Context.The idea of a unified description of supermassive and stellar black holes has been supported by the extension of the empirical radio/X-ray correlation from X-ray binaries to active galactic ...nuclei through the inclusion of a mass term. This has lead to the so-called fundamental plane of black hole activity in the black hole mass, radio and X-ray luminosity space. Two incarnations of this fundamental plane have so far been suggested using different underlying models and using two different samples of accreting black holes. Aims.We improve the parameter estimates of the fundamental plane and estimate the scatter of the sources around the plane in both samples. This is used to look for possible constraints on the proposed theoretical models. Furthermore, we search for selection effects due to the inclusion of different classes of AGN or distance effects. Methods.We present revised samples for both studies together with a refined statistical analysis using measured errors of the observables. This method is used to compare the two samples and infer parameters for the fundamental plane in a homogeneous way. Results.We show that strongly sub-Eddington objects in a state equivalent to the low/hard state of X-ray binaries follow the fundamental plane very tightly; the scatter is comparable to the measurement errors. However, we find that the estimated parameters depend strongly on the assumptions made on the sources of scatter and the relative weight of the different AGN classes in the sample. Using only hard state objects, the fundamental plane is in agreement with the prediction of a simple uncooled synchrotron/jet model for the emitted radiation. Inclusion of high-state objects increases the scatter and moves the correlation closer to a disk/jet model. This is qualitatively consistent with a picture where low-state objects are largely dominated by jet emission while high-state objects have a strong contribution from an accretion disk.
ABSTRACT
We present neutral hydrogen (H i) absorption spectra of the black hole candidate X-ray binary (XRB) MAXI J1348–630 using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and MeerKAT. ...The ASKAP H i spectrum shows a maximum negative radial velocity (with respect to the local standard of rest) of −31 ± 4 km s−1 for MAXI J1348–630, as compared to −50 ± 4 km s−1 for a stacked spectrum of several nearby extragalactic sources. This implies a most probable distance of $2.2^{+0.5}_{-0.6}$ kpc for MAXI J1348–630, and a strong upper limit of the tangent point distance at 5.3 ± 0.1 kpc. Our preferred distance implies that MAXI J1348–630 reached 17 ± 10 per cent of the Eddington luminosity at the peak of its outburst, and that the source transited from the soft to the hard X-ray spectral state at 2.5 ± 1.5 per cent of the Eddington luminosity. The MeerKAT H i spectrum of MAXI J1348–630 (obtained from the older, low-resolution 4k mode) is consistent with the re-binned ASKAP spectrum, highlighting the potential of the eventual capabilities of MeerKAT for XRB spectral line studies.
We report results of Chandra X-ray and Very Large Array (VLA) radio observations of the Galactic accreting black hole V404 Cyg (GS 2023+338) in its quiescent state. V404 Cyg is detected at its ...faintest level of radio and X-ray emission with a 0.5–10 keV unabsorbed luminosity of 8.3 × 1032 (d/3.5 kpc)2 erg s−1. The X-ray spectrum fit with an absorbed power-law model yields a photon index of 2.17 ± 0.13. Contrary to previous findings, this clearly indicates that V404 Cyg undergoes – like most black holes in quiescence – a softening of its X-ray spectrum at very low luminosity compared to the standard hard state. The quiescent radio emission is consistent with the presence of self-absorbed compact jets. We have also re-analysed archival data from the decay of the 1989 outburst of V404 Cyg in order to quantify more precisely the correlation between radio and X-ray emission in the hard state of V404 Cyg. We show that this correlation extends over five decades in X-ray flux and holds down to the quiescent state of V404 Cyg. The index of this correlation (∼0.5) may suggest that synchrotron self-Compton emission is the dominant physical process at high energy in V404 Cyg. However, this index is also consistent with scale invariant jet models coupled to an inefficiently radiating accretion disc. We discuss the properties of the quiescent state of black holes and highlight the fact that some of their properties are different from the standard hard state.
ABSTRACT We present spectral analyses of five Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array and Swift observations of GX 339-4 taken during a failed outburst during the summer of 2013. These observations ...cover Eddington luminosity fractions in the range 0.9%-6%. Throughout this outburst GX 339-4 stayed in the hard state and all five observations show similar X-ray spectra, with a hard power law with a photon index near 1.6, and significant contribution from reflection. Using simple reflection models we find unrealistically high iron abundances. Allowing for different photon indices for the continuum incident on the reflector relative to the underlying observed continuum results in a statistically better fit and reduced iron abundances. With a photon index around 1.3, the input power law on the reflector is significantly harder than that which is directly observed. We study the influence of different emissivity profiles and geometries and consistently find an improvement when using separate photon indices. The inferred inner accretion disk radius is strongly model dependent, but we do not find evidence for a truncation radius larger than in any model. The data do not allow independent spin constraints, but the results are consistent with the literature (i.e., ). Our best-fit models indicate an inclination angle in the range 40°-60°, consistent with limits on the orbital inclination but higher than reported in the literature using standard reflection models. The iron line around 6.4 keV is clearly broadened, and we detect a superimposed narrow core as well. This core originates from a fluorescent region outside the influence of the strong gravity of the black hole. Additionally, we discuss possible geometries.
Abstract
Over the past decade, observations of relativistic outflows from outbursting X-ray binaries in the Galactic field have grown significantly. In this work, we present the first detection of ...moving and decelerating radio-emitting outflows from an X-ray binary in a globular cluster. MAXI J1848−015 is a recently discovered transient X-ray binary in the direction of the globular cluster GLIMPSE-C01. Using observations from the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, and a monitoring campaign with the MeerKAT observatory for 500 days, we model the motion of the outflows. This represents some of the most intensive, long-term coverage of relativistically moving X-ray binary outflows to date. We use the proper motions of the outflows from MAXI J1848−015 to constrain the component of the intrinsic jet speed along the line of sight,
β
int
cos
θ
ejection
, to be =0.19 ± 0.02. Assuming it is located in GLIMPSE-C01, at 3.4 kpc, we determine the intrinsic jet speed,
β
int
= 0.79 ± 0.07, and the inclination angle to the line of sight,
θ
ejection
= 76° ± 2°. This makes the outflows from MAXI J1848−015 somewhat slower than those seen from many other known X-ray binaries. We also constrain the maximum distance to MAXI J1848−015 to be 4.3 kpc. Finally, we discuss the implications of our findings for the nature of the compact object in this system, finding that a black hole primary is a viable (but as-of-yet unconfirmed) explanation for the observed properties of MAXI J1848−015. If future data and/or analysis provide more conclusive evidence that MAXI J1848−015 indeed hosts a black hole, it would be the first black hole X-ray binary in outburst identified in a Galactic globular cluster.
ABSTRACT
We present the radio and X-ray monitoring campaign of the 2019/2020 outburst of MAXI J1348–630, a new black hole X-ray binary (BH XRB) discovered in 2019 January. We observed MAXI J1348–630 ...for ∼14 months in the radio band with MeerKAT and the Australia Telescope Compact Array, and in the X-rays with MAXI and Swift/XRT. Throughout the outburst, we detected and tracked the evolution of compact and transient jets. Following the main outburst, the system underwent at least four hard-state-only re-flares, during which compact jets were again detected. For the major outburst, we observed the rise, quenching and reactivation of compact jets, as well as two single-sided discrete ejecta travelling away from the BH, launched ∼2 months apart. These ejecta displayed the highest proper motion (≳100 mas d−1) ever measured for an accreting BH binary. From the jet motion, we constrain the ejecta inclination and speed to be ≤46○ and ≥0.69 c, and the opening angle and transverse expansion speed of the first component to be ≤6○ and ≤0.05 c. We also infer that the first ejection happened at the hard-to-soft state transition, before a strong radio flare, while the second ejection was launched during a short excursion from the soft to the intermediate state. After travelling with constant speed, the first component underwent a strong deceleration, which was covered with unprecedented detail and suggested that MAXI J1348–630 could be located inside a low-density cavity in the interstellar medium, as already proposed for XTE J1550–564 and H1743–322.
We present follow-up radio observations of ESO 243-49 HLX-1 from 2012 using the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). We report the detection of ...radio emission at the location of HLX-1 during its hard X-ray state using the ATCA. Assuming that the 'Fundamental Plane' of accreting black holes is applicable, we provide an independent estimate of the black hole mass of M sub(BH) less than or equal to 2.8 super(+7.5) sub(-2.1) x10 super(6) M. at 90 per cent confidence. However, we argue that the detected radio emission is likely to be Doppler-boosted and our mass estimate is an upper limit. We discuss other possible origins of the radio emission such as being due to a radio nebula, star formation, or later interaction of the flares with the large-scale environment. None of these were found adequate. The VLA observations were carried out during the X-ray outburst. However, no new radio flare was detected, possibly due to a sparse time sampling. The deepest, combined VLA data suggest a variable radio source and we briefly discuss the properties of the previously detected flares and compare them with microquasars and active galactic nuclei.
Black hole X-ray binaries in the quiescent state (Eddington ratios typically 10−5) display softer X-ray spectra (photon indices Γ ∼ 2) compared to higher-luminosity black hole X-ray binaries in the ...hard state (Γ ∼ 1.7). However, the cause of this softening and its implications for the underlying accretion flow are still uncertain. Here, we present quasi-simultaneous X-ray and radio spectral monitoring of the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070 during the decay of its 2018 outburst and of a subsequent reflare in 2019, providing an opportunity to monitor a black hole X-ray binary as it actively transitions into quiescence. We probe 1-10 keV X-ray luminosities as low as LX ∼ 4 × 1032 erg s−1, equivalent to Eddington fractions of ∼4 × 10−7. During its decay toward quiescence, the X-ray spectrum of MAXI J1820+070 softens from Γ ∼ 1.7 to Γ ∼ 2, with the softening taking ∼30 days and completing at LX 1034 erg s−1 ( 10−5 LEdd). While the X-ray spectrum softens, the radio spectrum generally remains flat or inverted throughout the decay. We also find that MAXI J1820+070 follows a radio (LR)-X-ray luminosity correlation of the form LR ∝ LX0.52 0.07, making it the fourth black hole system to follow the so-called "standard track" unbroken over several (in this case, four) decades in LX. Comparing the radio/X-ray spectral evolution(s) with the LR-LX plane, we find that the X-ray softening is consistent with X-rays produced by Comptonization processes in a radiatively inefficient accretion flow. We generally disfavor X-ray emission originating solely from within the jet, with the possible exception of X-rays produced via synchrotron self-Compton processes.
ABSTRACT Low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) show evidence of a global correlation of debated origin between X-ray and optical luminosity. We study for the first time this correlation in two transient ...LMXBs, the black hole (BH) V404 Cyg and the neutron star Cen X-4, over six orders of magnitude in X-ray luminosity, from outburst to quiescence. After subtracting the contribution from the companion star, the Cen X-4 data can be described by a single power-law correlation of the form , consistent with disk reprocessing. We find a similar correlation slope for V404 Cyg in quiescence (0.46) and a steeper one (0.56) in the outburst hard state of 1989. However, V404 Cyg is about 160-280 times optically brighter, at a given 3-9 keV X-ray luminosity, compared to Cen X-4. This ratio is a factor of 10 smaller in quiescence, where the normalization of the V404 Cyg correlation also changes. Once the bolometric X-ray emission is considered and the known main differences between V404 Cyg and Cen X-4 are taken into account (a larger compact object mass, accretion disk size, and the presence of a strong jet contribution in the hard state for the BH system), the two systems lie on the same correlation. In V404 Cyg, the jet dominates spectrally at optical-infrared frequencies during the hard state but makes a negligible contribution in quiescence, which may account for the change in its correlation slope and normalization. These results provide a benchmark to compare with data from the 2015 outburst of V404 Cyg and, potentially, other transient LMXBs as well.
Galactic black hole binaries produce powerful outflows which emit over almost the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Here, we report the first detection with the Herschel observatory of a variable ...far-infrared source associated with the compact jets of the black hole transient GX 339−4 during the decay of its recent 2010-2011 outburst, after the transition to the hard state. We also outline the results of very sensitive radio observations conducted with the Australia Telescope Compact Array, along with a series of near-infrared, optical (OIR) and X-ray observations, allowing for the first time the re-ignition of the compact jets to be observed over a wide range of wavelengths. The compact jets first turn on at radio frequencies with an optically thin spectrum that later evolves to an optically thick synchrotron emission. An OIR reflare is observed about 10 d after the onset of radio and hard X-ray emission, likely reflecting the necessary time to build up enough density, as well as to have acceleration (e.g. through shocks) along an extended region in the jets. The Herschel measurements are consistent with an extrapolation of the radio inverted power-law spectrum, but they highlight a more complex radio to OIR spectral energy distribution for the jets.
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