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R. A. Krivonos

Publications and source records attributed to R. A. Krivonos.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Population of persistent high mass X-ray binaries in the Milky Way

We present results of the study of persistent high mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) in the Milky Way, obtained from the deep INTEGRAL Galactic plane survey. This survey provides us a new insight into the population of high mass X-ray binaries because almost half of the whole sample consists of sources discovered with INTEGRAL. It is demonstrated for the first time that the majority of persistent HMXBs have supergiant companions and their luminosity function steepens somewhere around ~2x10^{36} erg/s. We show that the spatial density distribution of HMXBs correlates well with the star formation rate distribution in the Galaxy. The vertical distribution of HMXBs has a scale-height h~85 pc, that is somewhat larger than the distribution of young stars in the Galaxy. We propose a simple toy model, which adequately describes general properties of HMXBs in which neutron stars accrete a matter from the wind of the its companion (wind-fed NS-HMXBs population). Using the elaborated model we argue that a flaring activity of so-called supergiant fast X-ray transients, the recently recognized sub-sample of HMXBs, is likely related with the magnetic arrest of their accretion.

astro-ph.HE↗

Accurate Localization and Identification of Six Hard X-ray Sources from Chandra and XMM-Newton data

We present the results of Chandra and XMM-Newton observations for six hard X-ray sources (IGR J12134-6015, IGR J18293-1213, IGR J18219-1347, IGR J17350-2045, IGR J18048-1455, XTE J1901+014) from the INTEGRAL all-sky survey. Based on these observations, we have improved significantly the localization accuracy of the objects and, therefore, have managed to identify their optical counterparts. Using data from the publicly available 2MASS and UKIDSS infrared sky surveys as well as data from the SOFI/NTT telescope (European Southern Observatory), we have determined the magnitudes of the optical counterparts, estimated their types and (in some cases) the distances to the program objects. A triplet of iron lines with energies of 6.4, 6.7, and 6.9 keV has been detected in the X-ray spectrum of IGR J18048-1455; together with the detection of pulsations with a period of ~1440 s from this source, this has allowed it to be classified as a cataclysmic variable, most likely an intermediate polar. In addition, broadband X-ray spectra of IGR J12134-6015 and IGR J17350-2045 in combination with infrared and radio observations suggest an extragalactic nature of these objects. The source IGR J18219-1347 presumably belongs to the class of high-mass X-ray binaries.

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GRB070610 : A Curious Galactic Transient

GRB 070610 is a typical high-energy event with a duration of 5s.Yet within the burst localization we detect a highly unusual X-ray and optical transient, SwiftJ195509.6+261406. We see high amplitude X-ray and optical variability on very short time scales even at late times. Using near-infrared imaging assisted by a laser guide star and adaptive optics, we identified the counterpart of SwiftJ195509.6+261406. Late-time optical and near-infrared imaging constrain the spectral type of the counterpart to be fainter than a K-dwarf assuming it is of Galactic origin. It is possible that GRB 070610 and Swift J195509.6+261406 are unrelated sources. However, the absence of a typical X-ray afterglow from GRB 070610 in conjunction with the spatial and temporal coincidence of the two motivate us to suggest that the sources are related. The closest (imperfect) analog to Swift J195509.6+261406 is V4641 Sgr, an unusual black hole binary. We suggest that Swift J195509.6+261406 along with V4641 Sgr define a sub-class of stellar black hole binaries -- the fast X-ray novae. We further suggest that fast X-ray novae are associated with bursts of gamma-rays. If so, GRB 070610 defines a new class of celestial gamma-ray bursts and these bursts dominate the long-duration GRB demographics

astro-ph↗