arXiv subjects

D. Altamirano

Publications and source records attributed to D. Altamirano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

MAXI J1957+032: a new accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar in an ultra-compact binary

The detection of coherent X-ray pulsations at ~314 Hz (3.2 ms) classifies MAXI J1957+032 as a fast-rotating, accreting neutron star. We present the temporal and spectral analysis performed using NICER observations collected during the latest outburst of the source. Doppler modulation of the X-ray pulsation revealed the ultra-compact nature of the binary system characterised by an orbital period of ~1 hour and a projected semi-major axis of 14 lt-ms. The neutron star binary mass function suggests a minimum donor mass of 1.7e-2 Msun, assuming a neutron star mass of 1.4 Msun and a binary inclination angle lower than 60 degrees. This assumption is supported by the lack of eclipses or dips in the X-ray light curve of the source. We characterised the 0.5-10 keV energy spectrum of the source in outburst as the superposition of a relatively cold black-body-like thermal emission compatible with the emission from the neutron star surface and a Comptonisation component with photon index consistent with a typical hard state. We did not find evidence for iron K-alpha lines or reflection components.

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arXiv2022

Outflows and spectral evolution in the eclipsing AMXP SWIFT J1749.4-2807 with NICER, XMM-Newton and NuSTAR

The neutron star low-mass X-ray binary SWIFT J1749.4-2807 is the only known eclipsing accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar. In this manuscript we perform a spectral characterization of the system throughout its 2021, two-week-long outburst, analyzing 11 NICER observations and quasi-simultaneous XMM-Newton and NuSTAR single observations at the outburst peak. The broadband spectrum is well-modeled with a black body component with a temperature of $\sim$0.6 keV, most likely consistent with a hot spot on the neutron star surface, and a Comptonisation spectrum with power-law index $Γ\sim 1.9$, arising from a hot corona at $\sim$12 keV. No direct emission from the disc was found, possibly due to it being too cool. A high truncation radius for the disc, i.e., at $\sim$20--30 R$_{G}$ , was obtained from the analysis of the broadened profile of the Fe line in the reflection component. The significant detection of a blue-shifted Fe XXVI absorption line at $\sim$7 keV indicates weakly relativistic X-ray disc winds, which are typically absent in the hard state of X-ray binaries. By comparing the low flux observed during the outburst and the one expected in a conservative mass-transfer, we conclude that mass-transfer in the system is highly non-conservative, as also suggested by the wind detection. Finally, using the Nicer spectra alone, we followed the system while it was fading to quiescence. During the outburst decay, as the spectral shape hardened, the hot spot on the neutron star surface cooled down and shrank, a trend which could be consistent with the pure power-law spectrum observed during quiescence.

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arXiv2022

On the peculiar long-term orbital evolution of the eclipsing accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SWIFT J1749.4-2807

We present the pulsar timing analysis of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SWIFT J1749.4-2807 monitored by NICER and XMM-Newton during its latest outburst after almost eleven years of quiescence. From the coherent timing analysis of the pulse profiles, we updated the orbital ephemerides of the system. Large phase jumps of the fundamental frequency phase of the signal are visible during the outburst, consistent with what was observed during the previous outburst. Moreover, we report on the marginally significant evidence for non-zero eccentricity ($e\simeq 4\times 10^{-5}$) obtained independently from the analysis of both the 2021 and 2010 outbursts and we discuss possible compatible scenarios. Long-term orbital evolution of SWIFT J1749.4-2807 suggests a fast expansion of both the NS projected semi-major axis $(x)$, and the orbital period $(P_{\rm orb})$, at a rate of $\dot{x}\simeq 2.6\times 10^{-13}\,\text{lt-s}\,\text{s}^{-1}$ and $\dot{P}_{\rm orb}\simeq 4 \times 10^{-10}\,\text{s}\,\text{s}^{-1}$, respectively. SWIFT J1749.4-2807 is the only accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar, so far, from which the orbital period derivative has been directly measured from appreciable changes on the observed orbital period. Finally, no significant secular deceleration of the spin frequency of the compact object is detected, which allowed us to set a constraint on the magnetic field strength at the polar caps of $B_{PC}<1.3\times 10^{8}~\text{G}$, in line with typical values reported for AMXPs.

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arXiv2022

Multiwavelength observations of MAXI J1820+070 during its outburst decay and subsequent mini-outburst

We present results from quasi-simultaneous multiwavelength observations of the Galactic black hole X-ray transient MAXI J1820$+$070 during the decay of the 2018 outburst and its entire subsequent mini-outburst in March 2019. We fit the X-ray spectra with phenomenological and Comptonizaton models and discuss the X-ray spectral evolution comparing with the multiwavelength behaviour of the system. The system showed a rebrightening in UV/Optical/NIR bands 7-days after the soft-to-hard transition during the main outburst decay while it was fading in X-rays and radio. In contrast, the mini-outburst occurred 165-days after the hard state transition of the initial outburst decay and was detected in all wavelengths. For both events, the measured timescales are consistent with those observed in other black hole systems. Contemporaneous hard X-ray/soft $γ$-ray observations indicate a non-thermal electron energy distribution at the beginning of the UV/Optical/NIR rebrightening, whereas a thermal distribution can fit the data during the hard mini-outburst activity. The broadband spectral energy distributions until the rebrightening are consistent with the irradiated outer accretion disc model. However, both the SEDs produced for the peak of rebrightening and close to the peak of mini-outburst provided good fits only with an additional power-law component in the UV/Optical/NIR frequency ranges which is often interpreted with a jet origin.

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arXiv2022

A persistent ultraviolet outflow from an accreting neutron star binary transient

All disc-accreting astrophysical objects produce powerful outflows. In binaries containing neutron stars (NS) or black holes, accretion often takes place during violent outbursts. The main disc wind signatures during these eruptions are blue-shifted X-ray absorption lines, which are preferentially seen in disc-dominated "soft states". By contrast,optical wind-formed lines have recently been detected in "hard states", when a hot corona dominates the luminosity. The relationship between these signatures is unknown, and no erupting system has revealed wind-formed lines between the X-ray and optical bands yet, despite the many strong resonance transitions in this ultraviolet (UV) region. Here, we show that the transient NS binary Swift J1858.6-0814 exhibits wind-formed, blue-shifted absorption associated with C IV, N V and He II in time-resolved UV spectroscopy during a luminous hard state. This represents the first evidence for a warm, moderately ionized outflow component in this state. Simultaneously observed optical lines also display transient blue-shifted absorption. Decomposing the UV data into constant and variable components, the blue-shifted absorption is associated with the former. This implies that the outflow is not connect to the luminous flares in the data. The joint presence of UV and optical wind features reveals a multi-phase and/or stratified outflow from the outer disc. This type of persistent mass loss across all accretion states has been predicted by radiation-hydrodynamic simulations and helps to explain the shorter-than-expected outbursts duration.

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arXiv2021

A Swift study of long-term changes in the X-ray flaring properties of Sagittarius A*

The radiative counterpart of the supermassive black hole at the Galactic Centre, Sagittarius A*, displays flaring emission in the X-ray band atop a steady, quiescent level. Flares are also observed in the near-infrared band. The physical process producing the flares is not fully understood and it is unclear if the flaring rate varies, although some recent works suggest it has reached unprecedented variability in recent years. Using over a decade of regular X-ray monitoring of Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, we studied the variations in count rate of Sgr A* on time scales of years. We decomposed the X-ray emission into quiescent and flaring emission, modelled as a constant and power law process, respectively. We found that the complete, multi-year dataset cannot be described by a stationary distribution of flare fluxes, while individual years follow this model better. In three of the ten studied years, the data is consistent with a purely Poissonian quiescent distribution, while for five years only an upper limit of the flare flux distribution parameter could be determined. We find that these possible changes cannot be explained fully by the different number of observations per year. Combined, these results are instead consistent with a changing flaring rate of Sgr A*, appearing more active between 2006-2007 and 2017-2019, than between 2008-2012. Finally, we discuss this result in the context of flare models and the passing of gaseous objects, and discuss the extra statistical steps taken, for instance to deal with the background in the Swift observations.

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arXiv2021

Photo-astrometric distances, extinctions, and astrophysical parameters for Gaia EDR3 stars brighter than G=18.5

We present a catalogue of 362 million stellar parameters, distances, and extinctions derived from Gaia's early third data release (EDR3) cross-matched with the photometric catalogues of Pan-STARRS1, SkyMapper, 2MASS, and AllWISE. The higher precision of the Gaia EDR3 data, combined with the broad wavelength coverage of the additional photometric surveys and the new stellar-density priors of the {\tt StarHorse} code allow us to substantially improve the accuracy and precision over previous photo-astrometric stellar-parameter estimates. At magnitude $G=14\, (17)$, our typical precisions amount to 3% (15%) in distance, 0.13 mag (0.15 mag) in $V$-band extinction, and 140 K (180 K) in effective temperature. Our results are validated by comparisons with open clusters, as well as with asteroseismic and spectroscopic measurements, indicating systematic errors smaller than the nominal uncertainties for the vast majority of objects. We also provide distance- and extinction-corrected colour-magnitude diagrams, extinction maps, and extensive stellar density maps that reveal detailed substructures in the Milky Way and beyond. The new density maps now probe a much greater volume, extending to regions beyond the Galactic bar and to Local Group galaxies, with a larger total number density. We publish our results through an ADQL query interface ({\tt gaia.aip.de}) as well as via tables containing approximations of the full posterior distributions. Our multi-wavelength approach and the deep magnitude limit make our results useful also beyond the next Gaia release, DR3.

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arXiv2021

The harmonic component of the millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations in 4U 1636-53

We studied the harmonics of the millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (mHz QPOs) in the neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53 using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations. We detected the harmonics of the mHz QPOs in 73 data intervals, with most of them in the transitional spectra state. We found that the ratio between the rms amplitude of the harmonic and that of the fundamental remains constant in a wide range of the fundamental frequency. More importantly, we studied, for the first time, the rms amplitude of the harmonics vs. energy in 4U 1636-53 in the 2-5 keV range. We found that the rms amplitude of both the harmonic and the fundamental shows a decreasing trend as the energy increases, which is different from the behaviors reported in QPOs in certain black hole systems. Furthermore, our results suggest that not all observations with mHz QPOs have the harmonic component, although the reason behind this is still unclear.

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arXiv2021

A broadband radio view of transient jet ejecta in the black hole candidate X-ray binary MAXI J1535-571

We present a broadband radio study of the transient jets ejected from the black hole candidate X-ray binary MAXI J1535-571, which underwent a prolonged outburst beginning on 2 September 2017. We monitored MAXI J1535-571 with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) at frequencies from 119 to 186 MHz over six epochs from 20 September to 14 October 2017. The source was quasi-simultaneously observed over the frequency range 0.84-19 GHz by UTMOST (the upgraded Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope), the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), and the Australian Long Baseline Array (LBA). Using the LBA observations from 23 September 2017, we measured the source size to be $34\pm1$ mas. During the brightest radio flare on 21 September 2017, the source was detected down to 119 MHz by the MWA, and the radio spectrum indicates a turnover between 250 and 500 MHz, which is most likely due to synchrotron self-absorption (SSA). By fitting the radio spectrum with a SSA model and using the LBA size measurement, we determined various physical parameters of the jet knot (identified in ATCA data), including the jet opening angle (= $4.5\pm1.2^{\circ}$) and the magnetic field strength (= $104^{+80}_{-78}$ mG). Our fitted magnetic field strength agrees reasonably well with that inferred from the standard equipartition approach, suggesting the jet knot to be close to equipartition. Our study highlights the capabilities of the Australian suite of radio telescopes to jointly probe radio jets in black hole X-ray binaries (BH-XRBs) via simultaneous observations over a broad frequency range, and with differing angular resolutions. This suite allows us to determine the physical properties of XRB jets. Finally, our study emphasizes the potential contributions that can be made by the low-frequency part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Low) in the study of BH-XRBs.

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arXiv2021

The evolving radio jet from the neutron star X-ray binary 4U 1820$-$30

The persistently bright ultra-compact neutron star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1820$-$30 displays a $\sim$170 d accretion cycle, evolving between phases of high and low X-ray modes, where the 3 -- 10 keV X-ray flux changes by a factor of up to $\approx 8$. The source is generally in a soft X-ray spectral state, but may transition to a harder state in the low X-ray mode. Here, we present new and archival radio observations of 4U 1820$-$30 during its high and low X-ray modes. For radio observations taken within a low mode, we observed a flat radio spectrum consistent with 4U 1820$-$30 launching a compact radio jet. However, during the high X-ray modes the compact jet was quenched and the radio spectrum was steep, consistent with optically-thin synchrotron emission. The jet emission appeared to transition at an X-ray luminosity of $L_{\rm X (3-10 keV)} \sim 3.5 \times 10^{37} (D/\rm{7.6 kpc})^{2}$ erg s$^{-1}$. We also find that the low-state radio spectrum appeared consistent regardless of X-ray hardness, implying a connection between jet quenching and mass accretion rate in 4U 1820$-$30, possibly related to the properties of the inner accretion disk or boundary layer.

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arXiv2021

Failed-Transition outbursts in Black hole low-mass X-ray binaries

Black hole low-mass X-ray binaries (BH LMXBs) evolve in a similar way during outburst. Based on the X-ray spectrum and variability, this evolution can be divided into three canonical states: low/hard, intermediate and high/soft state. BH LMXBs evolve from the low/hard to the high/soft state through the intermediate state in some outbursts (here called "full outbursts"). However, in other cases, BH LMXBs undergo outbursts in which the source never reaches the high/soft state, here called "Failed-Transition outburst" (FT outbursts). From a sample of 56 BH LMXBs undergoing 128 outbursts, we find that $\sim$36% of these BH LMXBs experienced at least one FT outburst, and that FT outbursts represent $\sim$33% of the outbursts of the sample, showing that these are common events. We compare all the available X-ray data of full and FT outbursts of BH LMXBs from RXTE/PCA, Swift/BAT and MAXI and find that FT and full outbursts cannot be distinguished from their X-ray light curves, HIDs or X-ray variability during the initial 10-60 days after the outburst onset. This suggests that both types of outbursts are driven by the same physical process. We also compare the optical and infrared (O/IR) data of FT and full outbursts of GX 339-4. We found that this system is generally brighter in O/IR bands before an FT outburst, suggesting that the O/IR flux points to the physical process that later leads to a full or an FT outburst. We discuss our results in the context of models that describe the onset and evolution of outbursts in accreting X-ray binaries.

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arXiv2021

NICER uncovers the transient nature of the type-B quasi-periodic oscillation in the black hole candidate MAXI J1348-630

We present a systematic spectral-timing analysis of a fast appearance/disappearance of a type-B quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO), observed in four NICER observations of MAXI J1348-630. By comparing the spectra of the period with and without the type-B QPO, we found that the main difference appears at energy bands above ~2 keV, suggesting that the QPO emission is dominated by the hard Comptonised component. During the transition, a change in the relative contribution of the disk and Comptonised emission was observed. The disk flux decreased while the Comptonised flux increased from non-QPO to type-B QPO. However, the total flux did not change too much in the NICER band. Our results reveal that the type-B QPO is associated with a redistribution of accretion power between the disk and Comptonised emission. When the type-B QPO appears, more accretion power is dissipated into the Comptonised region than in the disk. Our spectral fits give a hint that the increased Comptonised emission may come from an additional component that is related to the base of the jet.

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arXiv2021

NuSTAR reveals the hidden nature of SS433

SS433 is the only Galactic binary system known to persistently accrete at highly super-critical (or hyper-critical) rates, similar to those in tidal disruption events, and likely needed to explain the rapid growth of those very high redshift quasars containing massive SMBHs. Probing the inner regions of SS433 in the X-rays is crucial to understanding this system, and super-critical accretion in general, but is highly challenging due to obscuration by the surrounding wind, driven from the accretion flow. NuSTAR observed SS433 in the hard X-ray band across multiple phases of its 162 day super-orbital precession period. Spectral-timing tools allow us to infer that the hard X-ray emission from the inner regions is likely being scattered towards us by the walls of the wind-cone. By comparing to numerical models, we determine an intrinsic X-ray luminosity of $\ge$ 2$\times$10$^{37}$ erg/s and that, if viewed face on, we would infer an apparent luminosity of $>$ 1$\times$10$^{39}$ erg/s, confirming SS433's long-suspected nature as an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX). We present the discovery of a narrow, $\sim 100$s lag due to atomic processes occurring in outflowing material travelling at least 0.14-0.29c, which matches absorption lines seen in ULXs and -- in the future -- will allow us to map a super-critical outflow for the first time.

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arXiv2021

Dips and eclipses in the X-ray binary Swift J1858.6-0814 observed with NICER

We present the discovery of eclipses in the X-ray light curves of the X-ray binary Swift J1858.6-0814. From these, we find an orbital period of $P=76841.3_{-1.4}^{+1.3}$ s ($\approx21.3$ hours) and an eclipse duration of $t_{\rm ec}=4098_{-18}^{+17}$ s ($\approx1.14$ hours). We also find several absorption dips during the pre-eclipse phase. From the eclipse duration to orbital period ratio, the inclination of the binary orbit is constrained to $i>70^\circ$. The most likely range for the companion mass suggests that the inclination is likely to be closer to this value than $90^\circ$. The eclipses are also consistent with earlier data, in which strong variability ('flares') and the long orbital period prevent clear detection of the period or eclipses. We also find that the bright flares occurred preferentially in the post-eclipse phase of the orbit, likely due to increased thickness at the disc-accretion stream interface preventing flares being visible during the pre-eclipse phase. This supports the notion that variable obscuration is responsible for the unusually strong variability in Swift J1858.6-0814.

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arXiv2021

The 450 days X-ray monitoring of the changing-look AGN 1ES 1927+654

1ES 1927+654 is a nearby active galactic nucleus (AGN) which underwent a changing-look event in early 2018, developing prominent broad Balmer lines which were absent in previous observations. We have followed up this object in the X-rays with an ongoing campaign that started in May 2018, and that includes 265 NICER (for a total of 678ks) and 14 Swift/XRT (26ks) observations, as well as three simultaneous XMM-Newton/NuSTAR (158/169 ks) exposures. In the X-rays, 1ES 1927+654 shows a behaviour unlike any previously known AGN. The source is extremely variable both in spectral shape and flux, and does not show any correlation between X-ray and UV flux on timescales of hours or weeks/months. After the outburst the power-law component almost completely disappeared, and the source showed an extremely soft continuum dominated by a blackbody component. The temperature of the blackbody increases with the luminosity, going from $kT\sim 80$eV (for a 0.3--2keV luminosity of $L_{0.3-2}\sim 10^{41.5}\rm\,erg\,s^{-1}$) to $\sim 200$eV (for $L_{0.3-2}\sim 10^{44}\rm\,erg\,s^{-1}$). The spectra show evidence of ionized outflows, and of a prominent feature at $\sim 1$keV, which can be reproduced by a broad emission line. The unique characteristics of 1ES 1927+654 in the X-ray band suggest that it belongs to a new type of changing-look AGN. Future X-ray surveys might detect several more objects with similar properties.

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arXiv2021

Drifts of the marginally stable burning frequency in the X-ray binaries 4U 1608--52 and Aql X--1

We detect millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (mHz QPOs) using the Rossi X-ray Time Explorer (RXTE) from the atoll neutron-star (NS) low-mass X-ray binaries 4U 1608--52 and Aql X--1. From the analysis of all RXTE observations of 4U 1608--52 and Aql X--1, we find mHz QPOs with a significance level $>3σ$ in 49 and 47 observations, respectively. The QPO frequency is constrained between $\sim$ 4.2 and 13.4 mHz. These types of mHz QPOs have been interpreted as being the result of marginally stable nuclear burning of He on the NS surface. We also report the discovery of a downward frequency drift in three observations of 4U 1608--52, making it the third source that shows this behaviour. We only find strong evidence of frequency drift in one occasion in Aql X--1, probably because the observations were too short to measure a significant drift. Finally, the mHz QPOs are mainly detected when both sources are in the soft or intermediate states; the cases that show frequency drift only occur when the sources are in intermediate states. Our results are consistent with the phenomenology observed for the NS systems 4U 1636--53 and EXO 0748--676, suggesting that all four sources can reach the conditions for marginally stable burning of He on the NS surface. These conditions depend on the source state in the same manner in all four systems.

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arXiv2021

Discovery of millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations in the X-ray binary EXO 0748--676

We report the discovery of millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (mHz QPOs) from the bursting, high-inclination atoll neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary (NS LMXB) EXO 0748--676 with the Rossi X-ray Time Explorer (RXTE). This class of QPO, originally discovered in three NS LMXBs, has been interpreted as a consequence of a special mode of nuclear burning on the NS surface. Using all the RXTE archival observations of the source, we detected significant ($>3σ$) mHz QPOs in 11 observations. The frequency of the oscillations was between $\sim$ 5 and $\sim$ 13 mHz. We also found a decrease of the QPO frequency with time in two occasions; in one of these the oscillations disappeared with the onset of an X-ray burst, similar to what was reported in other sources. Our analysis of the X-ray colours revealed that EXO 0748--676 was in a soft spectral state when it exhibited the QPOs. This makes EXO 0748--676 the sixth source with mHz oscillations associated to marginally stable burning, and the second one that shows a systematic frequency drift. Our results suggest that the mechanism that produces the drift might always be present if the mHz QPOs are observed in the so-called intermediate state.

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arXiv2020

A Machine Learning Approach For Classifying Low-mass X-ray Binaries Based On Their Compact Object Nature

Low Mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are binary systems where one of the components is either a black hole or a neutron star and the other is a less massive star. It is challenging to unambiguously determine whether a LMXB hosts a black hole or a neutron star. In the last few decades, multiple observational works have tried, with different levels of success, to address this problem. In this paper, we explore the use of machine learning to tackle this observational challenge. We train a random forest classifier to identify the type of compact object using the energy spectrum in the energy range 5-25 keV obtained from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer archive. We report an average accuracy of 87+/-13 in classifying the spectra of LMXB sources. We further use the trained model for predicting the classes for LMXB systems with unknown or ambiguous classification. With the ever-increasing volume of astronomical data in the X-ray domain from present and upcoming missions (e.g., SWIFT, XMM-Newton, XARM, ATHENA, NICER), such methods can be extremely useful for faster and robust classification of X-ray sources and can also be deployed as part of the data reduction pipeline.

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