Possible Association of a Quiescent X-Ray Source with a Gamma-Ray Burster

Details Possible Association of a Quiescent X-Ray Source with a Gamma-Ray Burster Possible Association of a Quiescent X-Ray Source with a Gamma-Ray Burster

Jun 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996apj...464..342h&link_type=abstract

Astrophysical Journal v.464, p.342

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

14

Gamma Rays: Bursts, X-Rays: Stars

Scientific paper

We report on the first repeatedly detected statistically significant coincidence (chance probability ≍10-2-10-3) between an X-ray source and a gamma-ray burst error box. We present three ROSAT observations of the field of the gamma-ray burst of 1992 May 1. The first, a 2000 5 target of opportunity observation, was carried out 18 days after the burst. A weak X-ray source was identified, but with too few photons to determine its spectral characteristics. The second, a 30 ks PSPC observation, resulted in the detection of 118 net photons over the 0.07-2.4 keV energy range. We find that the spectrum is consistent with thermal bremsstrahlung from a 7 x 106 K plasma with about 1022 cm-2 s-1 H I column density. The unabsorbed flux is 9.4 x 1013 ergs cm-2 s-1 (corresponding absorbed flux 4.8 x 10-14 ergs cm-2 s-1) Analysis of the photon arrival times indicates that the source may be variable. Using the H I column density from the spectral fit, we set a lower limit to the source distance of at least several kpc; an extragalactic source cannot be ruled out. If the gamma-ray burst is indeed related to the X-ray source, its total energy output would have been at least 2 x 1037 ergs. The third observation, 6200 s with the HRI, defines a source error circle of 6" radius. We discuss optical observations of this region, and consider various possibilities for the nature of the X-ray source.

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