arXiv subjects

M. R. Garcia

Publications and source records attributed to M. R. Garcia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2015

Chandra, XMM-Newton and HST observations of a transient in M31 with a possible asymmetric, precessing disk

The transient X-ray source CXOM31 004205.77+411330.43 exhibited several outbursts during our long-term monitoring campaign of ~monthly observations of the M31 center with Chandra. However, the decay profile appears to be unlike those observed from Galactic transients. We followed up the 2011 outburst with two ~B band HST/ACS observations, one in outburst and the other in quiescence, and used difference imaging to search for a counterpart; this would be dominated by re-processed X-ray emission from the disk. We found a counterpart with B = 28.21+/-0.16. An XMM-Newton observation from a previous outburst yielded a spectrum that is well described by an absorbed power law with absorption equivalent to ~2.6 E+21 H atom cm^(-2) and photon index ~1.8; the highest quality Chandra spectrum yielded only $\sim$130 counts, and best fits consistent with the XMM-Newton results. We calculated an absolute V magnitude of +1.9 during outburst for a typical disk spectrum. An empirical relation between the ratio of X-ray to optical flux and orbital period suggests a period < ~4 hr for a black hole accretor. Such a short period is expected to yield an asymmetric, precessing disk, and we propose that the observed decay lightcurve is due to modulation of the mass transfer rate due to the disk precession.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

XMM-Newton and Chandra observations of the M31 globular cluster black hole candidate XB135: a heavyweight contender cut down to size

CXOM31 J004252.030+413107.87 is one of the brightest X-ray sources within the D_25 region of M31, and associated with a globular cluster (GC) known as B135; we therefore call this X-ray source XB135. XB135 is a low mass X-ray binary (LMXB) that apparently exhibited hard state characteristics at 0.3--10 keV luminosities 4--6 E+38 erg/s, and the hard state is only observed below ~10% Eddington. If true, the accretor would be a high mass black hole (BH) (> ~50 M_Sun); such a BH may be formed from direct collapse of a metal-poor, high mass star, and the very low metalicity of B135 (0.015 Z_Sun) makes such a scenario plausible. We have obtained new XMM-Newton and Chandra HRC observations to shed light on the nature of this object. We find from the HRC observation that XB135 is a single point source located close to the center of B135. The new XMM-Newton spectrum is consistent with a rapidly spinning ~10--20 M_Sun BH in the steep power law or thermal dominant state, but inconsistent with the hard state that we previously assumed. We cannot formally reject three component emission models that have been associated with high luminosity neutron star LMXBs (known as Z-sources); however, we prefer a BH accretor. We note that deeper observation of XB135 could discriminate against a neutron star accretor.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Swift reveals a ~5.7 day super-orbital period in the M31 globular cluster X-ray binary XB158

The M31 globular cluster X-ray binary XB158 (a.k.a. Bo 158) exhibits intensity dips on a 2.78 hr period in some observations, but not others. The short period suggests a low mass ratio, and an asymmetric, precessing disk due to additional tidal torques from the donor star since the disk crosses the 3:1 resonance. Previous theoretical 3D smoothed particle hydrodynamical modeling suggested a super-orbital disk precession period 29$\pm$1 times the orbital period, i.e. $\sim$81$\pm$3 hr. We conducted a Swift monitoring campaign of 30 observations over ~1 month in order to search for evidence of such a super-orbital period. Fitting the 0.3--10 keV Swift XRT luminosity lightcurve with a sinusoid yielded a period of 5.65+/-0.05 days, and a >5$σ$ improvement in $χ^2$ over the best fit constant intensity model. A Lomb-Scargle periodogram revealed that periods 5.4--5.8 days were detected at a >3$σ$ level, with a peak at 5.6 days. We consider this strong evidence for a 5.65 day super-orbital period, ~70\% longer than the predicted period. The 0.3--10 keV luminosity varied by a factor ~5, consistent with variations seen in long-term monitoring from Chandra. We conclude that other X-ray binaries exhibiting similar long-term behaviour are likely to also be X-ray binaries with low mass ratios and super-orbital periods.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

50 M31 black hole candidates identified by Chandra and XMM-Newton

Over the last ~5 years we have identified ~35 black hole candidates (BHCs) in M31 from their X-ray spectra. Our BHCs exhibited 0.3--10 keV spectra consistent with the X-ray binary (XB) hard state, at luminosities that are above the upper limit for neutron star (NS) XBs. When our BHC spectra were modeled with a disk blackbody + blackbody model, for comparison with bright NS XBs, we found that the BHCs inhabited a different parameter space to the NS XBs. However, BH XBs may also exhibit a thermally dominated (TD) state that has never been seen in NS XBs; this TD state is most often observed in X-ray transients. We examined the ~50 X-ray transients in our Chandra survey of M31, and found 13 with spectra suitable for analysis. We also examined 2 BHCs outside the field of view of our survey, in the globular clusters B045 and B375. We have 42 strong BHCs, and 8 plausible BHCs that may benefit from further observation. Of our 15 BHCs in globular clusters, 12 differ from NS spectra by >5 sigma. Due to improvements in our analysis, we have upgraded 10 previously identified plausible BHCs to strong BHCs. The mean maximum duty cycle of the 33 X-ray transients within 6' of M31* was 0.13; we estimate that >40% of the XBs in this region contain BH accretors. Remarkably, we estimate that BHCs contribute >90% of those XBs >1 E+38 erg/s.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Discovery of a new black hole transient within 100" (400 pc) of M31*

We identified a new X-ray transient CXOM31 004252.457+411631.17 (T13) in M31 during a 2013 June Chandra observation. This system is particularly exciting because it is located within 100" of M31*; it is thought that this region of the bulge is sufficiently dense to form X-ray binaries dynamicaly, but only systems with black hole accretors and/or short periods are expected to survive. A follow-up XMM-Newton observation yielded a soft spectrum, well described by a 0.39+/-0.02 keV disk blackbody; applying this model to the Chandra observation yielded an observed 0.3--10 keV luminosity peak of 6.2+/-0.6 E+37 erg/s (4.7 E+36 erg/s in the 2.0--10 keV band). Observing with HST/ACS did not reveal an optical counterpart, but allowed us to place an upper limit of B >26.9, corresponding to an absolute V band magnitude >2.0. From the 2--10 keV luminosity and absolute V magnitude, we estimate an orbital period $<$5 h from an empirical relation. Fitting a disk blackbody + blackbody model allows us to reject a neutron star accretor at a 14 sigma level.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Around 200 new X-ray binary IDs from 13 years of Chandra observations of the M31 center

We have created 0.3--10 keV, 13 year, unabsorbed luminosity lightcurves for 528 X-ray sources in the central 20' of M31. We have 174 Chandra observations spaced at ~1 month intervals thanks to our transient monitoring program, deeper observations of the M31 nucleus, and some public data from other surveys. We created 0.5--4.5 keV structure functions (SFs) for each source, for comparison with the ensemble structure function of AGN. We find 220 X-ray sources with luminosities > ~1E+35 erg/s that have SFs with significantly more variability than the ensemble AGN SF, and are likely X-ray binaries (XBs). A further 30 X-ray sources were identified as XBs using other methods. We therefore have 250 probable XBs in total, including ~200 new identifications. This result represents great progress over the ~50 XBs and ~40 XB candidates previously identified out of the ~2000 X-ray sources within the D_25 region of M31; it also demonstrates the power of SF analysis for identifying XBs in external galaxies. We also identify a new transient black hole candidate, associated with the M31 globular cluster B128.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2013

Chandra identification of 26 new black hole candidates in the central region of M31

We have previously identified 10 M31 black hole candidates (BHCs) in M31, from their X-ray properties alone. They exhibit "hard state" emission spectra that are seen at luminosities < ~10% Eddington in X-ray binaries (XBs) containing a neutron star (NS) or black hole (BH), at luminosities that significantly exceed the NS threshold. Nine of these are associated with globular clusters (GCs); hence, these are most likely low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs); eight are included in this survey. We have recently discovered that analysis of the long term 0.5--4.5 keV variability of XBs via structure functions allows us to separate XBs from AGN, even though the emission spectra are often similar; this has enabled us to search for BHCs outside of GCs. We have identified 26 new BHCs (12 strong, 14 plausible) within 20' of the M31 nucleus (M31*), using 152 Chandra observations spaced over ~13 years; some of our classifications were enhanced with XMM-Newton observations. Of these, 7 appear within 100" of M31*; this supports the theory suggesting that this region experiences enhanced XB production via dynamical processes similar to those seen in GCs. We have found a parameter space where our black hole candidates are separated from Galactic neutron star binaries: we show that modelling a simulated hard state spectrum with a disk blackbody + blackbody model yields parameters that lie outside the space occupied by neutron star binaries that are modeled this way. The probability that our BHCs all lie within the NS parameter space is ~3E-29.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

Timing and Spectral Analysis of the Unusual X-Ray Transient XTE J0421+560/CI Camelopardalis

We present a detailed X-ray study of the 2003 XMM-Newton observation of the High Mass X-ray Binary XTE J0421+560/CI Cam. The continuum of the X-ray spectrum is well described by a flat power law (Gamma=1.0+/-0.2) with a large intrinsic absorbing column (N_H=(4.4+/-0.5)\times10^{23} cm^{-2}). We have decomposed the broad iron line into 3 separate components: Fe\textsc{i}-K$α$, Fe\textsc{i}-K$β$ and Fe\textsc{xxiv-xxv}K$α$. It is unclear how both neutral and almost fully ionised iron can exist simultaneously, however we suggest this could be evidence that the compact object is embedded in the circumstellar material. This doesn't appear to be consistent with the X-ray flux and spectrum of the source, which has remained essentially unchanged since the initial outburst. The iron abundance implied by the ratio of the neutral Fe-K$α$ and Fe-K$β$ is compatible with solar. We search for lags in the neutral Fe-K$α$ with respect to the continuum and find marginal evidence for a lag at ~10 ks. We interpret this as the light crossing time of the torus which would suggest that the neutral iron is located at a radius of 10 AU. This result depends on several assumptions including the distance to the system, the inclination, the mass of system and the orbital period none of which are known with any great certainty. Better constraints on these system parameters and further observations of this system are required to confirm this result. We discuss the nature of this system in light of our results and place it in context with other binary B[e] stars.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Reinstating the M31 X-ray system RX J0042.3+4115 as a black hole X-ray binary, and compelling evidence for an extended corona

The M31 X-ray source RX J0042.3+4115 was originally identified as a black hole binary because it displayed characteristic low state variability at conspicuously high luminosities; unfortunately, this variability was later found to be artificial. However, analysis of 84 Chandra ACIS observations, an HST ACS/WFC observation, and a 60 ks XMM-Newton observation has supplied new evidence that RX J0042.3+4115 is indeed a black hole binary. The brightest optical star within 3 sigma of the position of RX J0042.3+4115 had a F435W (~B) magnitude of 25.4+/-0.2; M_B > -0.4, hence we find a low mass donor likely. RX J0042.3+4115 was persistently bright over ~12 years. Spectral fits revealed characteristic black hole binary states: a low/hard state at 2.08+/-0.08 E+38 erg/s, and a steep power law state at 2.41+/-0.05 E+38 erg/s (0.3--10 keV). The high luminosity low state suggests a ~20 M_Sun primary; this is high, but within the range of known stellar black hole masses. The inner disk temperature during the steep power law state is 2.24$\pm$0.15 keV, high but strikingly similar to that of GRS 1915+105, the only known Galactic black hole binary with a low mass donor t o be persistently bright. Therefore RX J0042.3+4115 may be an analog for GRS 1915+105; however, other mechanisms may account for its behavior. We find compelling evidence for an extended corona during the steep power law state, because compact corona models where the seed photons for Comptonization are tied to the inner disc temperature are rejected.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2009

Imaging the asymmetric dust shell around CI Cam with long baseline optical interferometry

We present the first high angular resolution observation of the B[e] star/X-ray transient object CI Cam, performed with the two-telescope Infrared Optical Telescope Array (IOTA), its upgraded three-telescope version (IOTA3T) and the Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI). Visibilities and closure phases were obtained using the IONIC-3 integrated optics beam combiner. CI Cam was observed in the near-infrared H and K spectral bands, wavelengths well suited to measure the size and study the geometry of the hot dust surrounding CI Cam. The analysis of the visibility data over an 8 year period from soon after the 1998 outburst to 2006 shows that the dust visibility has not changed over the years. The visibility data shows that CI Cam is elongated which confirms the disc-shape of the circumstellar environment and totally rules out the hypothesis of a spherical dust shell. Closure phase measurements show direct evidence of asymmetries in the circumstellar environment of CI Cam and we conclude that the dust surrounding CI Cam lies in an inhomogeneous disc seen at an angle. The near-infrared dust emission appears as an elliptical skewed Gaussian ring with a major axis a = 7.58 +/- 0.24 mas, an axis ratio r = 0.39 +/- 0.03 and a position angle theta = 35 +/- 2 deg.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2009

Cosmic Feedback from Supermassive Black Holes

An extraordinary recent development in astrophysics was the discovery of the fossil relationship between central black hole mass and the stellar mass of galactic bulges. The physical process underpinning this relationship has become known as feedback. The Chandra X-ray Observatory was instrumental in realizing the physical basis for feedback, by demonstrating a tight coupling between the energy released by supermassive black holes and the gaseous structures surrounding them. This white paper discusses how a great leap forward in X-ray collecting area and spectral resolution will allow a qualitatively new way of studying how feedback from black holes influenced the growth of structure.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Optical spectroscopy and Doppler tomography of Cygnus X-2

We present phase resolved optical spectroscopy and Doppler tomography of V1341 Cygni, the optical counterpart to the neutron star low mass X-ray binary Cygnus X-2. We derive a radial velocity curve for the secondary star, finding a projected radial velocity semi-amplitude of K2 = 79 +/- 3 km/s, leading to a mass function of 0.51 +/- 0.06 Msun, ~30% lower than the previous estimate. We tentatively attribute the lower value of K2 (compared to that obtained by other authors) to variations in the X-ray irradiation of the secondary star at different epochs of observations. The limited phase coverage and/or longer timebase of previous observations may also contribute to the difference in K2. Our value for the mass function implies a primary mass of 1.5 +/- 0.3 Msun, somewhat lower than previous dynamical estimates, but consistent with the value found by analysis of type-I X-ray bursts from this system. Our Doppler tomography of the broad He II 4686 line reveals that most of the emission from this line is produced on the irradiated face of the donor star, with little emission from the accretion disc. In contrast, the Doppler tomogram of the N III 4640.64 Bowen blend line shows bright emission from near the gas stream/accretion disc impact region, with fainter emission from the gas stream and secondary star. This is the first LMXB for which the Bowen blend is dominated by emission from the gas stream/accretion disc impact region, without comparable emission from the secondary star. This has implications for the interpretation of Bowen blend Doppler tomograms of other LMXBs for which the ephemeris may not be accurately known.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2008

On the triple nature of the X-ray source 4U2129+47 (= V1727 Cyg)

Context. In quiescence, the proposed optical counterpart to the neutron star low mass X-ray binary 4U 2129+47 (V1727 Cyg) shows a spectrum consistent with a late F-type subgiant and no radial velocity variations on the 5.24 hour binary period. This could imply that V1727 Cyg is a chance line of sight interloper. Radial velocity measurements, however, showed evidence for a longer term ~40 km/s shift, which suggested that 4U 2129+47 could be a hierarchical triple system, with the F-type star in a wide orbit about the inner low mass X-ray binary. Aims. In order to confirm the long-term radial velocity shift reported in Garcia et al. (1989) and its amplitude, we obtained spectroscopic observations of V1727 Cyg during 1996 and 1998 with the William Herschel Telescope using the ISIS spectrograph. Methods. We determined radial velocities from the ISIS spectra by means of the cross-correlation technique with a template spectrum. Results. The resulting radial velocities show variations with a maximum amplitude of ~40 km/s, confirming previous results and supporting the F-type star as being the third body in a hierarchical triple system. The odds that this star could be an interloper are ~3e-6

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Observations of the 599 Hz Accreting X-ray Pulsar IGR J00291+5934 during the 2004 Outburst and in Quiescence

We report on optical and NIR observations obtained during and after the 2004 December discovery outburst of the X-ray transient and accretion-powered millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934. Our observations monitored the evolution of the brightness and the spectral properties of J00291 during the outburst decay towards quiescence. We also present optical, NIR and Chandra observations obtained during true quiescence. Photometry of the field during outburst reveals an optical and NIR counterpart that brightened from R~23 to R~17 and from K=19 to K~16. Spectral analysis of the RIJHK broadband photometry shows excess in the NIR bands that may be due to synchrotron emission. The Halpha emission line profile suggests the orbital inclination is ~22-32 degrees. The preferred range for the reddening towards the source is 0.7 < E(B-V) < 0.9, which is equivalent to 4.06E21 cm^-2 < NH < 5.22E21 cm^-2. The Chandra observations of the pulsar in its quiescent state gave an unabsorbed 0.5-10 keV flux for the best-fitting power-law model to the source spectrum of (7.0 +/- 0.9)E-14 ergs/cm^2/s (adopting a hydrogen column of 4.6E21 cm^-2. The fit resulted in a power-law photon index of 2.4 +/- 0.5. The (R-K)o color observed during quiescence supports an irradiated donor star and accretion disk. We estimate a distance of 2 to 4 kpc towards J00291 by using the outburst X-ray light curve and the estimated critical X-ray luminosity necessary to keep the outer parts of the accretion disk ionized. Using the quiescent X-ray luminosity and the spin period, we constrain the magnetic field of the neutron star to be < 3E8 Gauss.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The 2005 outburst of the halo black hole X-ray transient XTE J1118+480

We present optical and infrared monitoring of the 2005 outburst of the halo black hole X-ray transient XTE J1118+480. We measured a total outburst amplitude of ~5.7+-0.1 mag in the R band and ~5 mag in the infrared J, H and K_s bands. The hardness ratio HR2 (5-12 keV/3-5 keV) from the RXTE/ASM data is 1.53+-0.02 at the peak of the outburst indicating a hard spectrum. Both the shape of the light curve and the ratio L_X (1-10 keV)/L_opt resemble the mini-outbursts observed in GRO J0422+32 and XTE J1859+226. During early decline, we find a 0.02-mag amplitude variation consistent with a superhump modulation, like the one observed during the 2000 outburst. Similarly, XTE J1118+480 displayed a double-humped ellipsoidal modulation distorted by a superhump wave when settled into a near-quiescence level, suggesting that the disk expanded to the 3:1 resonance radius after outburst where it remained until early quiescence. The system reached quiescence at R=19.02+-0.03 about three months after the onset of the outburst. The optical rise preceded the X-ray rise by at most 4 days. The spectral energy distributions (SEDs) at the different epochs during outburst are all quasi-power laws with F_nu proportional to nu^alpha increasing toward the blue. At the peak of the outburst we derived alpha=0.49+-0.04 for the optical data alone and alpha=0.1+-0.1 when fitting solely the infrared. This difference between the optical and the infrared SEDs suggests that the infrared is dominated by a different component (a jet?) whereas the optical is presumably showing the disk evolution.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

On the binary nature of 1RXS J162848.1-415241

We present spectroscopy of the optical counterpart to 1RXS J162848.1-41524, also known as the microquasar candidate MCQC J162847-4152. All the data indicate that this X-ray source is not a microquasar, and that it is a single-lined chromospherically active binary system with a likely orbital period of 4.9 days. Our analysis supports a K3IV spectral classification for the star, which is dominant at optical wavelengths. The unseen binary component is most likely a late-type (K7-M) dwarf or a white dwarf. Using the high resolution spectra we have measured the K3 star's rotational broadening to be vsini = 43 +/- 3 km/s and determined a lower limit to the binary mass ratio of q(=M2/M1)>2.0. The high rotational broadening together with the strong CaII H & K / Halpha emission and high-amplitude photometric variations indicate that the evolved star is very chromospherically active and responsible for the X-ray/radio emission.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

M74 X-1 (CXOU J013651.1+154547): An Extremely Variable Ultraluminous X-Ray Source

Ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) have been described variously as the most luminous normal X-ray binaries, as hypernovae, and as "intermediate-mass" black holes with masses of hundreds to thousands of solar masses. We present results on M74 X-1 (CXOU J013651.1+154547), a ULX in the nearby spiral galaxy M74 (NGC 628), from observations by Chandra and XMM-Newton. M74 X-1is a persistent source which exhibits extreme variability and changes in spectral state on timescales of several thousand seconds. Its variability timescales and behavior resemble some Galactic microquasars. This suggests that the emission mechanism may be related to relativistically beamed jets, and that M74 X-1 could be an extragalactic "microblazar" -- a microquasar whose jet axis is aligned with our line of sight. We also note that its spectrum is consistent with the presence of a low-temperature disk blackbody component, which, assuming it is due to radiation from an accretion disk, could indicate that M74 X-1 contains an intermediate-mass black hole.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

A Possible Detection of M31* with Chandra

Two independent sets of Chandra and HST images of the nuclear region of M31 allow registration of X-ray and optical images to 0.1''. This registration shows that none of the bright (10^{37} erg/s) X-ray sources near the nucleus is coincident with the central super-massive black hole, M31*. A 50ks Chandra HRC image shows 2.5 sigma evidence for a faint (3 x 10^{35} erg/s), apparently resolved source which is consistent with the position of the M31*. The Bondi radius of M31* is 0.9'', making it one of the few super-massive black holes with a resolvable accretion flow. This large radius and the previous detections of diffuse, X-ray emitting gas in the nuclear region make M31* one of the most secure cases for a radiatively inefficient accretion flow and place some of the most severe constraints on the radiative processes in such a flow.

astro-ph↗