arXiv subjects

G. Novara

Publications and source records attributed to G. Novara.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

The EXTraS Project: Exploring the X-ray transient and variable sky

Temporal variability in flux and spectral shape is ubiquitous in the X-ray sky and carries crucial information about the nature and emission physics of the sources. The EPIC instrument on board the XMM-Newton observatory is the most powerful tool for studying variability even in faint sources. Each day, it collects a large amount of information about hundreds of new serendipitous sources, but the resulting huge (and growing) dataset is largely unexplored in the time domain. The project called Exploring the X-ray transient and variable sky (EXTraS) systematically extracted all temporal domain information in the XMM-Newton archive. This included a search and characterisation of variability, both periodic and aperiodic, in hundreds of thousands of sources spanning more than eight orders of magnitude in timescale and six orders of magnitude in flux, and a search for fast transients that were missed by standard image analysis. All results, products, and software tools have been released to the community in a public archive. A science gateway has also been implemented to allow users to run the EXTraS analysis remotely on recent XMM datasets. We give details on the new algorithms that were designed and implemented to perform all steps of EPIC data analysis, including data preparation, source and background modelling, generation of time series and power spectra, and search for and characterisation of different types of variabilities. We describe our results and products and give information about their basic statistical properties and advice on their usage. We also describe available online resources. The EXTraS database of results and its ancillary products is a rich resource for any kind of investigation in almost all fields of astrophysics. Algorithms and lessons learnt from our project are also a very useful reference for any current and future experiment in the time domain.

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arXiv2020

A search for optical and near-infrared counterparts of the compact binary merger GW190814

We report on our observing campaign of the compact binary merger GW190814, detected by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors on August 14th, 2019. This signal has the best localisation of any observed gravitational wave (GW) source, with a 90% probability area of 18.5 deg$^2$, and an estimated distance of ~ 240 Mpc. We obtained wide-field observations with the Deca-Degree Optical Transient Imager (DDOTI) covering 88% of the probability area down to a limiting magnitude of $w$ = 19.9 AB. Nearby galaxies within the high probability region were targeted with the Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT), whereas promising candidate counterparts were characterized through multi-colour photometry with the Reionization and Transients InfraRed (RATIR) and spectroscopy with the Gran Telescopio de Canarias (GTC). We use our optical and near-infrared limits in conjunction with the upper limits obtained by the community to constrain the possible electromagnetic counterparts associated with the merger. A gamma-ray burst seen along its jet's axis is disfavoured by the multi-wavelength dataset, whereas the presence of a burst seen at larger viewing angles is not well constrained. Although our observations are not sensitive to a kilonova similar to AT2017gfo, we can rule out high-mass (> 0.1 M$_{\odot}$) fast-moving (mean velocity >= 0.3c) wind ejecta for a possible kilonova associated with this merger.

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arXiv2020

A Multi-wavelength search for Black Widows and Redbacks counterparts of candidate $\gamma$-ray millisecond pulsars

The wealth of detections of millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in $\gamma$-rays by {\em Fermi} has spurred searches for these objects among the several unidentified $\gamma$-ray sources. Interesting targets are a sub-class of binary MSPs, dubbed "Black Widows" (BWs) and "Redbacks" (RBs), which are in orbit with low-mass non-degenerate companions fully or partially ablated by irradiation from the MSP wind. These systems can be easily missed in radio pulsar surveys owing to the eclipse of the radio signal by the intra-binary plasma from the ablated companion star photosphere, making them better targets for multi-wavelength observations. We used optical and X-ray data from public databases to carry out a systematic investigation of all the unidentified $\gamma$-ray sources from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) Third Source Catalog (3FGL), which have been pre-selected as likely MSP candidates according to a machine-learning technique analysis. We tested our procedure by recovering known binary BW/RB identifications and searched for new ones, finding possible candidates. At the same time, we investigated previously proposed BW/RB identifications and we ruled out one of them based upon the updated $\gamma$-ray source coordinates.

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arXiv2020

A Supernova Candidate at z=0.092 in XMM-Newton Archival Data

During a search for X-ray transients in the XMM-Newton archive within the EXTraS project, we discovered a new X-ray source that is detected only during a ~5 min interval of a ~21 h-long observation performed on 2011 June 21 (EXMM 023135.0-603743, probability of a random Poissonian fluctuation: ~$1.4\times10^{-27}$). With dedicated follow-up observations, we found that its position is consistent with a star-forming galaxy (SFR = 1-2 $M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$) at redshift $z=0.092\pm0.003$ ($d=435\pm15$ Mpc). At this redshift, the energy released during the transient event was $2.8\times10^{46}$ erg in the 0.3-10 keV energy band (in the source rest frame). The luminosity of the transient, together with its spectral and timing properties, make EXMM 023135.0-603743 a gripping analog to the X-ray transient associated to SN 2008D, which was discovered during a Swift/XRT observation of the nearby ($d=27$ Mpc) supernova-rich galaxy NGC 2770. We interpret the XMM-Newton event as a supernova shock break-out or an early cocoon, and show that our serendipitous discovery is compatible with the rate of core-collapse supernovae derived from optical observations and much higher than that of tidal disruption events.

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arXiv2020

EXTraS discovery of an X-ray superflare from an L dwarf

We present the first detection of an X-ray flare from an ultracool dwarf of spectral class L. The event was identified in the EXTraS database of XMM-Newton variable sources, and its optical counterpart, J0331-27, was found through a cross-match with the Dark Energy Survey Year 3 release. Next to an earlier four-photon detection of Kelu-1, J0331-27 is only the second L dwarf detected in X-rays, and much more distant than other ultracool dwarfs with X-ray detections (photometric distance of 240 pc). From an optical spectrum with the VIMOS instrument at the VLT, we determine the spectral type of J0331-27 to be L1. The X-ray flare has an energy of E_X,F ~ 2x10^33 erg, placing it in the regime of superflares. No quiescent emission is detected, and from 2.5 Msec of XMM data we derive an upper limit of L_X,qui < 10^27 erg/s. The flare peak luminosity L_X,peak = 6.3x10^29 erg/s, flare duration tau_decay ~ 2400 s, and plasma temperature (~16 MK) are similar to values observed in X-ray flares of M dwarfs. This shows that strong magnetic reconnection events and the ensuing plasma heating are still present even in objects with photospheres as cool as ~2100 K. However, the absence of any other flares above the detection threshold of E_X,F ~2.5x10^32 erg in a total of ~2.5 Ms of X-ray data yields a flare energy number distribution inconsistent with the canonical power law dN/dE ~ E^-2, suggesting that magnetic energy release in J0331-27 -- and possibly in all L dwarfs -- takes place predominantly in the form of giant flares.

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arXiv2019

The afterglow and kilonova of the short GRB 160821B

GRB 160821B is a short duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) detected and localized by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in the outskirts of a spiral galaxy at z=0.1613, at a projected physical offset of 16 kpc from the galaxy's center. We present X-ray, optical/nIR and radio observations of its counterpart and model them with two distinct components of emission: a standard afterglow, arising from the interaction of the relativistic jet with the surrounding medium, and a kilonova, powered by the radioactive decay of the sub-relativistic ejecta. Broadband modeling of the afterglow data reveals a weak reverse shock propagating backward into the jet, and a likely jet-break at 3.5 d. This is consistent with a structured jet seen slightly off-axis while expanding into a low-density medium. Analysis of the kilonova properties suggests a rapid evolution toward red colors, similar to AT2017gfo, and a low nIR luminosity, possibly due to the presence of a long-lived neutron star. The global properties of the environment, the inferred low mass (M_ej < 0.006 Msun) and velocities (v > 0.05 c) of lanthanide-rich ejecta are consistent with a binary neutron star merger progenitor.

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arXiv2018

A long-lived neutron star merger remnant in GW170817: constraints and clues from X-ray observations

Multi-messenger observations of GW170817 have not conclusively established whether the merger remnant is a black hole (BH) or a neutron star (NS). We show that a long-lived magnetized NS with a poloidal field $B\approx 10^{12}$G is fully consistent with the electromagnetic dataset, when spin down losses are dominated by gravitational wave (GW) emission. The required ellipticity $\epsilon\gtrsim 10^{-5}$ can result from a toroidal magnetic field component much stronger than the poloidal component, a configuration expected from a NS newly formed from a merger. Abrupt magnetic dissipation of the toroidal component can lead to the appearance of X-ray flares, analogous to the one observed in gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows. In the X-ray afterglow of GW170817 we identify a low-significance ($\gtrsim 3\sigma$) temporal feature at 155 d, consistent with a sudden reactivation of the central NS. Energy injection from the NS spin down into the relativistic shock is negligible, and the underlying continuum is fully accounted for by a structured jet seen off-axis. Whereas radio and optical observations probe the interaction of this jet with the surrounding medium, observations at X-ray wavelengths, performed with adequate sampling, open a privileged window on to the merger remnant.

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arXiv2018

A new Ultraluminous X-ray source in the galaxy NGC 5907

We report on the serendipitous discovery of a new transient in NGC 5907, at a peak luminosity of 6.4x10^{39} erg/s. The source was undetected in previous 2012 Chandra observations with a 3 sigma upper limit on the luminosity of 1.5x10^{38} erg/s, implying a flux increase of a factor of >35. We analyzed three recent 60ks/50ks Chandra and 50ks XMM-Newton observations, as well as all the available Swift observations performed between August 2017/March 2018. Until the first half of October 2017, Swift observations do not show any emission from the source. The transient entered the ULX regime in less than two weeks and its outburst was still on-going at the end of February 2018. The 0.3-10 keV spectrum is consistent with a single multicolour blackbody disc (kT~1.5 keV). The source might be a ~30 solar mass black hole accreting at the Eddington limit. However, although we did not find evidence of pulsations, we cannot rule-out the possibility that this ULX hosts an accreting neutron star.

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arXiv2016

EXTraS discovery of two pulsators in the direction of the LMC: a Be/X-ray binary pulsar in the LMC and a candidate double-degenerate polar in the foreground

The EXTraS project to explore the X-ray Transient and variable Sky searches for coherent signals in the X-ray archival data of XMM-Newton. XMM-Newton performed more than 400 pointed observations in the region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We inspected the results of the EXTraS period search to systematically look for new X-ray pulsators in our neighbour galaxy. We analysed the XMM-Newton observations of two sources from the 3XMM catalogue which show significant signals for coherent pulsations. 3XMM J051259.8-682640 was detected as source with hard X-ray spectrum in two XMM-Newton observations, revealing a periodic modulation of the X-ray flux with 956~s. As optical counterpart we identify an early-type star with Halpha emission. The OGLE I-band light curve exhibits a regular pattern with three brightness dips which mark a period of ~1350 d. The X-ray spectrum of 3XMM J051034.6-670353 is dominated by a super-soft blackbody-like emission component (kT ~ 70 eV) which is modulated by nearly 100% with a period of ~1418 s. From GROND observations we suggest a star with r' = 20.9 mag as possible counterpart of the X-ray source. 3XMM J051259.8-682640 is confirmed as a new Be/X-ray binary pulsar in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We discuss the long-term optical period as likely orbital period which would be the longest known from a high-mass X-ray binary. The spectral and temporal properties of the super-soft source 3XMM J051034.6-670353 are very similar to those of RX J0806.3+1527 and RX J1914.4+2456 suggesting that it belongs to the class of double-degenerate polars and is located in our Galaxy rather than in the LMC.

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arXiv2016

An accreting pulsar with extreme properties drives an ultraluminous x-ray source in NGC 5907

Ultraluminous x-ray sources (ULXs) in nearby galaxies shine brighter than any X-ray source in our Galaxy. ULXs are usually modeled as stellar-mass black holes (BHs) accreting at very high rates or intermediate-mass BHs. We present observations showing that NGC5907 ULX is instead an x-ray accreting neutron star (NS) with a spin period evolving from 1.43~s in 2003 to 1.13~s in 2014. It has an isotropic peak luminosity of about 1000 times the Eddington limit for a NS at 17.1~Mpc. Standard accretion models fail to explain its luminosity, even assuming beamed emission, but a strong multipolar magnetic field can describe its properties. These findings suggest that other extreme ULXs (x-ray luminosity > 10^{41} erg/s) might harbor NSs.

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arXiv2015

EXTraS discovery of an 1.2-s X-ray pulsar in M 31

During a search for coherent signals in the X-ray archival data of XMM-Newton, we discovered a modulation at 1.2 s in 3XMM J004301.4+413017 (3X J0043), a source lying in the direction of an external arm of M 31. This short period indicates a neutron star (NS). Between 2000 and 2013, the position of 3X J0043 was imaged by public XMM-Newton observations 35 times. The analysis of these data allowed us to detect an orbital modulation at 1.27 d and study the long-term properties of the source. The emission of the pulsar was rather hard (most spectra are described by a power law with $\Gamma < 1$) and, assuming the distance to M 31, the 0.3-10 keV luminosity was variable, from $\sim$$3\times10^{37}$ to $2\times10^{38}$ erg s$^{-1}$. The analysis of optical data shows that, while 3X J0043 is likely associated to a globular cluster in M 31, a counterpart with $V\gtrsim22$ outside the cluster cannot be excluded. Considering our findings, there are two main viable scenarios for 3X J0043: a peculiar low-mass X-ray binary, similar to 4U 1822-37 or 4U 1626-67, or an intermediate-mass X-ray binary resembling Her X-1. Regardless of the exact nature of the system, 3X J0043 is the first accreting NS in M 31 in which the spin period has been detected.

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arXiv2015

Follow-up observations of X-ray emitting hot subdwarf star: the He-rich sdO BD +37{\deg} 1977

We report on the results of the first XMM-Newton satellite observation of the luminous and helium-rich O-type subdwarf BD +37{\deg} 1977 carried out in April 2014. X-ray emission is detected with a flux of about 4*10^(-14) erg/cm2/s (0.2-1.5 keV), corresponding to a f_X/f_bol ratio about 10^(-7); the source spectrum is very soft, and is well fit by the sum of two plasma components at different temperatures. Both characteristics are in agreement with what is observed in the main-sequence early-type stars, where the observed X-ray emission is due to turbulence and shocks in the stellar wind. A smaller but still significant stellar wind has been observed also in BD +37{\deg} 1977; therefore, we suggest that also in this case the detected X-ray flux has the same origin.

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arXiv2011

Highly absorbed X-ray binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Many of the high mass X-ray binaries (HMXRBs) discovered in recent years in our Galaxy are characterized by a high absorption, most likely intrinsic to the system, which hampers their detection at the softest X-ray energies. We have undertaken a search for highly-absorbed X-ray sources in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) with a systematic analysis of 62 XMM-Newton SMC observations. We obtained a sample of 30 sources showing evidence for an equivalent hydrogen column density larger than 3x10^23 cm^-2. Five of these sources are clearly identified as HMXRBs: four were already known (including three X-ray pulsars) and one, XMM J005605.8-720012, reported here for the first time. For the latter, we present optical spectroscopy confirming the association with a Be star in the SMC. The other sources in our sample have optical counterparts fainter than magnitude ~16 in the V band, and many of them have possible NIR counterparts consistent with highly reddened early type stars in the SMC. While their number is broadly consistent with the expected population of background highly-absorbed active galactic nuclei, a few of them could be HMXRBs in which an early type companion is severely reddened by local material.

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arXiv2010

Multi-wavelength observations of 1RXH J173523.7-354013: revealing an unusual bursting neutron star

On 2008 May 14, the Burst Alert Telescope aboard the Swift mission triggered on a type-I X-ray burst from the previously unclassified ROSAT object 1RXH J173523.7-354013, establishing the source as a neutron star X-ray binary. We report on X-ray, optical and near-infrared observations of this system. The X-ray burst had a duration of ~2 h and belongs to the class of rare, intermediately long type-I X-ray bursts. From the bolometric peak flux of ~3.5E-8 erg/cm^2/s, we infer a source distance of D<9.5 kpc. Photometry of the field reveals an optical counterpart that declined from R=15.9 during the X-ray burst to R=18.9 thereafter. Analysis of post-burst Swift/XRT observations, as well as archival XMM-Newton and ROSAT data suggests that the system is persistent at a 0.5-10 keV luminosity of ~2E35 (D/9.5 kpc)^2 erg/s. Optical and infrared photometry together with the detection of a narrow Halpha emission line (FWHM=292+/-9 km/s, EW=-9.0+/-0.4 Angstrom) in the optical spectrum confirms that 1RXH J173523.7-354013 is a neutron star low-mass X-ray binary. The Halpha emission demonstrates that the donor star is hydrogen-rich, which effectively rules out that this system is an ultra-compact X-ray binary.

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arXiv2009

XMM-Newton and Swift observations prove GRB 090709A to be a distant, standard, long GRB

GRB 090709A is a long gamma-ray burst (GRB) discovered by Swift, featuring a bright X-ray afterglow as well as a faint infrared transient with very red and peculiar colors. The burst attracted a large interest because of a possible quasi-periodicity at P=8.1 s in the prompt emission, suggesting that it could have a different origin with respect to standard, long GRBs. In order to understand the nature of this burst, we obtained a target of opportunity observation with XMM-Newton. X-ray spectroscopy, based on XMM-Newton and Swift data, allowed us to model the significant excess in photoelectric absorption with respect to the Galactic value as due to a large column density (about 6.5E+22 cm^-2) in the GRB host, located at z=4.2. Such a picture is also consistent with the infrared transient's properties. Re-analysis of the prompt emission, based on INTEGRAL and on Swift data, excludes any significant modulation at P=8.1 s. Thus, we conclude that GRB 090709A is a distant, standard, long GRB.

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arXiv2009

A Deep XMM-Newton Serendipitous Survey of a middle-latitude area. II. New deeper X-ray and optical observations

The radio-quiet neutron star 1E1207.4-5209 has been the target of several XMM-Newton observations, with a total exposure of ~350 ks. The source is located at intermediate galactic latitude (b~10 degrees), i.e. in a sky region with an extremely interesting mix of both galactic and extra-galactic X-ray sources. The aim of our work is to investigate the properties of both the intermediate-latitude galactic and extra-galactic X-ray source populations in the 1E1207.4-5209 field. We performed a coherent analysis of the whole XMM-Newton observation data set to build a catalogue of serendipitous X-ray sources detected with high confidence and to derive information on the source flux, spectra, and time variability. In addition, we performed a complete multi-band (UBVRI) optical coverage of the field with the Wide Field Imager (WFI) of the ESO/MPG 2.2m telescope (La Silla) to search for candidate optical counterparts to the X-ray sources, down to a V-band limiting magnitude of ~24.5. We detected a total of 144 serendipitous X-ray sources. Thanks to the refined X-ray positions and to the WFI observations, we found candidate optical counterparts for most of the X-ray sources in our compilation. For most of the brightest ones we proposed a likely classification based on both the X-ray spectra and the optical colours. Our results indicate that at intermediate galactic latitude the X-ray source population is dominated by the extra-galactic component, but with a significant contribution from the galactic component in the soft energy band, below 2 keV.

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arXiv2008

Multiwavelength observations of 3C 454.3. I. The AGILE 2007 November campaign on the "Crazy Diamond"

[Abridged] We report on a multiwavelength observation of the blazar 3C 454.3 (which we dubbed "crazy diamond") carried out on November 2007 by means of the astrophysical satellites AGILE, INTEGRAL, Swift, the WEBT Consortium, and the optical-NIR telescope REM. 3C 454.3 is detected at a $\sim 19-σ$ level during the 3-week observing period, with an average flux above 100 MeV of $F_{\rm E>100MeV} = (170 \pm 13) \times 10^{-8}$ \phcmsec. The gamma-ray spectrum can be fit with a single power-law with photon index $Γ_{\rm GRID} = 1.73 \pm 0.16$ between 100 MeV and 1 GeV. We detect significant day-by-day variability of the gamma-ray emission during our observations, and we can exclude that the fluxes are constant at the 99.6% ($\sim 2.9 σ$) level. The source was detected typically around 40 degrees off-axis, and it was substantially off--axis in the field of view of the AGILE hard X-ray imager. However, a 5-day long ToO observation by INTEGRAL detected 3C 454.3 at an average flux of about $F_{\rm 20-200 keV} = 1.49 \times 10^{-3}$ \phcmsec with an average photon index of $Γ_{\rm IBIS} = 1.75 \pm 0.24$ between 20--200 keV. Swift also detected 3C 454.3 with a flux in the 0.3--10 keV energy band in the range $(1.23-1.40) \times 10^{-2}$ \phcmsec{} and a photon index in the range $Γ_{\rm XRT} = 1.56-1.73$. In the optical band, both WEBT and REM show an extremely variable behavior in the $R$ band. A correlation analysis based on the entire data set is consistent with no time-lags between the gamma-ray and the optical flux variations. Our simultaneous multifrequency observations strongly indicate that the dominant emission mechanism between 30 MeV and 30 GeV is dominated by inverse Compton scattering of relativistic electrons in the jet on the external photons from the broad line region.

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arXiv2007

Using GRO J1655-40 to test Swift/BAT as a monitor for bright hard X-ray sources

While waiting for new gamma-ray burst detections, the Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) on board Swift covers each day ~50% of the sky in the hard X-ray band (``Survey data''). The large field of view (FOV), high sensitivity and good angular resolution make BAT a potentially powerful all-sky hard X-ray monitor, provided that mask--related systematics can be properly accounted for. We have developed and tested a complete procedure entirely based on public Swift/BAT software tools to analyse BAT Survey data, aimed at assessing the flux and spectral variability of bright sources in the 15-150 keV energy range. Detailed tests of the capabilities of our procedure were performed focusing, in particular, on the reliability of spectral measurements over the entire BAT FOV. First, we analyzed a large set of Crab observations, spread over ~7 months. Next, we studied the case of GRO J1655-40, a strongly variable source, which experienced a 9-month long outburst, beginning on February 2005. Such an outburst was systematically monitored with the well-calibrated PCA and HEXTE instruments on board the RXTE mission. Thanks to the good BAT temporal coverage of the source, we have been able to cross-check BAT light-curves with simultaneous HEXTE ones. The Crab tests have shown that our procedure recovers both the flux and the source spectral shape over the whole FOV of the BAT instrument. Moreover, by cross-checking GRO J1655-40 light-curves obtained by BAT and HEXTE, we found the spectral and flux evolution of the outburst to be in very good agreement. Using our procedure, BAT reproduces HEXTE fluxes within a 10-15% uncertainty with a 3sigma sensitivity of ~20 mCrab for an on-axis source, thus establishing its capability to monitor the evolution of relatively bright hard X-rays sources.

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