A Soft X-ray Transient in the M31 Bulge

Details A Soft X-ray Transient in the M31 Bulge A Soft X-ray Transient in the M31 Bulge

2005-10-06

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0510189v1

Astrophys.J.637:479-485,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

18 pages, 4 tables, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/498297

We have examined a probable soft X-ray transient source in the M31 bulge at R.A.=0:42:41.814 +/- 0.08", Dec. = 41:16:35.86 +/- 0.07". On the three occasions we observed the source, its spectrum was soft (kT_{in} ~1 keV). The brightest detection of the source was 2004 July 17 with a 0.3-7 keV luminosity of ~5 X 10^{37} erg/s. The only previous detection of the source was in 1979 by the Einstein observatory. The multiple detections over 25 years suggest the duty cycle of the source is in the range 0.02-0.06. Coordinated HST/ACS imaging before, during, and after the outburst revealed no variable optical source within the position errors of the X-ray source. The optical data place a firm upper limit on the brightness of the counterpart of the X-ray outburst of B>24.7, suggesting the binary has a period <5.2 days. The X-ray spectrum and lack of bright stars at the source location indicate the source was a soft transient event occurring in a low-mass X-ray binary, making this source a good black hole candidate in M31.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A Soft X-ray Transient in the M31 Bulge does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A Soft X-ray Transient in the M31 Bulge, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Soft X-ray Transient in the M31 Bulge will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-323715