Context. Microlensing is a unique method to probe low mass exoplanets beyond the snow line. However, the scientific potential of the new microlensing planet discovery is often unfulfilled due to lack ...of knowledge of the properties of the lens and source stars. The discovery light curve of the super Earth MOA-2007-BLG-192Lb suffers from significant degeneracies that limit what can be inferred about its physical properties. Aims. High resolution adaptive optics images allow us to solve this problem by resolving the microlensing target from all unrelated background stars, yielding the unique determination of magnified source and lens fluxes. This estimation permits the solution of our microlens model for the mass of the planet and its host and their physical projected separation. Methods. We observed the microlensing event MOA-2007-BLG-192 at high angular resolution in JHKs with the NACO adaptive optics system on the VLT while the object was still amplified by a factor 1.23 and then at baseline 18 months later. We analyzed and calibrated the NACO photometry in the standard 2MASS system in order to accurately constrain the source and the lens star fluxes. Results. We detect light from the host star of MOA-2007-BLG-192Lb, which significantly reduces the uncertainties in its characteristics as compared to earlier analyses. We find that MOA-2007-BLG-192L is most likely a very low mass late type M-dwarf (0.084-0.012+0.015 M⊙) at a distance of 660-70+100 pc orbited by a 3.2-1.8+5.2 M⊕ super-Earth at 0.66-0.22+0.51 AU. We then discuss the properties of this cold planetary system.
Context. The mechanism by which supergiant (sg)Be stars support cool, dense dusty discs/tori and their physical relationship with other evolved, massive stars such as luminous blue variables is ...uncertain. Aims. In order to investigate both issues we have analysed the long term behaviour of the canonical sgBe star LHA 115-S 18. Methods. We employed the OGLE II-IV lightcurve to search for (a-)periodic variability and supplemented these data with new and historic spectroscopy. Results. In contrast to historical expectations for sgBe stars, S18 is both photometrically and spectroscopically highly variable. The lightcurve is characterised by rapid aperiodic “flaring” throughout the 16 years of observations. Changes in the high excitation emission line component of the spectrum imply evolution in the stellar temperature – as expected for luminous blue variables – although somewhat surprisingly, spectroscopic and photometric variability appears not to be correlated. Characterised by emission in low excitation metallic species, the cool circumstellar torus appears largely unaffected by this behaviour. Finally, in conjunction with intense, highly variable He ii emission, X-ray emission implies the presence of an unseen binary companion. Conclusions. S18 provides observational support for the putative physical association of (a subset of) sgBe stars and luminous blue variables. Given the nature of the circumstellar environment of S18 and that luminous blue variables have been suggested as supernovae progenitors, it is tempting to draw a parallel to the progenitors of SN1987A and SN2009ip. Moreover the likely binary nature of S18 strengthens the possibility that the dusty discs/tori that characterise sgBe stars are the result of binary-driven mass-loss; consequently such stars may provide a window on the short lived phase of mass-transfer in massive compact binaries.
We combine the decade-long photometry of the Be/X-ray binary system A0538-66 provided by the Massive astrophysical compact halo object (MACHO) and optical gravitational lensing experiment (OGLE) IV ...projects with high-resolution Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) spectroscopy to provide detailed constraints on the orbital parameters and system properties. The ~420 d superorbital modulation is present throughout, but has reduced in amplitude in recent years. The well-defined 16.6409 d orbital outbursts, which were a strong function of superorbital phase in the MACHO data (not occurring at all at superorbital maximum), are present throughout the OGLE IV coverage. However, their amplitude reduces during superorbital maximum. We have refined the orbital period and ephemeris of the optical outburst based on ~25 yr light curves to HJD = 2455674.48 plus or minus 0.03 + n*16.6409 plus or minus 0.0003d. Our SALT spectra reveal a B1 III star with vsin i of 285 kms super( -1) from which we have derived an orbital radial velocity curve which confirms the high eccentricity of e = 0.72 plus or minus 0.14. Furthermore, the mass function indicates that, unless the neutron star far exceeds the canonical 1.44 M..., the donor must be significantly undermassive for its spectral type. We discuss the implications of the geometry and our derived orbital solution on the observed behaviour of the system. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
ABSTRACT
We report the results of eROSITA and NICER observations of the 2020 June outburst of the Be/X-ray binary pulsar RX J0529.8−6556 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, along with the analysis of ...archival X-ray and optical data from this source. We find two anomalous features in the system’s behaviour. First, the pulse profile observed by NICER during maximum luminosity is similar to that observed by XMM–Newton in 2000, despite the fact that the X-ray luminosity was different by two orders of magnitude. In contrast, a modest decrease in luminosity in the 2020 observations generated a significant change in pulse profile. Secondly, we find that the historical optical outbursts are not strictly periodic, as would be expected if the outbursts were triggered by periastron passage, as is generally assumed. The optical peaks are also not coincident with the X-ray outbursts. We suggest that this behaviour may result from a misalignment of the Be star disc and the orbital plane, which might cause changes in the timing of the passage of the neutron star through the disc as it precesses. We conclude that the orbital period of the source remains unclear.
We use six years (2003–2008) of Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment-III microlensing observations to derive the survey detection efficiency for a range of planetary masses and projected ...distances from the host star. We perform an independent analysis of the microlensing light curves to extract the event parameters and compute the planet detection probability given the data. 2433 light curves satisfy our quality selection criteria and are retained for further processing. The aggregate of the detection probabilities over the range explored yields the expected number of microlensing planet detections. We employ a Galactic model to convert this distribution from dimensionless to physical units, α/au and M⊕. The survey sensitivity to small planets is highest in the range 1–4 au, shifting to slightly larger separations for more massive ones.
ABSTRACT
For a long time XMMU J010331.7−730144 was proposed as a high-mass X-ray binary candidate based on its X-ray properties, however, its optical behaviour was unclear – in particular previous ...observations did not reveal key Balmer emission lines. In this paper, we report on optical and X-ray variability of the system. XMMU J010331.7–730144 has been monitored with the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) in the I and V bands for the past 9 yr where it has shown extremely large amplitude outbursts separated by long periods of low-level flux. During its most recent optical outburst we obtained spectra with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) where, for the first time, the H α line is seen in emission, confirming the Be nature of the optical companion. The OGLE colour–magnitude diagrams also exhibit a distinct loop that is explained by changes in mass-loss from the Be star and mass outflow in its disc. In the X-rays, XMMU J010331.7−730144 has been monitored by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory through the S-CUBED programme. The X-ray flux throughout the monitoring campaign shows relatively low values for a typical Be/X-ray binary system. We show, from the analysis of the optical data, that the variability is due to the Be disc density and opacity changing rather than its physical extent as a result of efficient truncation by the NS. The relatively low X-ray flux can then be explained by the neutron star normally accreting matter at a low rate due to the small radial extent of the Be disc.
ABSTRACT
Swift J004929.5-733107 is an X-ray source in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) that has been reported several times, but the optical counterpart has been unclear due to source confusion in a ...crowded region of the SMC. Previous works proposed MA93 302 as the counterpart, however we show here, using data obtained from the S-CUBED project, that the X-ray position is inconsistent with that object. Instead we propose a previously unclassified object which has all the indications of being a newly identified Be star exhibiting strong H α emission. Evidence for the presence of significant I-band variability strongly suggest that this is, in fact, a Be type star with a large circumstellar disc. Over 18 yr worth of optical monitoring by the OGLE project reveal a periodic modulation at a period of 413 d, probably the binary period of the system. A SALT optical spectrum shows strong Balmer emission and supports a proposed spectral classification of B1-3 III-IVe. The X-ray data obtained from the S-CUBED project reveal a time-averaged spectrum well fitted by a photon index Γ = 0.93 ± 0.16. Assuming the known distance to the SMC, the flux corresponds to a luminosity ∼1035 erg s−1. All of these observational facts suggest that this is confirmed as a Be star–neutron star X-ray binary (BeXRB) in the SMC, albeit one with an unusually long binary period at the limits of the Corbet Diagram.
We have analyzed the data on 16,836 RR Lyrae (RR Lyr) variables observed toward the Galactic bulge during the third phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE-III), which took place ...in 2001-2009. Using these standard candles, we show that the ratio of total-to-selective extinction toward the bulge is given by RI = AI/E(V - I) = 1.080 + or - 0.007 and is independent of color. We demonstrate that the bulge RR Lyr stars form a metal-uniform population, slightly elongated in its inner part. The photometrically derived metallicity distribution is sharply peaked at Fe/H = -1.02 + or - 0.18, with a dispersion of 0.25 dex. In the inner regions (|l| < 3degrees, |b| < 4degrees) the RR Lyr tend to follow the barred distribution of the bulge red clump giants. The distance to the Milky Way center inferred from the bulge RR Lyr is R sub(0) = 8.54 + or - 0.42 kpc. We report a break in the mean density distribution at a distance of ~0.5 kpc from the center indicating its likely flattening. Using the OGLE-III data, we assess that (4-7) x 10 super(4) type ab RR Lyr variables should be detected toward the bulge area of the ongoing near-IR VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) survey, where the uncertainty partially results from the unknown RR Lyr spatial density distribution within 0.2 kpc from the Galactic center.
On MJD 56590-1 (2013 Oct 25-26), observations of the Magellanic Clouds by the INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) observatory discovered a previously unreported bright, flaring ...X-ray source. This source was initially given the identification IGR J00569-7226. Subsequent multiwavelength observations identified the system as new Be/X-ray binary system in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Follow-up X-ray observations by Swift and XMM-Newton revealed an X-ray pulse period of 5.05 s and that the system underwent regular occultation/eclipse behaviour every 17 d. This is the first reported eclipsing Be/X-ray binary system in the SMC, and only the second such system known to date. Furthermore, the nature of the occultation makes it possible to use the neutron star to 'X-ray' the circumstellar disc, thereby, for the first time, revealing direct observational evidence for its size and clumpy structure. Swift timing measurements allowed for the binary solution to be calculated from the Doppler-shifted X-ray pulsations. This solution suggests this is a low-eccentricity binary relative to others measured in the SMC. Finally, it is interesting to note that the mass determined from this dynamical method for the Be star (~13.0 M...) is significantly different from that inferred from the spectroscopic classification of B0.2Ve (~16.0 M...) -- an effect that has been noted for some other high mass X-ray binary systems. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)
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