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arXiv · 0801.3268

On the masses and evolutionary status of the black hole binary GX 339-4. A twin system of XTE J1550-564?

T. Muñoz-Darias·J. Casares·I. G. Martinez-Pais
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Abstract

We apply the K-correction to the black hole LMXB GX 339-4 which implies Mx > 6 Msun by only assuming that the companion is more massive than ~0.17 Msun, the lower limit allowed by applying a 'stripped-giant' model. This evolutionary model successfully reproduces the observed properties of the system. We obtain a maximum mass for the companion of M2 < 1.1 Msun and an upper limit to the mass ratio of q(=M2/Mx)< 0.125. The high X-ray activity displayed by the source suggests a relatively large mass transfer rate which, according to the model, results in M2 > 0.3 Msun and Mx > 7 Msun. We have also applied this scenario to the black hole binary XTE J1550-564, which has a similar orbital period but the donor is detected spectroscopically. The model successfully reproduces the observed stellar parameters.

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T. Muñoz-Darias, J. Casares, I. G. Martinez-Pais. 2008-01-21. On the masses and evolutionary status of the black hole binary GX 339-4. A twin system of XTE J1550-564?. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.12987.x

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