500 research outputs found
SXP 323 - an unusual X-ray binary system in the Small Magellanic Cloud
Spectroscopic observations taken with the VLT/UVES telescope/instrument are
presented of the unusual Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) X-ray binary system SXP
323 = AX J0051-733. This system shows a clear modulation at 0.71d in long term
optical photometry which has been proposed as the binary period of this system.
The high resolution optical spectra, taken at a range of phases during the
0.71d cycle, rule out this possibility. Instead it is suggested that this
long-term effect is due to Non Radial Pulsations (NRP) in the Be star companion
to SXP 323. In addition, the spectra show clear evidence for major changes in
the (V/R) ratio of the double peaks of the Balmer lines indicative of
asymmetries in the circumstellar disk. The complex structure of the
interstellar lines are also discussed in the context of the SMC structure.Comment: Accepted in MNRA
Spectral Formation in X-Ray Pulsar Accretion Columns
We present the first self-consistent model for the dynamics and the radiative
transfer occurring in bright X-ray pulsar accretion columns, with a special
focus on the role of the shock in energizing the emerging X-rays. The pressure
inside the accretion column of a luminous X-ray pulsar is dominated by the
photons, and consequently the equations describing the coupled
radiative-dynamical structure must be solved simultaneously. Spectral formation
in these sources is therefore a complex, nonlinear phenomenon. We obtain the
analytical solution for the Green's function describing the upscattering of
monochromatic radiation injected into the column from the thermal mound located
near the base of the flow. The Green's function is convolved with a Planck
distribution to model the X-ray spectrum resulting from the reprocessing of
blackbody photons produced in the thermal mound. These photons diffuse through
the infalling gas and eventually escape out the walls of the column, forming
the observed X-ray spectrum. We show that the resulting column-integrated,
phase-averaged spectrum has a power-law shape at high energies and a blackbody
shape at low energies, in agreement with the observational data for many X-ray
pulsars.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters. Several typos noticed during
the proof review were correcte
The Be/X-ray Transient V0332+53: Evidence for a tilt between the orbit and the equatorial plane?
We present optical and infrared observations of BQ Cam, the optical
counterpart to the Be/X-ray transient system V0332+53. BQ Cam is shown to be an
O8-9Ve star, which places V0332+53 at a distance of ~7 kpc. H-alpha
spectroscopy and infrared photometry are used to discuss the evolution of the
circumstellar envelope. Due to the low inclination of the system, parameters
are strongly constrained. We find strong evidence for a tilt of the orbital
plane with respect to the circumstellar disc (pressumably on the equatorial
plane). Even though the periastron distance is only ~ 10 R_*, during the
present quiescent state the circumstellar disc does not extend to the distance
of periastron passage. Under these conditions, X-ray emission is effectively
prevented by centrifugal inhibition of accretion. The circumstellar disc is
shown to be optically dense at optical and infrared wavelengths, which together
with its small size, is taken as an indication of tidal truncation.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, uses mn.sty and epsfig Accepted for publication
in MNRA
Spectral type, temperature and evolutionary stage in cool supergiants
In recent years, temperature scales in cool supergiants (CSGs) have been
disputed, and the possibility that spectral types (SpTs) do not depend
primarily on temperature has been raised. We explore the relations between
different observed parameters and the capability of deriving accurate intrinsic
stellar parameters from them through the analysis of the largest spectroscopic
sample of CSGs to date from SMC and LMC. We explore possible correlations
between different observational parameters, also making use of near- and
mid-infrared colours and literature on photometric variability. Direct
comparison between the behaviour of atomic lines (Fe I, Ti I, and Ca II) in the
observed spectra and synthetic atmospheric models provides compelling evidence
that effective temperature is the prime underlying variable driving the SpT
sequence in CSGs. However, there is a clear correlation between SpT and
luminosity, with later ones tending to correspond to more luminous stars with
heavier mass loss. The population of CSGs in the SMC is characterised by a
higher degree of spectral variability, early spectral types (centred on type
K1) and low mass-loss rates (at least as measured by dust-sensitive
mid-infrared colours). The population in the LMC displays less spectroscopic
variability and later spectral types. The distribution of spectral types is not
single-peaked. Instead, the brightest CSGs have a significantly different
distribution from less luminous objects, presenting mostly M subtypes (centred
on M2), and increasing mass-loss rates for later types. In conclusion, the
observed properties of CSGs in the SMC and the LMC cannot be described
correctly by standard evolutionary models. The very strong correlation between
spectral type and bolometric luminosity, supported by all data from the Milky
Way, cannot be reproduced at all by current evolutionary tracks.Comment: 25 pages, 24 figure
Radio emission from the massive stars in the Galactic Super Star Cluster Westerlund 1
Current mass-loss rate estimates imply that main sequence winds are not
sufficient to strip away the H-rich envelope to yield Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars.
The rich transitional population of Westerlund 1 (Wd 1) provides an ideal
laboratory to observe mass-loss processes throughout the transitional phase of
stellar evolution. An analysis of deep radio continuum observations of Wd 1 is
presented. We detect 18 cluster members. The radio properties of the sample are
diverse, with thermal, non-thermal and composite thermal/non-thermal sources
present. Mass-loss rates are ~10^{-5} solar mass/year across all spectral
types, insufficient to form WRs during a massive star lifetime, and the stars
must undergo a period of enhanced mass loss. The sgB[e] star W9 may provide an
example, with a mass-loss rate an order of magnitude higher than the other
cluster members, and an extended nebula of density ~3 times the current wind.
This structure is reminiscent of luminous blue variables, and one with evidence
of two eras of high, possibly eruptive, mass loss. Three OB supergiants are
detected, implying unusually dense winds. They also may have composite spectra,
suggesting binarity. Spatially resolved nebulae are associated with three of
the four RSGs and three of the six YHGs in the cluster, which are due to
quiescent mass loss rather than outbursts. For some of the cool star winds, the
ionizing source may be a companion star though the cluster radiation density is
sufficiently high to provide the necessary ionizing radiation. Five WR stars
are detected with composite spectra, interpreted as arising in colliding-wind
binaries.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
Constraining the Nature of the Galactic Center X-ray Source Population
We searched for infrared counterparts to the cluster of X-ray point sources
discovered by Chandra in the Galactic Center Region (GCR). While the sources
could be white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes accreting from stellar
companions, their X-ray properties are consistent with magnetic Cataclysmic
Variables, or High Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXB) at low accretion-rates. A direct
way to decide between these possibilities and hence between alternative
formation scenarios is to measure or constrain the luminosity distribution of
the companions. Using infrared (J, H, K, Br-gamma) imaging, we searched for
counterparts corresponding to typical HMXB secondaries: spectral type B0V with
K<15 at the GCR. We found no significant excess of bright stars in Chandra
error circles, indicating that HMXBs are not the dominant X-ray source
population, and account for fewer than 10% of the hardest X-ray sources.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, accepted in ApJ Letters for publicatio
Radio emission from the massive stars in Westerlund 1
The diverse massive stellar population in the young massive clusterWesterlund 1 (Wd 1) provides an ideal laboratory to observe and constrain mass-loss processes throughout the transitional phase of massive star evolution. A set of high sensitivity radio observations of Wd 1 leads to the detection of 18 cluster members, a sample dominated by cool hypergiants, but with detections among hotter OB supergiants and WR stars. Here the diverse radio properties of the detected sample are briefly described. The mass-loss rates of the detected objects are surprisingly similar across the whole transitional phase of massive star evolution, at ~ 10-5 Mo yrâ1. Such a rate is insufficient to strip away the H-rich mantle in a massive star lifetime, unless the stars go through a period of enhanced mass-loss. The radio luminous star W9 provides an example of such an object, with evidence for two eras of mass-loss with rates of ~ 10â4 Mo yrâ1
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