Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2010-06-29
A&A 524, A78 (2010)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Accepted by A&A, 8 pages, 6 figures, discussion expanded following the suggestions of the referee
Scientific paper
10.1051/0004-6361/201015295
We report on the first spectroscopic search for quiescent degenerate binaries in globular clusters. Our survey is based on a sample of short-period optical variables which are likely optical counterparts of quiescent X-ray sources in omega Centauri (NGC 5139) and NGC 6397. All of the studied candidates have nearly sinusoidal light curves with amplitudes of 0.1--0.35~mag in $V$ and periods of 0.1--1.3~days. This type of variability, most probably originating from the ellipsoidal effect, has been observed in several X-ray novae when they settled into quiescence after an outburst. We find that two of the surveyed systems harbor dim components with masses in excess of one solar masss, making them attractive targets for future investigations. We also suggest that there are two subpopulations of blue stragglers in omega Centauri, differing in mass-transfer history and/or helium content.
Catelan Márcio
Contreras Carlos
Kaluzny Janusz
Pietrukowicz Pawel
Pych Wojtek
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