+3.4-2.9 M_sun. These,
combined with our dynamical solution and the assumption of
pseudo-synchronization, yield an inclination i=24.9+/-2.8 degree and a compact
object mass M_X=3.7+1.3-1.0 M_sun. This is above neutron star masses for most
of the standard equations of state and, therefore, we propose that the compact
object in LS 5039 is a black hole. We finally discuss about the implications of
our orbital solution and new parameters of the binary system on the CNO
products, the accretion/ejection energetic balance, the SN explosion scenario,
and the behaviour of the TeV emission with the new orbital period.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Minor changes
according to referee repor
The mass of X-Ray Nova Scorpii 1994 (=GRO J1655--40)]
We have obtained high and intermediate resolution optical spectra of the
black-hole candidate Nova Sco 1994 in May/June 1998, when the source was in
complete (X-ray) quiescence. We measure the radial velocity curve of the
secondary star and obtain a semi-amplitude of K_2=215.5+/-2.4 km/s, which is 6
per cent lower than the only previously determined value. This new value for
K_2 thus reduces the binary mass function to f(M) = 2.73+/-0.09 Mo. Using only
the high resolution spectra we constrain the rotational broadening of the
secondary star, vsini, to lie in the range 82.9-94.9 km/s (95 per cent
confidence) and thus constrain the binary mass ratio to lie in the range
0.337--0.436 (95 per cent confidence). We can also combine our results with
published limits for the binary inclination to constrain the mass of the
compact object and secondary star to the ranges 5.5 -- 7.9 and 1.7 -- 3.3 Mo
respectively (95 per cent confidence). Finally, we report on the detection of
the Lithium resonance line at 6707.8 A, with an equivalent width of 55+/-8 mA.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted by MNRA
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