FUSE Spectra of the Black Hole Binary LMC X-3

J. B. Hutchings; K. Winter; D. Crampton; A. P. Cowley; P. Schmidtke

doi:10.1086/378606

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arXiv · astro-ph/0308482

FUSE Spectra of the Black Hole Binary LMC X-3

J. B. Hutchings·K. Winter·D. Crampton·A. P. Cowley·P. Schmidtke

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Abstract

Far-ultraviolet spectra of LMC X-3 were taken covering photometric phases 0.47 to 0.74 in the 1.7-day orbital period of the black-hole binary (phase zero being superior conjunction of the X-ray source). The continuum is faint and flat, but appears to vary significantly during the observations. Concurrent RXTE/ASM observations show the system was in its most luminous X-ray state during the FUSE observations. The FUV spectrum contains strong terrestrial airglow emission lines, while the only stellar lines clearly present are emissions from the O VI resonance doublet. Their flux does not change significantly during the FUSE observations. These lines are modelled as two asymmetrical profiles, including the local ISM absorptions due to C II and possibly O VI. Velocity variations of O VI emission are consistent with the orbital velocity of the black hole and provide a new constraint on its mass.

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J. B. Hutchings, K. Winter, D. Crampton, A. P. Cowley, P. Schmidtke. 2003-08-27. FUSE Spectra of the Black Hole Binary LMC X-3. https://doi.org/10.1086/378606

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