178 research outputs found
The large-scale jet-powered radio nebula of Circinus X-1
We present multi-epoch observations of the radio nebula around the neutron
star X-ray binary Circinus X-1 made at 1.4 and 2.5 GHz with the Australia
Telescope Compact Array between October 2000 and September 2004. The nebula can
be seen as a result of the interaction between the jet from the system and the
interstellar medium and it is likely that we are actually looking toward the
central X-ray binary system through the jet-powered radio lobe. The study of
the nebula thus offers a unique opportunity to estimate for the first time
using calorimetry the energetics of a jet from an object clearly identified as
a neutron star. An extensive discussion on the energetics of the complex is
presented: a first approach is based on the minimum energy estimation, while a
second one employs a self-similar model of the interaction between the jets and
the surrounding medium. The results suggest an age for the nebula of \leq 10^5
years and a corresponding time-averaged jet power \geq 10^{35} erg s^{-1}.
During periodic flaring episodes, the instantaneous jet power may reach values
of similar magnitude to the X-ray luminosity.Comment: Accepted to MNRA
The first resolved imaging of milliarcsecond-scale jets in Circinus X-1
We present the first resolved imaging of the milliarcsecond-scale jets in the
neutron star X-ray binary Circinus X-1, made using the Australian Long Baseline
Array. The angular extent of the resolved jets is ~20 milliarcseconds,
corresponding to a physical scale of ~150 au at the assumed distance of 7.8
kpc. The jet position angle is relatively consistent with previous
arcsecond-scale imaging with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. The radio
emission is symmetric about the peak, and is unresolved along the minor axis,
constraining the opening angle to be less than 20 degrees. We observe evidence
for outward motion of the components between the two halves of the observation.
Constraints on the proper motion of the radio-emitting components suggest that
they are only mildly relativistic, although we cannot definitively rule out the
presence of the unseen, ultra-relativistic (Lorentz factor >15) flow previously
inferred to exist in this system.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters. 6 pages, 4 figure
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