Orbital Parameters for the Black Hole Binary XTE J1650-500

Details Orbital Parameters for the Black Hole Binary XTE J1650-500 Orbital Parameters for the Black Hole Binary XTE J1650-500

2004-04-17

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0404343v2

Astrophys.J. 616 (2004) 376-382

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Accepted to ApJ. 15 pages, 5 figures (two of degraded quality). Revised after referee's Comments, conclusions are unchanged

Scientific paper

10.1086/424892

(Shortened) We present R-band photometry of the X-ray transient and candidate black hole binary XTE J1650-500 obtained between 2003 May and August with the 6.5m Clay Telescope. A timing analysis of these data reveals a photometric period of 0.3205 +/- 0.0007 days (i.e. 7.63 hr) with a possible alias at 0.3785 days (9.12 hr). Our photometry completely rules out the previously published spectroscopic period of 0.212 days (5.09 hr). Consequently, we reanalyzed the 15 archival ESO/VLT spectra (obtained 2002 June by Sanchez-Fernandez et al.) that were the basis of the previously published spectroscopic period. We used a ``restframe search'' technique that is well suited for cases when the signal-to-noise ratio of individual spectra is low. The results confirmed the photometric period of 0.3205 days, and rule out the alias period near 0.38 days. The best value for the velocity semiamplitude of the companion star is K_2 = 435 +/- 30 km/sec, and the corresponding optical mass function is f(M) = 2.73 +/- 0.56 solar masses. The amplitude of the phased R-band light curve is 0.2 magnitudes, which gives a lower limit to the inclination of 50 +/- 3 degrees in the limiting case of no contribution to the R-band light curve from the accretion disk. If the mass ratio of XTE J1650-500 is similar to the mass ratios of other black hole binaries like A0620-00 or GRS 1124-683 (e.g. Q >~ 10), then our lower limit to the inclination gives an upper limit to the mass of the black hole in XTE J1650-500 of M_1 <~ 7.3 solar masses. However, the mass can be considerably lower if the R-band flux is dominated by the accretion disk. For example, if the accretion disk does contribute 80% of the flux, as our preliminary results suggest, then the black hole mass would be only about 4 solar masses.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Orbital Parameters for the Black Hole Binary XTE J1650-500 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 Orbital Parameters for the Black Hole Binary XTE J1650-500, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Orbital Parameters for the Black Hole Binary XTE J1650-500 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-275287