Swift J1753.5-0127: The Black Hole Candidate with the shortest orbital period

C. Zurita; M. Durant; M. A. P. Torres; T. Shahbaz; J. Casares; D. Steeghs

doi:10.1086/588721

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arXiv · 0803.2524

Swift J1753.5-0127: The Black Hole Candidate with the shortest orbital period

C. Zurita·M. Durant·M. A. P. Torres·T. Shahbaz·J. Casares·D. Steeghs

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Abstract

We present time-resolved photometry of the optical counterpart to the black hole candidate Swift J1753.5-0127, which has remained in the low/hard X-ray state and bright at optical/IR wavelengths since its discovery in 2005. At the time of our observations Swift J1753.5-0127 does not show a decay trend but remains stable at R=16.45 with a night to night variability of ~0.05 mag. The R-band light curves, taken from 2007 June 3 to August 31, are not sinusoidal, but exhibit a complex morphology with remarkable changes in shape and amplitude. The best period determination is 3.2443+-0.0010 hours. This photometric period is likely a superhump period, slightly larger than the orbital period. Therefore, Swift J1753.5-0127 is the black hole candidate with the shortest orbital period observed to date. Our estimation of the distance is comparable to values previously published and likely places Swift J1753.5-0127 in the Galactic halo.

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C. Zurita, M. Durant, M. A. P. Torres, T. Shahbaz, J. Casares, D. Steeghs. 2008-03-17. Swift J1753.5-0127: The Black Hole Candidate with the shortest orbital period. https://doi.org/10.1086/588721

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