93 research outputs found
SALT spectroscopy of the HMXB associated with the LMC supernova remnant MCSNR\,J05136724
We report the results of optical \'echelle spectroscopy with the Southern
African Large Telescope (SALT) of the mass donor star BSDL\,923 in the neutron
star (NS) high-mass X-ray binary XMMU\,J051342.6672412 associated with the
LMC supernova remnant (SNR) MCSNR\,J05136724. We found that BSDL\,923 is a
B0.7\,III star with double peaked emission lines originating in a circumbinary
disk-like structure. This classification and the presence of double-peaked
emission lines imply that BSDL\,923 is a Be star. Modelling with the stellar
atmosphere code {\sc fastwind} was used to derive the effective temperature
\,kK, surface gravity , projected
rotational velocity v\sin i\approx100\pm45 \, \kms, colour excess
\,mag, and luminosity \log(L_*/\lsun)=5.46\pm0.10 of
BSDL\,923, as well as to show that the surface of this star is polluted with
-elements (O, Mg and Si) from the supernova ejecta. We found also that
the NS is orbiting BSDL\,923 in an eccentric () orbit with the
orbital period of \,d and the semi-major axis of 17\pm3 \,
\rsun, and the radius of BSDL\,923 is 25\pm5 \,\rsun. We speculate that the
NS is embedded in the atmosphere of BSDL\,923 either because it was kicked at
birth towards this star or because of inflation of BSDL\,923 caused by the
energy input from the supernova blast wave. Using long-slit spectroscopy with
SALT, we searched for possible signs of the SNR shell in the 2D spectrum, but
did not find them. This lack of detection is consistent with the young age
(\,kyr) of MCSNR\,J05136724, implying that it is still
in the adiabatic (non-radiative) phase.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures and 6 tables. Accepted for publication by MNRA
On the Nature of the Apparent Ring Galaxy SDSS J075234.33+292049.8
(abridged) An object classified as a galaxy in on-line data bases and
revealed on sky survey images as a distant ring galaxy is a rare case of polar
ring galaxy where the ring is only slightly inclined to the equatorial plane of
the central body. SDSS imaging indicates that the diameter of the ring is about
36 kpc. The SDSS data was combined with long-slit spectroscopic observations
and with Fabry-Perot Interferometer H-beta mapping obtained at the Russian
Academy of Sciences 6-m telescope. We derived the complex morphologies of this
presumed ring galaxy from a combination of SDSS images and from the kinematical
behaviour of the central body and of the ring, and determined the stellar
population compositions of the two components from SDSS colours, spectroscopy,
and evolutionary stellar synthesis models. The ring metallicity is slightly
under-abundant. The total luminosity and the total mass of the system are not
extreme, but the rather high M/L~20 indicates the presence of large amounts of
dark matter. Two alternative explanations of this object are proposed (1) a
ring formed by two semi-circular and tight spiral arms at the end of a central
bar with a warp or precession of the ring material. The object could,
therefore, be explained as an extreme SBa(R) galaxy, or (2) a Polar Ring Galaxy
where the inner object is an S0 and the ring is significantly more luminous
than the central object. The compound object would then be similar to the NGC
4650A galaxy, being a rare object with a polar component only modestly inclined
to the equatorial plane of the central body. Arguments for (and against) both
explanations are given and discussed, with the second alternative being more
acceptable.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, MNRAS in pres
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