Simultaneous IUE, EXOSAT and optical observations of the unusual AM Her type variable H058+608

Simultaneous observations of the AM Her type variable H0538+608 made with IUE, EXOSAT, and a 1.3 m ground based telescope, and subsequent optical spectrophotometry at high and low resolution are discussed. The X-ray and optical data show clear evidence of a 3.30 + or - 0.03 hr period. Three SWP spectra were taken outside of eclipse and during overlapping phase intervals. The UV spectra contain strong emission lines characteristic of this class of objects and a flat continuum which appears to be deficient, given the brightness of source at optical and X-ray wavelengths. There is evidence for intensity variations in emission lines, particularly C IV. The X-ray light curves for H0538+608 reveal behavior which may be related to irregularities in its accretion flow

A Parallax Distance to the Microquasar GRS 1915+105 and a Revised Estimate of its Black Hole Mass

Using the Very Long Baseline Array, we have measured a trigonometric parallax for the micro quasar GRS 1915+105, which contains a black hole and a K-giant companion. This yields a direct distance estimate of 8.6 (+2.0,-1.6) kpc and a revised estimate for the mass of the black hole of 12.4 (+2.0,-1.8) Msun. GRS 1915+105 is at about the same distance as some HII regions and water masers associated with high-mass star formation in the Sagittarius spiral arm of the Galaxy. The absolute proper motion of GRS 1915+105 is -3.19 +/- 0.03 mas/y and -6.24 +/- 0.05 mas/y toward the east and north, respectively, which corresponds to a modest peculiar speed of 22 +/-24 km/s at the parallax distance, suggesting that the binary did not receive a large velocity kick when the black hole formed. On one observational epoch, GRS 1915+105 displayed superluminal motion along the direction of its approaching jet. Considering previous observations of jet motions, the jet in GRS 1915+105 can be modeled with a jet inclination to the line of sight of 60 +/- 5 deg and a variable flow speed between 0.65c and 0.81c, which possibly indicates deceleration of the jet at distances from the black hole >2000 AU. Finally, using our measurements of distance and estimates of black hole mass and inclination, we provisionally confirm our earlier result that the black hole is spinning very rapidly.Comment: 20 pages; 2 tables; 6 figure

Orbital Parameters for the Black Hole Binary XTE J1650-500

(Shortened) We present R-band photometry of the X-ray transient and candidate black hole binary XTE J1650-500 obtained between 2003 May and August with the 6.5m Clay Telescope. A timing analysis of these data reveals a photometric period of 0.3205 +/- 0.0007 days (i.e. 7.63 hr) with a possible alias at 0.3785 days (9.12 hr). Our photometry completely rules out the previously published spectroscopic period of 0.212 days (5.09 hr). Consequently, we reanalyzed the 15 archival ESO/VLT spectra (obtained 2002 June by Sanchez-Fernandez et al.) that were the basis of the previously published spectroscopic period. We used a ``restframe search'' technique that is well suited for cases when the signal-to-noise ratio of individual spectra is low. The results confirmed the photometric period of 0.3205 days, and rule out the alias period near 0.38 days. The best value for the velocity semiamplitude of the companion star is K_2 = 435 +/- 30 km/sec, and the corresponding optical mass function is f(M) = 2.73 +/- 0.56 solar masses. The amplitude of the phased R-band light curve is 0.2 magnitudes, which gives a lower limit to the inclination of 50 +/- 3 degrees in the limiting case of no contribution to the R-band light curve from the accretion disk. If the mass ratio of XTE J1650-500 is similar to the mass ratios of other black hole binaries like A0620-00 or GRS 1124-683 (e.g. Q >~ 10), then our lower limit to the inclination gives an upper limit to the mass of the black hole in XTE J1650-500 of M_1 <~ 7.3 solar masses. However, the mass can be considerably lower if the R-band flux is dominated by the accretion disk. For example, if the accretion disk does contribute 80% of the flux, as our preliminary results suggest, then the black hole mass would be only about 4 solar masses.Comment: Accepted to ApJ. 15 pages, 5 figures (two of degraded quality). Revised after referee's Comments, conclusions are unchange

X-ray Properties of Black-Hole Binaries

We review the properties and behavior X-ray binaries that contain an accreting black hole. The larger majority of such systems are X-ray transients, and many of them were observed in daily pointings with RXTE throughout the course of their outbursts. The complex evolution of these sources is described in terms of common behavior patterns illustrated with comprehensive overview diagrams for six selected systems. Central to this comparison are three X-ray states of accretion, which are reviewed and defined quantitatively. Each state yields phenomena that arise in strong gravitational fields. We sketch a scenario for the potential impact of black hole observations on physics and discuss a current frontier topic: the measurement of black hole spin.Comment: 39 pages, 12 figures, ARAA, vol. 44, in pres

Use of Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) Detectors for an Advanced X-ray Monitor

We describe a concept for a NASA SMEX Mission in which Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detectors, developed at CERN, are adapted for use in X-ray astronomy. These detectors can be used to obtain moderately large detector area and two-dimensional photon positions with sub mm accuracy in the range of 1.5 to 15 keV. We describe an application of GEMs with xenon gas, coded mask cameras, and simple circuits for measuring event positions and for anticoincidence rejection of particle events. The cameras are arranged to cover most of the celestial sphere, providing high sensitivity and throughput for a wide variety of cosmic explosions. At longer timescales, persistent X-ray sources would be monitored with unprecedented levels of coverage. The sensitivity to faint X-ray sources on a one-day timescale would be improved by a factor of 6 over the capability of the RXTE All Sky Monitor.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figs., in X-Ray and Gamma Ray Instrumentation for Astronomy XI, SPIE conference, San Diego, Aug. 200