5,025 research outputs found
First evidence for spectral state transitions in the ESO243-49 hyper luminous X-ray source HLX-1
The brightest Ultra-Luminous X-ray source (ULX), ESO 243-49 HLX-1, with a 0.2
- 10 keV X-ray luminosity of up to 10^42 erg s^-1, provides the strongest
evidence to date for the existence of intermediate mass black holes. Although
small scale X-ray spectral variability has already been demonstrated, we have
initiated a monitoring campaign with the X-ray Telescope onboard the Swift
satellite to search for luminosity-related spectral changes and to compare its
behavior with the better studied stellar mass black holes. In this paper, we
report a drop in the XRT count rate by a factor of ~8 which occurred
simultaneously with a hardening of the X-ray spectrum. A second observation
found that the source had re-brightened by a factor of ~21 which occurred
simultaneously with a softening of the X-ray spectrum. This may be the first
evidence for a transition between the low/hard and high/soft states.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letter, 2 figure
Improved computer programs for calculating potential flow in propulsion system inlets
Computer programs to calculate the incompressible potential flow corrected for compressibility in axisymmetric inlets at arbitrary operating conditions are presented. Included are a statement of the problem to be solved, a description of each of the programs and sufficient documentation, including a test case, to enable a user to run the programs
Investigating slim disk solutions for HLX-1 in ESO 243-49
The hyper luminous X-ray source HLX-1 in the galaxy ESO 243-49, currently the
best intermediate mass black hole candidate, displays spectral transitions
similar to those observed in Galactic black hole binaries, but with a
luminosity 100-1000 times higher. We investigated the X-ray properties of this
unique source fitting multi-epoch data collected by Swift, XMM-Newton & Chandra
with a disk model computing spectra for a wide range of sub- and
super-Eddington accretion rates assuming a non-spinning black hole and a
face-on disk (i = 0 deg). Under these assumptions we find that the black hole
in HLX-1 is in the intermediate mass range (~2 x 10^4 M_odot) and the accretion
flow is in the sub-Eddington regime. The disk radiation efficiency is eta =
0.11 +/-0.03. We also show that the source does follow the L_X ~ T^4 relation
for our mass estimate. At the outburst peaks, the source radiates near the
Eddington limit. The accretion rate then stays constant around 4 x 10^(-4)
M_odot yr^(-1) for several days and then decreases exponentially. Such
"plateaus" in the accretion rate could be evidence that enhanced mass transfer
rate is the driving outburst mechanism in HLX-1. We also report on the new
outburst observed in August 2011 by the Swift-X-ray Telescope. The time of this
new outburst further strengthens the ~1 year recurrence timescale.Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Optical variability of the accretion disk around the intermediate mass black hole ESO 243-49 HLX-1 during the 2012 outburst
We present dedicated quasi-simultaneous X-ray (Swift) and optical (Very Large
Telescope (VLT), V- and R-band) observations of the intermediate mass black
hole candidate ESO 243-49 HLX-1 before and during the 2012 outburst. We show
that the V-band magnitudes vary with time, thus proving that a portion of the
observed emission originates in the accretion disk. Using the first quiescent
optical observations of HLX-1, we show that the stellar population surrounding
HLX-1 is fainter than V~25.1 and R~24.2. We show that the optical emission may
increase before the X-ray emission consistent with the scenario proposed by
Lasota et al. (2011) in which the regular outbursts could be related to the
passage at periastron of a star circling the intermediate mass black hole in an
eccentric orbit, which triggers mass transfer into a quasi-permanent accretion
disk around the black hole. Further, if there is indeed a delay in the X-ray
emission we estimate the mass-transfer delivery radius to be ~1e11 cm.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
Further Observations of the Intermediate Mass Black Hole Candidate ESO 243-49 HLX-1
The brightest Ultra-Luminous X-ray source HLX-1 in the galaxy ESO 243-49
currently provides strong evidence for the existence of intermediate mass black
holes. Here we present the latest multi-wavelength results on this intriguing
source in X-ray, UV and radio bands. We have refined the X-ray position to
sub-arcsecond accuracy. We also report the detection of UV emission that could
indicate ongoing star formation in the region around HLX-1. The lack of
detectable radio emission at the X-ray position strengthens the argument
against a background AGN.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Accepted 11th of Feb 2010. Contributed talk to
appear in Proceedings of "X-ray Astronomy 2009: Present Status,
Multi-Wavelength Approach and Future Perspectives", Bologna, Italy, September
7-11, 2009, AIP, eds. A. Comastri, M. Cappi, and L. Angelin
Computer programs for calculating two-dimensional potential flow in and about propulsion system inlets
Incompressible potential flow calculations are presented that were corrected for compressibility in two-dimensional inlets at arbitrary operating conditions. Included are a statement of the problem to be solved, a description of each of the computer programs, and sufficient documentation, including a test case, to enable a user to run the program
Supercooling across first-order phase transitions in vortex matter
Hysteresis in cycling through first-order phase transitions in vortex matter,
akin to the well-studied phenomenon of supercooling of water, has been
discussed in literature. Hysteresis can be seen while varying either
temperature T or magnetic field H (and thus the density of vortices). Our
recent work on phase transitions with two control variables shows that the
observable region of metastability of the supercooled phase would depend on the
path followed in H-T space, and will be larger when T is lowered at constant H
compared to the case when H is lowered at constant T. We discuss the effect of
isothermal field variations on metastable supercooled states produced by
field-cooling. This path dependence is not a priori applicable to metastability
caused by reduced diffusivity or hindered kinetics.Comment: Tex, 8 pages, 3 Postscripts figures. Submitted to Pramana - J.
Physic
- …