Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Apr 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998a%26a...332..189k&link_type=abstract
Astronomy and Astrophysics, v.332, p.189-193 (1998)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
4
Galaxies: Individual: M 31, Galaxies: Individual: Ngc 55, Binaries: Close, X-Rays: Stars, Stars: Evolution, White Dwarfs
Scientific paper
Simulating ROSAT PSPC hardness ratios HR1 and HR2 and count rates for NLTE white dwarf atmosphere spectra one finds that the 15 supersoft sources in the spiral galaxy M 31 contain hot ~3.0-4.5x 10(5\) K white dwarfs. If they undergo steady nuclear burning and if they are located close to the stability line then they harbor massive white dwarfs M_WD~0.85-1.0\ Msun in agreement with what has been found for the galactic supersoft sources. The recurrent supersoft transient RX J0045.4+4154 affords a very hot ~8.4x 10(5\) K white dwarf. If it is on the stability line then it has a white dwarf mass of ~ 1.26\ Msun. Taking a mass distribution of steadily nuclear burning white dwarfs into account one expects that there exist at least about 650 supersoft sources in M 31. The spectral parameters of the so far most distant (D ~ 1.3\ Mpc) supersoft source found in the galaxy NGC 55 imply a hot ( ~ 6x 10(5\) K) and massive (M_WD ~ 1.1\ Msun) white dwarf. The number of such sources seen in a galaxy at this distance is derived from a luminosity function of supersoft sources.
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