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E. Tremou

Publications and source records attributed to E. Tremou.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The odyssey of the black hole low mass X-ray binary GX339-4: Five years of dense multi-wavelength monitoring

We present the longest and the densest quasi-simultaneous radio, X-ray and optical campaign of the black hole low mass X-ray binary GX339-4, covering five years of weekly GX339-4 monitoring with MeerKAT, Swift-XRT and MeerLICHT, respectively. Complementary high frequency radio data with the Australia Telescope Compact Array are presented to track in more detail the evolution of GX339-4 and its transient ejecta. During the five years, GX339-4 has been through two "hard-only" outbursts and two "full" outbursts, allowing us to densely sample the rise, quenching and re-activation of the compact jets. Strong radio flares were also observed close to the transition between the hard and the soft states. Following the radio flare, a transient optically thin ejection was spatially resolved during the 2020 outburst, and was observed for a month. We also discuss the radio/X-ray correlation of GX339-4 during this five year period, which covers several states in detail from the rising phase to the quiescent state. This campaign allowed us to follow ejection events and provide information on the jet proper motion and its intrinsic velocity. With this work we publicly release the weekly MeerKAT L-band radio maps from data taken between September 2018 and October 2023.

astro-ph.HE

Radio observations of the 2022 outburst of the transitional Z-Atoll source XTE J1701-462

XTE J1701-462 is a neutron star low mass X-ray binary (NS LMXB) discovered in 2006 as the first system to demonstrate unambiguously that the `Atoll' and `Z' classes of accreting neutron stars are separated by accretion rate. Radio observations during the 2006/7 outburst provided evidence for the formation of a relativistic jet, as now expected for all accreting neutron star and black hole X-ray binaries at high accretion rates. The source entered a new outburst in 2022, and we report 29 observations made with the MeerKAT radio telescope. The first radio detection was on the 16th September 2022, we continued detecting the source until mid-December 2022. Thereafter, establishing radio upper limits till 25 March 2023. We present the radio analysis alongside analysis of contemporaneous X-ray observations from MAXI. The radio light curve shows evidence for at least three flare-like events over the first hundred days, the most luminous of which has an associated minimum energy of $1\times10^{38}$ erg. We provide a detailed comparison with the 2006/7 outburst, and demonstrate that we detected radio emission from the source for considerably longer in the more recent outburst, although this is probably a function of sampling. We further constrain the radio emission from the source to have a polarisation of less than 9% at the time of 2022 IXPE detection of X-ray polarisation. Finally, we place the source in the radio -- X-ray plane, demonstrating that when detected in radio it sits in a comparable region of parameter space to the other Z-sources.

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SAX J1810.8-2609: An Outbursting Neutron Star X-ray Binary with Persistent Spatially Coincident Radio Emission

Here we report on joint X-ray and radio monitoring of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary SAX J1810.8-2609. Our monitoring covered the entirety of its ~5 month outburst in 2021, revealing a temporal correlation between its radio and X-ray luminosity and X-ray spectral properties consistent with a `hard-only' outburst. During the outburst, the best-fit radio position shows significant variability, suggesting emission from multiple locations on the sky. Furthermore, our 2023 follow-up observations revealed a persistent, unresolved, steep spectrum radio source ~2 years after SAX J1810.8-2609 returned to X-ray quiescence. We investigated potential origins of the persistent emission, which included an unrelated background source, long-lasting jet ejection(s), and SAX J1810 as a transitional millisecond pulsar. While the chance coincidence probability is low (<0.16%), an unrelated background source remains the most likely scenario. SAX J1810.8-2609 goes into outburst every ~5 years, so monitoring of the source during its next outburst at higher sensitivities and improved spatial resolutions (e.g., with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array or Square Kilometre Array) should be able to identify two components (if the persistent emission originates from a background source). If only one source is observed, this would be strong evidence that the persistent emission is local SAX J1810.8-2609, and future monitoring campaigns should focus on understanding the underlying physical mechanisms, as no neutron star X-ray binary has shown a persistent radio signal absent any simultaneous X-ray emission.

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MAXI J1848-015: The First Detection of Relativistically Moving Outflows from a Globular Cluster X-ray Binary

Over the past decade, observations of relativistic outflows from outbursting X-ray binaries in the Galactic field have grown significantly. In this work, we present the first detection of moving and decelerating radio-emitting outflows from an X-ray binary in a globular cluster. MAXI J1848-015 is a recently discovered transient X-ray binary in the direction of the globular cluster GLIMPSE-C01. Using observations from the VLA, and a monitoring campaign with the MeerKAT observatory for 500 days, we model the motion of the outflows. This represents some of the most intensive, long-term coverage of relativistically moving X-ray binary outflows to date. We use the proper motions of the outflows from MAXI J1848-015 to constrain the component of the intrinsic jet speed along the line of sight, $β_\textrm{int} \cos θ_\textrm{ejection}$, to be $=0.19\pm0.02$. Assuming it is located in GLIMPSE-C01, at 3.4 kpc, we determine the intrinsic jet speed, $β_\textrm{int}=0.79\pm0.07$, and the inclination angle to the line of sight, $θ_\textrm{ejection}=76^\circ\pm2^{\circ}$. This makes the outflows from MAXI J1848-015 somewhat slower than those seen from many other known X-ray binaries. We also constrain the maximum distance to MAXI J1848-015 to be $4.3$ kpc. Lastly, we discuss the implications of our findings for the nature of the compact object in this system, finding that a black hole primary is a viable (but as-of-yet unconfirmed) explanation for the observed properties of MAXI J1848-015. If future data and/or analysis provide more conclusive evidence that MAXI J1848-015 indeed hosts a black hole, it would be the first black hole X-ray binary in outburst identified in a Galactic globular cluster.

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X-ray and radio observations of central black holes in nearby low-mass early-type galaxies: Preliminary evidence for low Eddington fractions

We present new radio and X-ray observations of two nearby ($< 4$ Mpc) low-mass early-type galaxies with dynamically-confirmed central black holes: NGC 5102 and NGC 205. NGC 5102 shows a weak nuclear X-ray source and has no core radio emission. However, for the first time we demonstrate that it shows luminous extended radio continuum emission in low-resolution, low-frequency ($< 3$ GHz) data, consistent with jet lobes on scales $\gtrsim 100$ pc formed from past accretion and jet activity. By contrast, in new, extremely deep, strictly-simultaneous Very Large Array and Chandra observations, no radio or X-ray emission is detected from the black hole in NGC 205. We consider these measurements and upper limits in the context of the few other low-mass early-type galaxies with dynamically-confirmed black holes, and show that the mean ratio of bolometric to Eddington luminosity in this sample is only $\textrm{log} \, (L_{\rm bol}/L_{\rm Edd}) = -6.57\pm0.50$. These Eddington ratios are lower than typical in a comparison sample of more massive early-type galaxies, though this conclusion is quite tentative due to our small sample of low-mass galaxies and potential biases in the comparison sample. This preliminary result is in mild tension with previous work using less sensitive observations of more distant galaxies, which predict higher X-ray luminosities than we observe for low-mass galaxies. If it is confirmed that central black holes in low-mass galaxies typically have low Eddington ratios, this presents a challenge to measuring the occupation fraction of central black holes with standard optical emission line, X-ray, or radio surveys.

astro-ph.GA

Radio observations of the Black Hole X-ray Binary EXO 1846-031 re-awakening from a 34-year slumber

We present radio [1.3 GHz MeerKAT, 4-8 GHz Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and 15.5 GHz Arcminute Microkelvin Imager Large Array (AMI-LA)] and X-ray (Swift and MAXI) data from the 2019 outburst of the candidate Black Hole X-ray Binary (BHXB) EXO 1846-031. We compute a Hardness-Intensity diagram, which shows the characteristic q-shaped hysteresis of BHXBs in outburst. EXO 1846-031 was monitored weekly with MeerKAT and approximately daily with AMI-LA. The VLA observations provide sub-arcsecond-resolution images at key points in the outburst, showing moving radio components. The radio and X-ray light curves broadly follow each other, showing a peak on ~MJD 58702, followed by a short decline before a second peak between ~MJD 58731-58739. We estimate the minimum energy of these radio flares from equipartition, calculating values of $E_{\rm min} \sim$ 4$\times$10$^{41}$ and 5$\times$10$^{42}$ erg, respectively. The exact date of the return to `quiescence' is missed in the X-ray and radio observations, but we suggest that it likely occurred between MJD 58887 and 58905. From the Swift X-ray flux on MJD 58905 and assuming the soft-to-hard transition happened at 0.3-3 per cent Eddington, we calculate a distance range of 2.4-7.5\,kpc. We computed the radio:X-ray plane for EXO 1846-031 in the `hard' state, showing that it is most likely a `radio-quiet' BH, preferentially at 4.5 kpc. Using this distance and a jet inclination angle of $θ$=73$^{\circ}$, the VLA data place limits on the intrinsic jet speed of $β_{\rm int} = 0.29c$, indicating sub-luminal jet motion.

astro-ph.HE

The 2019 outburst of the 2005 classical nova V1047 Cen: a record breaking dwarf nova outburst or a new phenomenon?

We present a detailed study of the 2019 outburst of the cataclysmic variable V1047~Cen, which hosted a classical nova eruption in 2005. The peculiar outburst occurred 14 years after the classical nova event and lasted for more than 400 days, reaching an amplitude of around 6 magnitudes in the optical. Early spectral follow-up revealed what could be a dwarf nova (accretion disk instability) outburst. However, the outburst duration, high velocity ($>$2000\,km\,s$^{-1}$) features in the optical line profiles, luminous optical emission, and presence of prominent long-lasting radio emission together suggest a phenomenon more exotic and energetic than a dwarf nova outburst. The outburst amplitude, radiated energy, and spectral evolution are also not consistent with a classical nova eruption. There are similarities between V1047~Cen's 2019 outburst and those of classical symbiotic stars, but pre-2005 images of the field of V1047~Cen indicate that the system likely hosts a dwarf companion, implying a typical cataclysmic variable system. Based on our multi-wavelength observations, we suggest that the outburst may have started with a brightening of the disk due to enhanced mass transfer or disk instability, possibly leading to enhanced nuclear shell burning on the white dwarf, which was already experiencing some level of quasi-steady shell burning. This eventually led to the generation of a wind and/or bipolar, collimated outflows. The 2019 outburst of V1047~Cen appears to be unique, and nothing similar has been observed in a typical cataclysmic variable system before, hinting at a potentially new astrophysical phenomenon.

astro-ph.SR

Search and identification of transient and variable radio sources using MeerKAT observations: a case study on the MAXI J1820+070 field

Many transient and variable sources detected at multiple wavelengths are also observed to vary at radio frequencies. However, these samples are typically biased towards sources that are initially detected in wide-field optical, X-ray or gamma-ray surveys. Many sources that are insufficiently bright at higher frequencies are therefore missed, leading to potential gaps in our knowledge of these sources and missing populations that are not detectable in optical, X-rays or gamma-rays. Taking advantage of new state-of-the-art radio facilities that provide high quality wide-field images with fast survey speeds, we can now conduct unbiased surveys for transient and variable sources at radio frequencies. In this paper, we present an unbiased survey using observations obtained by MeerKAT, a mid-frequency ($\sim$1.4 GHz) radio array in South Africa's Karoo Desert. The observations used were obtained as part of a weekly monitoring campaign for X-ray binaries (XRBs) and we focus on the field of MAXI J1820+070. We develop methods to optimally filter transient and variable candidates that can be directly applied to other datasets. In addition to MAXI J1820+070, we identify four likely active galactic nuclei, one source that could be a Galactic source (pulsar or quiescent X-ray binary) or an AGN, and one variable pulsar. No transient sources, defined as being undetected in deep images, were identified leading to a transient surface density of $<3.7\times10^{-2}$ deg$^{-2}$ at a sensitivity of 1 mJy on timescales of one week at 1.4 GHz.

astro-ph.HE

21 new long-term variables in the GX 339-4 field: two years of MeerKAT monitoring

We present 21 new long-term variable radio sources found commensally in two years of weekly MeerKAT monitoring of the low-mass X-ray binary GX 339-4. The new sources vary on time scales of weeks to months and have a variety of light curve shapes and spectral index properties. Three of the new variable sources are coincident with multi-wavelength counterparts; and one of these is coincident with an optical source in deep MeerLICHT images. For most sources, we cannot eliminate refractive scintillation of active galactic nuclei as the cause of the variability. These new variable sources represent $2.2\pm0.5$ per cent of the unresolved sources in the field, which is consistent with the 1-2 per cent variability found in past radio variability surveys. However, we expect to find short-term variable sources in the field as well as these 21 new long-term variable sources. We present the radio light curves and spectral index variability of the new variable sources, as well as the absolute astrometry and matches to coincident sources at other wavelengths.

astro-ph.HE

The MAVERIC Survey: Variable Jet-Accretion Coupling in Luminous Accreting Neutron Stars in Galactic Globular Clusters

Accreting neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries show outflows -- and sometimes jets -- in the general manner of accreting black holes. However, the quantitative link between the accretion flow (traced by X-rays) and outflows and/or jets (traced by radio emission) is much less well-understood for neutron stars than for black holes, other than the general observation that neutron stars are fainter in the radio at a given X-ray luminosity. We use data from the deep MAVERIC radio continuum survey of Galactic globular clusters for a systematic radio and X-ray study of six luminous (L_X > 10^34 erg/s) persistent neutron star X-ray binaries in our survey, as well as two other transient systems also captured by our data. We find that these neutron star X-ray binaries show an even larger range in radio luminosity than previously observed. In particular, in quiescence at L_X ~ 3x10^34 erg/s, the confirmed neutron star binary GRS 1747--312 in Terzan 6 sits near the upper envelope of the black hole radio/X-ray correlation, and the persistently accreting neutron star systems AC 211 (in M15) and X1850--087 (in NGC 6712) show unusual radio variability and luminous radio emission. We interpret AC 211 as an obscured "Z source" that is accreting at close to the Eddington limit, while the properties of X1850--087 are difficult to explain, and motivate future coordinated radio and X-ray observations. Overall, our results show that neutron stars do not follow a single relation between inflow and outflow, and confirm that their accretion dynamics are more complex than for black holes.

astro-ph.HE

Discovery of ASKAP J173608.2-321635 as a Highly-Polarized Transient Point Source with the Australian SKA Pathfinder

We report the discovery of a highly-polarized, highly-variable, steep-spectrum radio source, ASKAP J173608.2-321635, located $\sim$4\,deg from the Galactic center in the Galactic plane. The source was detected six times between 2020 January and 2020 September as part of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder Variables and Slow Transients (ASKAP VAST) survey at 888\,MHz. It exhibited a high degree ($\sim 25$\%) of circular polarization when it was visible. We monitored the source with the MeerKAT telescope from 2020 November to 2021 February on a 2--4 week cadence. The source was not detected with MeerKAT before 2021 February 07 when it appeared and reached a peak flux density of 5.6\,mJy. The source was still highly circularly polarized, but also showed up to 80\% linear polarization, and then faded rapidly with a timescale of one day. The rotation measure of the source varied significantly, from $-11.8\pm0.8$\,rad\,m$^{-2}$ to $-64.0\pm1.5$\,rad\,m$^{-2}$, over three days. No X-ray counterpart was found in follow-up \textit{Swift} or \textit{Chandra} observations about a week after the first MeerKAT detection, with upper limits of $\sim 5.0\times10^{31}$\,erg\,s$^{-1}$ (0.3--8\,keV, assuming a distance $\sim10$ kpc). No counterpart is seen in new or archival near-infrared observations down to $J=20.8$\,mag. We discuss possible identifications for ASKAP J173608.2-321635 including a low-mass star/substellar object with extremely low infrared luminosity, a pulsar with scatter-broadened pulses, a transient magnetar, or a Galactic Center Radio Transient: none of these fully explains the observations, which suggests that ASKAP J173608.2-321635 may represent part of a new class of objects being discovered through radio imaging surveys.

astro-ph.HE

The hybrid radio/X-ray correlation of the black hole transient MAXI J1348-630

Black hole low mass X-ray binaries in their hard spectral state are found to display two different correlations between the radio emission from the compact jets and the X-ray emission from the inner accretion flow. Here, we present a large data set of quasi-simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the recently discovered accreting black hole MAXI J1348-630 during its 2019/2020 outburst. Our results span almost six orders of magnitude in X-ray luminosity, allowing us to probe the accretion-ejection coupling from the brightest to the faintest phases of the outburst. We find that MAXI J1348-630 belongs to the growing population of outliers at the highest observed luminosities. Interestingly, MAXI J1348-630 deviates from the outlier track at $L_{\rm X} \lesssim 7 \times 10^{35} (D / 2.2 \ {\rm kpc})^2$ erg s$^{-1}$ and ultimately rejoins the standard track at $L_{\rm X} \simeq 10^{33} (D / 2.2 \ {\rm kpc})^2$ erg s$^{-1}$, displaying a hybrid radio/X-ray correlation, observed only in a handful of sources. However, for MAXI J1348-630 these transitions happen at luminosities much lower than what observed for similar sources (at least an order of magnitude). We discuss the behaviour of MAXI J1348-630 in light of the currently proposed scenarios and we highlight the importance of future deep monitorings of hybrid correlation sources, especially close to the transitions and in the low luminosity regime.

astro-ph.HE

The black hole transient MAXI J1348-630: evolution of the compact and transient jets during its 2019/2020 outburst

We present the radio and X-ray monitoring campaign of the 2019/2020 outburst of MAXI J1348-630, a new black hole X-ray binary (XRB) discovered in 2019 January. We observed MAXI J1348-630 for $\sim$14 months in the radio band with MeerKAT and the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), and in the X-rays with MAXI and Swift/XRT. Throughout the outburst we detected and tracked the evolution of the compact and transient jets. Following the main outburst, the system underwent at least 4 hard-state-only re-flares, during which compact jets were again detected. For the major outburst, we observed the rise, quenching, and re-activation of the compact jets, as well as two single-sided discrete ejecta, launched $\sim$2 months apart and travelling away from the black hole. These ejecta displayed the highest proper motion ($\gtrsim$100 mas day$^{-1}$) ever measured for an accreting black hole binary. From the jet motion, we constrain the ejecta inclination and speed to be $\leq$46$^{\circ}$ and $\geq$0.69 $c$, and the opening angle and transverse expansion speed of the first component to be $\leq$6$^{\circ}$ and $\leq$0.05 $c$. We also infer that the first ejection happened at the hard-to-soft state transition, before a strong radio flare, while the second ejection was launched during a short excursion from the soft to the intermediate state. After traveling with constant speed, the first component underwent a strong deceleration, which was covered with unprecedented detail and suggested that MAXI J1348-630 could be located inside a low-density cavity in the interstellar medium, as already proposed for XTE J1550-564 and H1743-322.

astro-ph.HE

A MeerKAT Survey of Nearby Novalike Cataclysmic Variables

We present the results of MeerKAT radio observations of eleven nearby novalike cataclysmic variables. We have detected radio emission from IM Eri, RW Sex, V3885 Sgr and V603 Aql. While RW Sex, V3885 Sgr and V603 Aql had been previously detected, this is the first reported radio detection of IM Eri. Our observations have doubled the sample of non-magnetic CVs with sensitive radio data. We observe that at our radio detection limits, a specific optical luminosity $\gtrsim 2.2\times 10^{18}$ erg/s/Hz (corresponding to $M_V \lesssim 6.0$) is required to produce a radio detection. We also observe that the X-ray and radio luminosities of our detected novalikes are on an extension of the $L_{X} \propto L_{R}^{\sim 0.7}$ power law originally proposed for non-pulsating neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries. We find no other correlations between the radio emission and emission in other wavebands or any other system parameters for the existing sample of radio-detected non-magnetic CVs. We measure in-band (0.9-1.7 GHz) radio spectral indices that are consistent with reports from earlier work. Finally, we constructed broad spectral energy distributions for our sample from published multi-wavelength data, and use them to place constraints on the mass transfer rates of these systems.

astro-ph.SR

An extremely powerful long-lived superluminal ejection from the black hole MAXI J1820+070

Black holes in binary systems execute patterns of outburst activity where two characteristic X-ray states are associated with different behaviours observed at radio wavelengths. The hard state is associated with radio emission indicative of a continuously replenished, collimated, relativistic jet, whereas the soft state is rarely associated with radio emission, and never continuously, implying the absence of a quasi-steady jet. Here we report radio observations of the black hole transient MAXI J1820$+$070 during its 2018 outburst. As the black hole transitioned from the hard to soft state we observed an isolated radio flare, which, using high angular resolution radio observations, we connect with the launch of bi-polar relativistic ejecta. This flare occurs as the radio emission of the core jet is suppressed by a factor of over 800. We monitor the evolution of the ejecta over 200 days and to a maximum separation of 10$''$, during which period it remains detectable due to in-situ particle acceleration. Using simultaneous radio observations sensitive to different angular scales we calculate an accurate estimate of energy content of the approaching ejection. This energy estimate is far larger than that derived from state transition radio flare, suggesting a systematic underestimate of jet energetics.

astro-ph.HE

Radio & X-ray detections of GX 339--4 in quiescence using MeerKAT and Swift

The radio:X-ray correlation that characterises accreting black holes at all mass scales - from stellar mass black holes in binary systems to super-massive black holes powering Active Galactic Nuclei - is one of the most important pieces of observational evidence supporting the existence of a connection between the accretion process and the generation of collimated outflows - or jets - in accreting systems. Although recent studies suggest that the correlation extends down to low luminosities, only a handful of stellar mass black holes have been clearly detected, and in general only upper limits (especially at radio wavelengths) can be obtained during quiescence. We recently obtained detections of the black hole X-ray binary GX 339--4 in quiescence using the MeerKAT radio telescope and Swift X-ray Telescope instrument onboard the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, probing the lower end of the radio:X-ray correlation. We present the properties of accretion and of the connected generation of jets in the poorly studied low-accretion rate regime for this canonical black hole XRB system.

astro-ph.HE

MKT J170456.2-482100: the first transient discovered by MeerKAT

We report the discovery of the first transient with MeerKAT, MKT J170456.2$-$482100, discovered in ThunderKAT images of the low mass X-ray binary GX339$-$4. MKT J170456.2$-$482100 is variable in the radio, reaching a maximum flux density of $0.71\pm0.11\,\mathrm{mJy}$ on 2019 Oct 12, and is undetected in 15 out of 48 ThunderKAT epochs. MKT J170456.2$-$482100 is coincident with the chromospherically active K-type sub-giant TYC 8332-2529-1, and $\sim18\,\mathrm{years}$ of archival optical photometry of the star shows that it varies with a period of $21.25\pm0.04\,\mathrm{days}$. The shape and phase of the optical light curve changes over time, and we detect both X-ray and UV emission at the position of MKT J170456.2$-$482100, which may indicate that TYC 8332-2529-1 has large star spots. Spectroscopic analysis shows that TYC 8332-2529-1 is in a binary, and has a line-of-sight radial velocity amplitude of $43\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$. We also observe a spectral feature in anti-phase with the K-type sub-giant, with a line-of-sight radial velocity amplitude of $\sim12\pm10\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$, whose origins cannot currently be explained. Further observations and investigation are required to determine the nature of the MKT J170456.2$-$482100 system.

astro-ph.SR

The 2018 outburst of BHXB H1743-322 as seen with MeerKAT

In recent years, the black hole candidate X-ray binary system H1743-322 has undergone outbursts and it has been observed with X-ray and radio telescopes. We present 1.3 GHz MeerKAT radio data from the ThunderKAT Large Survey Project on radio transients for the 2018 outburst of H1743-322. We obtain seven detections from a weekly monitoring programme and use publicly available Swift X-ray Telescope and MAXI data to investigate the radio/X-ray correlation of H1743-322 for this outburst. We compare the 2018 outburst with those reported in the literature for this system and find that the X-ray outburst reported is similar to previously reported `hard-only' outbursts. As in previous outbursts, H1743-322 follows the `radio-quiet' correlation in the radio/X-ray plane for black hole X-ray binaries, and the radio spectral index throughout the outburst is consistent with the `radio-quiet' population.

astro-ph.HE