In this paper, we present the results of the first systematic search for counterparts to nearby ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) in the near-infrared (NIR). We observed 62 ULXs in 37 galaxies ...within 10 Mpc and discovered 17 candidate NIR counterparts. The detection of 17 out of 62 ULX candidates points to intrinsic differences between systems that show and those that do not show infrared emission. For six counterparts, we conclude from the absolute magnitudes and – in some cases – additional information such as morphology and previously reported photometric or spectroscopic observations, that they are likely background active galactic nuclei or ULXs residing in star clusters. 11 counterparts have absolute magnitudes consistent with them being single red supergiant stars. Alternatively, these systems may have larger accretion discs that emit more NIR light than the systems that we do not detect. Other scenarios such as emission from a surrounding nebula or from a compact radio jet are also possible, although for Holmberg II X-1 the NIR luminosity far exceeds the expected jet contribution. The 11 possible red supergiant counterparts are excellent candidates for spectroscopic follow-up observations. This may enable us to measure the mass function in these systems if they are indeed red supergiant donor stars where we can observe absorption lines.
MAXI J1836−194 is a Galactic black hole candidate X-ray binary that was discovered in 2011 when it went into outburst. In this paper, we present the full radio monitoring of this system during its ...‘failed’ outburst, in which the source did not complete a full set of state changes, only transitioning as far as the hard intermediate state. Observations with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) show that the jet properties changed significantly during the outburst. The VLA observations detected linearly polarized emission at a level of ∼1 per cent early in the outburst, increasing to ∼3 per cent as the outburst peaked. High-resolution images with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) show an ∼15 mas jet along the position angle −21 ± 2°, in agreement with the electric vector position angle found from our polarization results (−21 ± 4°), implying that the magnetic field is perpendicular to the jet. Astrometric observations suggest that the system required an asymmetric natal kick to explain its observed space velocity. Comparing quasi-simultaneous X-ray monitoring with the 5 GHz VLA observations from the 2011 outburst shows an unusually steep hard-state radio/X-ray correlation of
$L_{\rm R} \propto L_{\rm X}^{1.8\pm 0.2}$
, where L
R and L
X denote the radio and X-ray luminosities, respectively. With ATCA and Swift monitoring of the source during a period of re-brightening in 2012, we show that the system lay on the same steep correlation. Due to the low inclination of this system, we then investigate the possibility that the observed correlation may have been steepened by variable Doppler boosting.
Abstract
Stars that interact with supermassive black holes (SMBHs) can be either completely or partially destroyed by tides. In a partial tidal disruption event (TDE), the high-density core of the ...star remains intact, and the low-density outer envelope of the star is stripped and feeds a luminous accretion episode. The TDE AT 2018fyk, with an inferred black hole mass of 10
7.7±0.4
M
⊙
, experienced an extreme dimming event at X-ray (factor of >6000) and UV (factor of ∼15) wavelengths ∼500–600 days after discovery. Here we report on the reemergence of these emission components roughly 1200 days after discovery. We find that the source properties are similar to those of the predimming accretion state, suggesting that the accretion flow was rejuvenated to a similar state. We propose that a repeated partial TDE, where the partially disrupted star is on an ∼1200 day orbit about the SMBH and periodically stripped of mass during each pericenter passage, powers its unique light curve. This scenario provides a plausible explanation for AT 2018fyk’s overall properties, including the rapid dimming event and the rebrightening at late times. We also provide testable predictions for the behavior of the accretion flow in the future; if the second encounter was also a partial disruption, then we predict another strong dimming event around day 1800 (2023 August) and a subsequent rebrightening around day 2400 (2025 March). This source provides strong evidence of the partial disruption of a star by an SMBH.
We observed SAX J1808.4-3658 (1808), the first accreting millisecond pulsar, in deep quiescence with XMM-Newton and (near simultaneously) Gemini-South. The X-ray spectrum of 1808 is similar to that ...observed in quiescence in 2001 and 2006, describable by an absorbed power law with photon index 1.74 ± 0.11 and unabsorbed X-ray luminosity LX = 7.9 ± 0.7 X 1031 ergs s-1, for NH = 1.3 X 1021 cm-2. Fitting all the quiescent XMM-Newton X-ray spectra with a power law, we constrain any thermally emitting neutron star (NS) with a hydrogen atmosphere to have a temperature less than 30 eV and L NS (0.01-10 keV) <6.2 X 1030 ergs s-1. A thermal plasma model also gives an acceptable fit to the continuum. Adding an NS component to the plasma model produces less stringent constraints on the NS; a temperature of 36+4 -8 eV and L NS (0.01-10 keV) = 1.3+0.6 -0.8 X 1031 ergs s-1. In the framework of the current theory of NS heating and cooling, the constraints on the thermal luminosity of 1808 and 1H 1905+000 require strongly enhanced cooling in the cores of these NSs. We compile data from the literature on the mass transfer rates and quiescent thermal flux of the largest possible sample of transient NS low-mass X-ray binaries. We identify a thermal component in the quiescent spectrum of the accreting millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934, which is consistent with the standard cooling model. The contrast between the cooling rates of IGR J00291+5934 and 1808 suggests that 1808 may have a significantly larger mass. This can be interpreted as arising from differences in the binary evolution history or initial NS mass in these otherwise similar systems.
ABSTRACT
We present optical spectroscopic and Swift UVOT/XRT observations of the X-ray and UV/optical bright tidal disruption event (TDE) candidate AT 2018fyk/ASASSN–18ul discovered by ASAS–SN. The ...Swift light curve is atypical for a TDE, entering a plateau after ∼40 d of decline from peak. After 80 d the UV/optical light curve breaks again to decline further, while the X-ray emission becomes brighter and harder. In addition to broad H, He, and potentially O/Fe lines, narrow emission lines emerge in the optical spectra during the plateau phase. We identify both high-ionization (O iii) and low-ionization (Fe ii) lines, which are visible for ∼45 d. We similarly identify Fe ii lines in optical spectra of ASASSN–15oi 330 d after discovery, indicating that a class of Fe-rich TDEs exists. The spectral similarity between AT 2018fyk, narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, and some extreme coronal line emitters suggests that TDEs are capable of creating similar physical conditions in the nuclei of galaxies. The Fe ii lines can be associated with the formation of a compact accretion disc, as the emergence of low-ionization emission lines requires optically thick, high-density gas. Taken together with the plateau in X-ray and UV/optical luminosity this indicates that emission from the central source is efficiently reprocessed into UV/optical wavelengths. Such a two-component light curve is very similar to that seen in the TDE candidate ASASSN–15lh, and is a natural consequence of a relativistic orbital pericentre.
Tidal disruption events (TDEs) are transient flares produced when a star is ripped apart by the gravitational field of a supermassive black hole (SMBH). We have observed a transient source in the ...western nucleus of the merging galaxy pair Arp 299 that radiated >1.5 × 10
erg at infrared and radio wavelengths but was not luminous at optical or x-ray wavelengths. We interpret this as a TDE with much of its emission reradiated at infrared wavelengths by dust. Efficient reprocessing by dense gas and dust may explain the difference between theoretical predictions and observed luminosities of TDEs. The radio observations resolve an expanding and decelerating jet, probing the jet formation and evolution around a SMBH.
Spectroscopically, tidal disruption events (TDEs) are characterized by broad (∼10
4
km s
−1
) emission lines and show a large diversity as well as different line profiles. After carefully and ...consistently performing a series of data reduction tasks including host galaxy light subtraction, we present here the first detailed, spectroscopic population study of 16 optical and UV TDEs. We study a number of emission lines prominent among TDEs including Hydrogen, Helium, and Bowen lines and we quantify their evolution with time in terms of line luminosities, velocity widths, and velocity offsets. We report a time lag between the peaks of the optical light curves and the peak luminosity of H
α
spanning between ∼7 and 45 days. If interpreted as light echoes, these lags correspond to distances of ∼2 − 12 × 10
16
cm, which are one to two orders of magnitudes larger than the estimated blackbody radii (
R
BB
) of the same TDEs and we discuss the possible origin of this surprisingly large discrepancy. We also report time lags for the peak luminosity of the He
I
5876 Å line, which are smaller than the ones of H
α
for H TDEs and similar or larger for N
III
Bowen TDEs. We report that N
III
Bowen TDEs have lower H
α
velocity widths compared to the rest of the TDEs in our sample and we also find that a strong X-ray to optical ratio might imply weakening of the line widths. Furthermore, we study the evolution of line luminosities and ratios with respect to their radii (
R
BB
) and temperatures (
T
BB
). We find a linear relationship between H
α
luminosity and the
R
BB
(
L
line
∝
R
BB
) and potentially an inverse power-law relation with
T
BB
(
L
line
∝
T
BB
−β
), leading to weaker H
α
emission for
T
BB
≥ 25 000 K. The He
II
/He
I
ratio becomes large at the same temperatures, possibly pointing to an ionization effect. The He
II
/H
α
ratio becomes larger as the photospheric radius recedes, implying a stratified photosphere where Helium lies deeper than Hydrogen. We suggest that the large diversity of the spectroscopic features seen in TDEs along with their X-ray properties can potentially be attributed to viewing angle effects.
Abstract A tidal disruption event (TDE) may occur when a star is torn apart by the tidal force of a black hole (BH). Eventually, an accretion disk is thought to form out of stellar debris falling ...back toward the BH. If the star’s orbital angular momentum vector prior to disruption is not aligned with the BH spin angular momentum vector, the disk will be tilted with respect to the BH equatorial plane. The disk will eventually be drawn into the BH equatorial plane due to a combination of the Bardeen–Petterson effect and internal torques. Here, we analyze the X-ray and UV observations of the TDE AT2020ocn obtained by Swift, XMM-Newton, and Neutron star Interior Composition ExploreR. The X-ray light curve shows strong flares during the first ≈100 days, while, over the same period, the UV emission decays gradually. We find that the X-ray flares can be explained by a model that also explains the spectral evolution. This model includes a slim disk viewed under a variable inclination plus an inverse-Comptonization component processing the slim disk emission. A scenario where the ongoing Lense–Thirring precession during the disk alignment process is responsible for the observed inclination variations is consistent with the data. In later observations, we find that the X-ray spectrum of AT2020ocn becomes harder, while the mass accretion rate remains at super-Eddington levels, suggesting the formation of a corona in line with accretion onto other compact objects. We constrain the BH mass to be ( 7 − 3 + 13 ) × 10 5 M ⊙ at the 1 σ (68%) confidence level.
Abstract
Fast X-ray Transients (FXTs) are X-ray flares with durations ranging from a few hundred seconds to a few hours. Possible origins include the tidal disruption of a white dwarf by an ...intermediate-mass black hole, a supernova shock breakout, or a binary neutron star merger. We present the X-ray light curve and spectrum as well as deep optical imaging of the FXT XRT 210423, which has been suggested to be powered by a magnetar produced in a binary neutron star merger. Our Very Large Telescope and Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) observations began on 2021 May 6, thirteen days after the onset of the flare. No transient optical counterpart is found in the 1.″ (3
σ
) X-ray uncertainty region of the source to a depth
g
s
= 27.0 AB mag. (We use the word “counterpart” for any transient light in a wave band other than the original X-ray detection wave band, whereas the word “host” refers to the host galaxy.) A candidate host lies within the 1.″ X-ray uncertainty region with a magnitude of 25.9 ± 0.1 in the GTC/HiPERCAM
g
s
filter. Due to its faintness, it was not detected in other bands, precluding a photometric redshift determination. We detect two additional candidate host galaxies: one with
z
spec
= 1.5082 ± 0.0001 and an offset of 4.″2 ± 1.″ (37 ± 9 kpc) from the FXT, and another one with
z
phot
=
1.04
−
0.14
+
0.22
and an offset of 3.″6 ± 1.″ (30 ± 8 kpc). Based on the properties of all the prospective hosts, we favor a binary neutron star merger, as previously suggested in the literature, as the explanation for XRT 210423.
In this paper we report the discovery of CXO J122518.6+144545, a peculiar X-ray source with a position 3.6 ± 0.2 arcsec off-nuclear from a Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7) z= 0.0447 ...galaxy. The 3.6 arcsec offset corresponds to 3.2 kpc at the distance of the galaxy. The 0.3–8 keV X-ray flux of this source is 5 × 10−14 erg cm−2 s−1 and its 0.3–8 keV luminosity is 2.2 × 1041 erg s−1 (2.7 × 1041 erg s−1; 0.5–10 keV) assuming that the source belongs to the associated galaxy. We find a candidate optical counterpart in archival Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys g′-band observations of the field containing the galaxy obtained on 2003 June 16. The observed magnitude of g′= 26.4 ± 0.1 corresponds to an absolute magnitude of −10.1. We discuss the possible nature of the X-ray source and its associated candidate optical counterpart and conclude that the source is either a very blue Type IIn supernova, an ultraluminous X-ray source with a very bright optical counterpart or a recoiling supermassive black hole.
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