ABSTRACT
In this work, we explore the applicability of standard theoretical models of accretion to the observed properties of M51 ULX-7. The spin-up rate and observed X-ray luminosity are evidence of ...a neutron star with a surface magnetic field of 2–7 × 1013 G, rotating near equilibrium. Analysis of the X-ray light curve of the system (Swift/XRT data) reveals the presence of a ∼39 d superorbital period. We argue that the superorbital periodicity is due to disc precession, and that material is accreted on to the neutron star at a constant rate throughout it. Moreover, by attributing this modulation to the free precession of the neutron star we estimate a surface magnetic field strength of 3–4 × 1013 G. The agreement of these two independent estimates provide strong constraints on the surface polar magnetic field strength of the NS.
NGC300 ULX1 is an ultraluminous X-ray pulsar, showing an unprecedented spin evolution, from about 126 s to less than 20 s in only 4 yr, consistent with steady mass accretion rate. Following its ...discovery we have been monitoring the system with Swift and NICER to further study its properties. We found that even though the observed flux of the system dropped by a factor of >~20, the spin-up rate remained almost constant. A possible explanation is that the decrease in the observed flux is a result of increased absorption of obscuring material due to outflows or a precessing accretion disc.
Aims. We investigate accretion models for the newly discovered pulsating ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 300 ULX1. Methods. We analyzed broadband XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations of NGC 300 ...ULX1, performing phase-averaged and phase-resolved spectroscopy. Using the Bayesian framework, we compared two physically motivated models for the source spectrum: Non-thermal accretion column emission modeled by a power law with a high-energy exponential roll-off (AC model), and multicolor thermal emission from an optically thick accretion envelope plus a hard power-law tail (MCAE model). The AC model is an often used phenomenological model for the emission of X-ray pulsars, while the MCAE model has recently been proposed for the emission of the optically thick accretion envelope that is expected to form in ultraluminous (LX > 1039 erg s−1), highly magnetized accreting neutron stars. We combined the findings of our Bayesian analysis with qualitative physical considerations to evaluate the suitability of each model. Results. The low-energy part (< 2 keV) of the source spectrum is dominated by non-pulsating, multicolor thermal emission. The (pulsating) high-energy continuum is more ambiguous. If modeled with the AC model, a residual structure is detected that can be modeled using a broad Gaussian absorption line centered at ∼12 keV. However, the same residuals can be successfully modeled using the MCAE model, without the need for the absorption-like feature. Model comparison using the Bayesian approach strongly indicates that the MCAE model without the absorption line is the preferred model. Conclusions. The spectro-temporal characteristics of NGC 300 ULX1 are consistent with previously reported traits for X-ray pulsars and (pulsating) ULXs. All models considered strongly indicate the presence of an accretion disk that is truncated at a large distance from the central object, as has recently been suggested for a large portion of both pulsating and non-pulsating ULXs. The hard, pulsed emission is not described by a smooth spectral continuum. If modeled by a broad Gaussian absorption line, the fit residuals can be interpreted as a cyclotron scattering feature (CRSF) compatible with a ∼1012 G magnetic field. However, the MCAE model can successfully describe the spectral and temporal characteristics of the source emission, without the need for an additional absorption feature, and it yields physically meaningful parameter values. Therefore strong doubts are cast on the presence of a CRSF in NGC 300 ULX1.
Context.
The discovery of pulsations in several ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) has demonstrated that a fraction of them are powered by super-Eddington accretion onto neutron stars (NSs). This has ...raised questions regarding the NS to black hole (BH) ratio within the ULX population and the physical mechanism that allows ULXs to reach luminosities well in excess of their Eddington luminosity. Is this latter the presence of strong magnetic fields or rather the presence of strong outflows that collimate the emission towards the observer?
Aims.
In order to distinguish between these scenarios, namely, supercritically accreting BHs, weakly magnetised NSs, or strongly magnetised NSs, we study the long-term X-ray spectral evolution of a sample of 17 ULXs with good long-term coverage, 6 of which are known to host NSs. At the same time, this study serves as a baseline to identify potential new NS-ULX candidates.
Methods.
We combine archival data from
Chandra
,
XMM-Newton
, and
NuSTAR
observatories in order to sample a wide range of spectral states for each source. We track the evolution of each source in a hardness–luminosity diagram in order to identify spectral changes, and show that these can be used to constrain the accretion flow geometry, and in some cases the nature of the accretor.
Results.
We find NS-ULXs to be among the hardest sources in our sample with highly variable high-energy emission. On this basis, we identify M 81 X-6 as a strong NS-ULX candidate, whose variability is shown to be akin to that of NGC 1313 X-2. For most softer sources with an unknown accretor, we identify the presence of three markedly different spectral states, which we interpret by invoking changes in the mass-accretion rate and obscuration by the supercritical wind/funnel structure. Finally, we report on a lack of variability at high energies (≳10 keV) in NGC 1313 X-1 and Holmberg IX X-1, which we argue may offer a means to differentiate BH-ULXs from NS-ULXs.
Conclusions.
We support a scenario in which the hardest sources in our sample might be powered by strongly magnetised NSs, meaning that the high-energy emission is dominated by the hard direct emission from the accretion column. Instead, softer sources may be explained by weakly magnetised NSs or BHs, in which the presence of outflows naturally explains their softer spectra through Compton down-scattering, their spectral transitions, and the dilution of the pulsed-emission should some of these sources contain NSs.
Aims. We aimed to identify the variable X-ray source 3XMM J000511.8+634018, which was serendipitously discovered through routine inspections while the 3XMM catalogue was compiled. Methods. We ...analysed the archival XMM-Newton observation of the source, obtained BUSCA photometry in three colours, and performed optical spectroscopy with the LBT. These data were supplemented by archival observations from the Zwicky Transient Facility. Results. Based on its optical and X-ray properties, 3XMM J000511.8+634018 is classified as a magnetic cataclysmic variable, or polar. The flux is modulated with a period of 2.22 h (8009.1 ± 0.2 s), which we identify with the orbital period. The bright phases are highly variable in X-ray luminosity from one cycle to the next. The source shows a thermal plasma spectrum typical of polars without evidence of a luminous soft blackbody-like component. It is non-eclipsing and displays one-pole accretion. The X-ray and BUSCA light curves show a stream absorption dip, which suggests an inclination 50° < i < 75°. The phasing of this feature, which occurs at the end of the bright phase, requires a somewhat special accretion geometry with a stream running far around the white dwarf before it is magnetically channelled. The period of this polar falls within the period gap of the cataclysmic variables (2.15−3.18 h), but appears to fall just below the minimum period when only polars are considered.
ABSTRACT
Supersoft X-ray sources (SSS) have been identified as white dwarfs accreting from binary companions and undergoing nuclear burning of the accreted material on their surface. Although ...expected to be a relatively numerous population from both binary evolution models and their identification as type Ia supernova progenitor candidates, given the very soft spectrum of SSSs relatively few are known. Here we report on the X-ray and optical properties of 1RXS J050526.3−684628, a previously unidentified accreting nuclear-burning white dwarf located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). XMM–Newton observations enabled us to study its X-ray spectrum and measure for the first time short-period oscillations of ∼170 s. By analysing newly obtained X-ray data by eROSITA, together with Swift observations and archival ROSAT data, we have followed its long-term evolution over the last 3 decades. We identify 1RXS J050526.3−684628 as a slowly evolving post-nova SSS undergoing residual surface nuclear burning, which finally reached its peak in 2013 and is now declining. Though long expected on theoretical grounds, such long-lived residual-burning objects had not yet been found. By comparison with existing models, we find that the effective temperature and luminosity evolution are consistent with an ∼0.7 M⊙ carbon–oxygen white dwarf accreting ${\sim} 10^{-9}~\rm {M}_{\odot }$ yr−1. Our results suggest that there may be many more undiscovered SSSs and ‘missed’ novae awaiting dedicated deep X-ray searches in the LMC and elsewhere.
The XMM-Newton serendipitous survey Webb, N. A.; Coriat, M.; Traulsen, I. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
09/2020, Letnik:
641
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context.
Sky surveys produce enormous quantities of data on extensive regions of the sky. The easiest way to access this information is through catalogues of standardised data products.
XMM-Newton
...has been surveying the sky in the X-ray, ultra-violet, and optical bands for 20 years.
Aims.
The
XMM-Newton
Survey Science Centre has been producing standardised data products and catalogues to facilitate access to the serendipitous X-ray sky.
Methods.
Using improved calibration and enhanced software, we re-reduced all of the 14 041
XMM-Newton
X-ray observations, of which 11 204 observations contained data with at least one detection and with these we created a new, high quality version of the
XMM-Newton
serendipitous source catalogue, 4XMM-DR9.
Results.
4XMM-DR9 contains 810 795 detections down to a detection significance of 3
σ
, of which 550 124 are unique sources, which cover 1152 degrees
2
(2.85%) of the sky. Filtering 4XMM-DR9 to retain only the cleanest sources with at least a 5
σ
detection significance leaves 433 612 detections. Of these detections, 99.6% have no pileup. Furthermore, 336 columns of information on each detection are provided, along with images. The quality of the source detection is shown to have improved significantly with respect to previous versions of the catalogues. Spectra and lightcurves are also made available for more than 288 000 of the brightest sources (36% of all detections).
Aims. We aimed to identify the variable X-ray source 3XMM J000511.8+634018, which was serendipitously discovered through routine inspections while the 3XMM catalogue was compiled.Methods. We analysed ...the archival XMM-Newton observation of the source, obtained BUSCA photometry in three colours, and performed optical spectroscopy with the LBT. These data were supplemented by archival observations from the Zwicky Transient Facility.Results. Based on its optical and X-ray properties, 3XMM J000511.8+634018 is classified as a magnetic cataclysmic variable, or polar. The flux is modulated with a period of 2.22 h (8009.1 ± 0.2 s), which we identify with the orbital period. The bright phases are highly variable in X-ray luminosity from one cycle to the next. The source shows a thermal plasma spectrum typical of polars without evidence of a luminous soft blackbody-like component. It is non-eclipsing and displays one-pole accretion. The X-ray and BUSCA light curves show a stream absorption dip, which suggests an inclination 50° < i < 75°. The phasing of this feature, which occurs at the end of the bright phase, requires a somewhat special accretion geometry with a stream running far around the white dwarf before it is magnetically channelled. The period of this polar falls within the period gap of the cataclysmic variables (2.15−3.18 h), but appears to fall just below the minimum period when only polars are considered.Key words: novae, cataclysmic variables / X-rays: binaries / stars: individual: 3XMM J000511.8+634018
Aims.
We aimed to identify the variable X-ray source 3XMM J000511.8+634018, which was serendipitously discovered through routine inspections while the 3XMM catalogue was compiled.
Methods.
We ...analysed the archival
XMM-Newton
observation of the source, obtained BUSCA photometry in three colours, and performed optical spectroscopy with the LBT. These data were supplemented by archival observations from the Zwicky Transient Facility.
Results.
Based on its optical and X-ray properties, 3XMM J000511.8+634018 is classified as a magnetic cataclysmic variable, or polar. The flux is modulated with a period of 2.22 h (8009.1 ± 0.2 s), which we identify with the orbital period. The bright phases are highly variable in X-ray luminosity from one cycle to the next. The source shows a thermal plasma spectrum typical of polars without evidence of a luminous soft blackbody-like component. It is non-eclipsing and displays one-pole accretion. The X-ray and BUSCA light curves show a stream absorption dip, which suggests an inclination 50° <
i
< 75°. The phasing of this feature, which occurs at the end of the bright phase, requires a somewhat special accretion geometry with a stream running far around the white dwarf before it is magnetically channelled. The period of this polar falls within the period gap of the cataclysmic variables (2.15−3.18 h), but appears to fall just below the minimum period when only polars are considered.
The XMM-Newton serendipitous survey Rosen, S R; Webb, N A; Watson, M G ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
06/2016, Letnik:
590
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context. Thanks to the large collecting area (3 x~1500 cm super(2) at 1.5 keV) and wide field of view (30' across in full field mode) of the X-ray cameras on board the European Space Agency X-ray ...observatory XMM-Newton, each individual pointing can result in the detection of up to several hundred X-ray sources, most of which are newly discovered objects. Since XMM-Newton has now been in orbit for more than 15 yr, hundreds of thousands of sources have been detected. Aims. Recently, many improvements in the XMM-Newton data reduction algorithms have been made. These include enhanced source characterisation and reduced spurious source detections, refined astrometric precision of sources, greater net sensitivity for source detection, and the extraction of spectra and time series for fainter sources, both with better signal-to-noise. Thanks to these enhancements, the quality of the catalogue products has been much improved over earlier catalogues. Furthermore, almost 50% more observations are in the public domain compared to 2XMMi-DR3, allowing the XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre to produce a much larger and better quality X-ray source catalogue. Methods. The XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre has developed a pipeline to reduce the XMM-Newton data automatically. Using the latest version of this pipeline, along with better calibration, a new version of the catalogue has been produced, using XMM-Newton X-ray observations made public on or before 2013 December 31. Manual screening of all of the X-ray detections ensures the highest data quality. This catalogue is known as 3XMM. Results. In the latest release of the 3XMM catalogue, 3XMM-DR5, there are 565962 X-ray detections comprising 396910 unique X-ray sources. Spectra and lightcurves are provided for the 133000 brightest sources. For all detections, the positions on the sky, a measure of the quality of the detection, and an evaluation of the X-ray variability is provided, along with the fluxes and count rates in 7 X-ray energy bands, the total 0.2-12 keV band counts, and four hardness ratios. With the aim of identifying the detections, a cross correlation with 228 catalogues of sources detected in all wavebands is also provided for each X-ray detection. Conclusions. 3XMM-DR5 is the largest X-ray source catalogue ever produced. Thanks to the large array of data products associated with each detection and each source, it is an excellent resource for finding new and extreme objects.
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