On Ultraluminous X-ray Source Correlations with Star-Forming Regions

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Compact Objects

Scientific paper

Maps of low-inclination nearby galaxies in Sloan Digitized Sky Survey u-g, g-r and r-i colors are used to determine whether Ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) are predominantly associated with star-forming regions of their host galaxies. An empirical selection criterion is derived from colors of HII regions in M81 and M101 that differentiates between the young, blue stellar component and the old disk and bulge population. This criterion is applied to a sample of and verified through an application of Fisher's linear discriminant analysis. It is found that 60% (49%) of ULXs in optically-bright environments are within regions blueward of their host galaxy's HII regions compared to only 27% (0%) of a control sample according to the empirical (Fisher) criterion. This is an excess of 3-sigma above the 32% (27%) expected if the ULXs were randomly distributed within their galactic hosts. This indicates a ULX preference for young, approximately <10 Myr, OB associations. We show that the environments surrounding the brightest ULXs are consistent with the onset of an accretion phase as the donor star ascends the giant branch if the donor is a <20 solar-mass star.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

On Ultraluminous X-ray Source Correlations with Star-Forming Regions 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 On Ultraluminous X-ray Source Correlations with Star-Forming Regions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On Ultraluminous X-ray Source Correlations with Star-Forming Regions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-838122

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.