arXiv · astro-ph/0102395
Optical Identification of the X-ray Burster in the Globular Cluster NGC1851
Abstract
We have obtained exposures of the field of X0512-401 in the globular cluster NGC1851, in X-rays with the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and in the far-UV with the Hubble Space Telescope. We derive an accurate new X-ray position within ~1" for X0512-401, which enables us to confirm that the only plausible candidate for the optical/UV counterpart is the Star A, which we previously identified from WFPC2 imaging. We find no evidence for X-ray or UV flux modulation on the ultra-short (<1 hr) expected binary period, which implies a low system inclination. In addition, we have detected and spatially resolved an X-ray burst event, confirming the association of the burster, quiescent X-ray source, and optical object. The very large Lx/Lopt of this object implies an extraordinarily compact system, similar to the sources in NGC6624 and NGC6712.
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L. Homer, Scott F. Anderson, Bruce Margon, Eric W. Deutsch, Ronald A. Downes. 2001-02-22. Optical Identification of the X-ray Burster in the Globular Cluster NGC1851. https://doi.org/10.1086/319652
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