arXiv subjects

R. Di Stefano

Publications and source records attributed to R. Di Stefano.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Localization of the X-ray Source in the Globular Cluster G1 with Chandra

We report the most accurate X-ray position of the X-ray source in the giant globular cluster G1 in M31 by using the Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). G1 is clearly detected with Chandra and by cross-registering with HST and CFHT images, we derive a 1-sigma error radius of 0.15 arcsec, significantly smaller than the previous measurement by XMM-Newton. We conclude that the X-ray emission of G1 is likely to come from within the core radius of the cluster. We have considered a number of possibilities for the origin of the X-ray emission but can rule all but two scenarios out: it could be due to either accretion onto a central intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH), or an ordinary low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB). Based on the X-ray luminosity and the Bondi accretion rate, an IMBH accreting from the cluster gas seems unlikely and we suggest that the X-rays are due to accretion from a companion. Alternatively, the probability that a 1.5 solar masses cluster LMXB lies within the 95 per cent X-ray error circle is about 0.7. Therefore we cannot rule out a single LMXB as the origin of the X-ray emission. While we cannot distinguish between different models with current observations, future high-resolution and high-sensitivity radio imaging observations will reveal whether there is an IMBH at the centre of G1.

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arXiv2008

Discovery and Study of Nearby Planetary and Binary Systems Via Mesolensing

This paper is devoted to exploring how we can discover and study nearby (< 1-2 kpc) planetary and binary systems by observing their action as gravitational lenses. Lensing can extend the realm of nearby binaries and planets that can be systematically studied to include dark and dim binaries, and face-on systems. As with more traditional studies, which use light from the system, orbital parameters (including the total mass, mass ratio, and orbital separation) can be extracted from lensing data, Also in common with these traditional methods, individual systems can be targeted for study. We discuss the specific observing strategies needed in order to optimize the discovery and study of nearby planetary and binary systems by observing their actions as lenses.

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arXiv2007

Mesolensing Explorations of Nearby Masses: From Planets to Black Holes

Nearby masses can have a high probability of lensing stars in a distant background field. High-probability lensing, or mesolensing, can therefore be used to dramatically increase our knowledge of dark and dim objects in the solar neighborhood, where it can discover and study members of the local dark population (free-floating planets, low-mass dwarfs, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and stellar mass black holes). We can measure the mass and transverse velocity of those objects discovered (or already known), and determine whether or not they are in binaries with dim companions. We explore these and other applications of mesolensing, including the study of forms of matter that have been hypothesized but not discovered, such as intermediate-mass black holes, dark matter objects free-streaming through the Galactic disk, and planets in the outermost regions of the solar system. In each case we discuss the feasibility of deriving results based on present-day monitoring systems, and also consider the vistas that will open with the advent of all-sky monitoring in the era of the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS), and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).

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arXiv2005

An Unusual Spectral State of an Ultra-luminous Very Soft X-ray Source during Outburst

We report the results of Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of a new outburst of an ultra-luminous X-ray source in M101. During a Chandra monitoring observation of M101, M101 ULX-1 was found to be in outburst in 2004 December, the second outburst in 2004. The peak bolometric luminosity is about 3e40 erg/s (7e39 erg/s in 0.3-7 keV). The outburst spectra are very soft and can generally be fitted with a blackbody model with temperatures of 40-80 eV, similar to supersoft X-ray sources in the Milky Way and in the Magellanic Clouds. In one Chandra observation, the source spectrum appears to be harder with a temperature of 150 eV. Such a spectral state is rarely seen in M101 ULX-1 and no X-ray source in the Milky Way shows this kind of spectrum. However, such an unusual spectral state very likely belongs to a new class of X-ray sources, quasisoft X-ray sources, recently discovered in nearby galaxies. M101 ULX-1 returned to supersoft state in a subsequent XMM-Newton observation. Based on the two outbursts in 2004, the extremely high luminosity (L_bol=1e40-1e41 erg/s), very soft X-ray spectra (kT=40-150 eV), transient behavior, and state transition provide strong evidence that M101 ULX-1 harbors an intermediate-mass black hole.

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arXiv2005

Multiwavelength Observations and State Transitions of an Ultra-luminous Supersoft X-ray Source: Evidence for an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole

We report the results of Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of an ultra-luminous supersoft X-ray source in M101. M101 ULX-1 underwent 2 outbursts in 2004 during which the peak bolometric luminosities reached 1e41 erg/s. The outburst spectra were very soft and can generally be fitted with a blackbody model with temperatures of 50-160 eV. In two of the observations, absorption edges at 0.33 keV, 0.56 keV, 0.66 keV, and 0.88 keV were found. A cool accretion disk was also found in the 2004 December outburst. During the low luminosity state, a power-law tail was seen up to 7 keV. It is clear the source changed from a low/hard state to a high/soft state. In addition, it showed at least 5 outbursts between 1996 and 2004. This is the first ultra-luminous X-ray source for which recurrent outbursts with state transitions similar to Galactic X-ray binaries have been observed. From the Hubble Space Telescope data, we found an optical counterpart to the source. During the 2004 outbursts, we also performed radio and ground-based optical observations. All the results strongly suggest that the accreting object is a > 2800 solar mass black hole.

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arXiv2004

Evidence for an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole: Chandra and XMM-Newton Observations of the Ultraluminous Supersoft X-ray Source in M101 during its 2004 Outburst

We report the results of Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of a new outburst of an ultraluminous supersoft X-ray source in M101. CXOU J140332.3+542103 was observed in a low luminosity state (L_x~1e37 erg/s) between 2004 January and May. The low-state X-ray spectra were relatively hard; the combined low state spectrum can be fitted with a combination of a power-law with photon index of 1.4 and a blackbody of 63 eV. During 2004 July, the source underwent a strong outburst and the peak 0.3-7 keV luminosity reached 3e40 erg/s, with a bolometric luminosity of about 1e41 erg/s. The outburst spectra were very soft and can generally be fitted with a blackbody model with temperatures of 50-100 eV. In two of the observations, absorption edges at 0.33 keV, 0.56 keV, 0.66 keV, and 0.88 keV were found. An XMM-Newton observation was also performed during the decay of the outburst, and a power-law tail was seen in addition to the supersoft spectrum. We consider different accretion models; one involving an intermediate-mass black hole can explain the observations.

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arXiv2004

Quasisoft X-Ray Sources: Unusual States of Stellar-Mass Objects, or Intermediate Mass Black Holes?

Chandra observations of nearby galaxies have revealed a number of X-ray sources characterized by high luminosities ($L_X > \sim10^{36}$ erg s$^{-1}$) and $k T$ in the range $100 - 350$ eV. These ``quasisoft X-ray sources'' (QSSs) are harder than luminous supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs), whose characteristic temperatures are tens of eV, but, with little or no emission above 2 keV, they are significantly softer than most canonical X-ray sources. They are likely to include a range of physical systems; some may be common systems in unusual states: neutron stars or stellar-mass black holes (BHs), or SNRs. Others may be accreting BHs of intermediate mass. We have analyzed {\it Chandra} data from $19 $ near-by galaxies to identify QSSs with sufficiently high count rates to allow spectral fits. Six of these galaxies have been studied in great detail; in these we find 89 SSSs and 122 QSSs. In this paper we present spectra for QSSs those with more than 50 counts. We also use data from six of these galaxies to study the broadband spectral distributions of QSSs and to compare them with those of other X-ray sources. Since QSSs in the Milky Way are likely to be missed by our selection procedures, we discuss other signatures by which they can be found. If some of the QSSs for which we have spectra are accreting BHs, the lower bounds for the BH mass range from roughly $30 M_\odot$ to $1000 M_\odot$.

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arXiv2004

Supersoft X-ray Sources in M31: I. A Chandra Survey and an Extension to Quasisoft Sources

We report on very soft X-ray sources (VSSs) in M31. In a survey which was most sensitive to soft sources in four 8'x8' regions covered by Chandra's ACIS-S S3 CCD, we find 33 VSSs that appear to belong to M31. Fifteen VSSs have spectral characteristics mirroring the supersoft X-ray sources studied in the Magellanic Cloud and Milky Way ($k T_{eff} \leq 100$ eV); we therefore call these ``classical'' supersoft sources, or simply supersoft sources (SSSs). Eighteen VSSs may either have small (< 10%) hard components, or slightly higher effective temperatures (but still < 350 eV). We refer to these VSSs as quasisoft sources (QSSs). While hot white dwarf models may apply to SSSs, the effective temperatures of QSSs are too high, unless, e.g., the radiation emanates from only a small portion of surface. Two of the SSSs were first detected and identified as such through ROSAT observations. One SSS and one QSS may be identified with symbiotics, and 2 SSSs with supernova remnants. Both SSSs and QSSs in the disk are found near star-forming regions, possibly indicating that they are young. VSSs in the outer disk and halo are likely to be old systems; in these regions, there are more QSSs than SSSs, which is opposite to what is found in fields closer to the galaxy center. The largest density of bright VSSs is in the bulge; some of the bulge sources are close enough to the nucleus to be remnants of the tidal disruption of a giant by the massive central black hole. By using Chandra data in combination with ROSAT and XMM observations, we find most VSSs to be highly variable, fading from or brightening toward detectability on time scales of months. There is evidence for VSSs with low luminosities ($\sim 10^{36}$ erg s$^{-1}$).

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arXiv2004

The Discovery of Quasisoft and Supersoft Sources in External Galaxies

We apply a uniform procedure to select very soft sources from point sources observed by Chandra in 4 galaxies. This sample includes one elliptical galaxy (NGC 4967), 2 face-on spirals (M101 and M83), and an interacting galaxy (M51). We have found very soft X-ray sources (VSSs) in every galaxy. Some of these fit the criteria for canonical supersoft sources (SSSs), while others are somewhat harder. These latter have characteristic values of kT < 300 eV; we refer to them as quasisoft sources (QSSs). We found a combined total of 149 VSSs in the 4 galaxies we considered; 77 were SSSs and 72 were QSSs. (See the paper for the original long abstract)

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arXiv2003

Supersoft and Quasisoft X-Ray Sources in the Globular Clusters of NGC 4472: Are they candidates for intermediate-mass black holes?

We report on possible associations between 6 globular clusters in the Virgo elliptical galaxy NGC 4472 (M49) and bright ($L_x > 10^{38}$ erg s$^{-1}$) very soft X-ray sources (VSSs). Two of the VSSs have broad-band spectral properties consistent with those of luminous supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs). The other VSSs are somewhat harder harder, possibly with values of kT between roughly 150 eV and 250 eV. These sources may be too hot to be explained by the white dwarf models so promising for SSSs; they are members of the newly-established class of quasisoft sources (QSSs). We examine white dwarf, neutron star, and black hole models for the VSSs. One of the SSSs is hot and bright enough to be a possible progenitor of a Type Ia supernova, while the most natural model for the other VSSs is one in which the accretors are intermediate-mass black holes. Whatever their physical natures, these sources are unlike any X-ray sources in Galactic globular clusters. No Galactic globular cluster houses a quasisoft source and only one, M3, contains a dim ($L_x \sim 10^{36}$ erg s$^{-1}$) transient SSS.

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arXiv2003

Selecting Very Soft X-Ray Sources in External Galaxies: Luminous Supersoft X-ray Sources and Quasisoft Sources

We introduce a procedure to identify very soft X-ray sources (VSSs) in external galaxies. Our immediate goal was to formulate a systematic procedure to identify luminous supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs), so as to allow comparisons among galaxies and to study environmental effects. The focus of this paper is on the design of the selection algorithm and on its application to simulated data. In the companion paper we test it by applying it to sources discovered through Chandra observations of 4 galaxies. We find that, in its application to both simulated and real data, our procedure also selects somewhat harder sources, which we call quasisoft. Whereas values of kT for SSSs are typically tens of eV, some quasisoft sources (QSSs) may have kT as high as ~250-300 eV. The dominant spectral component of other QSSs may be as soft as SSS spectra, but the spectra may also include a low-luminosity harder component. We sketch physical models for both supersoft and quasisoft sources. Some SSSs are likely to be accreting white dwarfs; some of these may be progenitors of Type Ia supernovae. Most QSSs may be too hot to be white dwarfs. They, together with a subset of SSSs, may be neutron stars or, perhaps most likely, accreting intermediate-mass black holes.

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arXiv2003

The Ultraluminous X-ray Source NGC 1313 X-2 (MS 0317.7-6647) and its Environment

We present new optical and {\it Chandra} observations of the field containing the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 1313 X-2. On an ESO 3.6 m image, the {\it Chandra} error box embraces a $R=21.6$ point-like object and excludes a previously proposed optical counterpart. The resulting X-ray/optical flux ratio of NGC 1313 X-2 is $\sim 500$. The value of $f_X/f_{opt}$, the X-ray variability history and the spectral distribution derived from a re-analysis of the {\it ROSAT}, {\it ASCA} and {\it XMM} data indicate a luminous X-ray binary in NGC 1313 as a likely explanation for NGC 1313 X-2. If the X-ray soft component observed in the {\it XMM} EPIC spectrum originates from an accretion disk, the inferred mass of the compact remnant is $\approx 100 M_\odot$, making it an intermediate mass black hole. The derived optical luminosity ($L\approx 10^5 L_\odot$) is consistent with that of a $\approx 15-20 M_\odot$ companion. The properties of the environment of NGC 1313 X-2 are briefly discussed.

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arXiv2003

Optical Counterpart of The Ultraluminous X-ray Source NGC 1313 X-2

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arXiv2003

X-ray Point Sources in the Sombrero Galaxy: Supersoft sources, the globular cluster/LMXB connection, and an overview

We report on the population of point sources discovered during an 18.5 ksec Chandra ACIS-S observation of the Sombrero Galaxy. We present the luminosity function, the spectra of the 6 brightest sources, consider correlations with globular clusters (GCs) and with planetary nebulae (PNe), and study the galaxy's population of SSSs. We detected 122 sources, 22 of them are identified as luminous supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs). There is an over density of SSSs within 1.5 kpc of the nucleus, which is itself the brightest X-ray source. SSSs are also found in the disk and halo, with 1 SSS in a globular cluster (GC). Several sources in Sombrero's halo are good candidates for SSS models in which the accretor is a nuclear-burning white dwarf. In total, 32 X-ray sources are associated with GCs. The majority of sources with luminosity > 1e38 erg/s are in GCs. These results for M104, an Sa galaxy, are similar to what has been found for elliptical galaxies and for the late-type spiral M31. We find that those optically bright GCs with X-ray sources house only the brightest X-ray sources. We find that, in common with other galaxies, there appears to be a positive connection between young (metal-rich) GCs and X-ray sources, but that the brightest X-ray sources are equally likely to be in metal-poor GCs. We propose a model which can explain the trends seen in the data sets from the Sombrero and other galaxies. Thermal-time scale mass transfer can occur in some of the the younger clusters in which the turn-off mass is slightly greater than $0.8 M_\odot$; multiplicity may play a role in some of the most massive clusters; accretion from giant stars may be the dominant mechanism in some older, less massive and less centrally concentrated clusters.

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arXiv2003

A Luminous Recurrent Supersoft X-ray Source in NGC 300

We report the results of XMM-Newton observations for an especially luminous supersoft X-ray source (SSS) with bolometric luminosity of 10^39 erg/s in the spiral galaxy NGC 300. The source was detected as a SSS in 1992 and disappeared in subsequent X-ray observations. The source was active again during recent XMM-Newton observations. It appeared to be very soft (kT~60 eV) and very luminous (~10^38 - 10^39 erg/s). The two XMM-Newton observations also reveal that the source went from a ``high'' state to a ``low'' state in 6 days. We also found a 5.4-hr periodicity during the ``low'' state. We consider white dwarf, black hole, and neutron star models to explain the nature of the source.

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arXiv2003

Luminous Supersoft X-Ray Sources in External Galaxies

We use a set of conservative criteria to identify luminous supersoft X-ray sources(SSSs) in external galaxies. We test this approach on blackbody models, and then apply it to {\it Chandra} data from 4 galaxies: an elliptical (NGC 4967), 2 face-on spirals (M101 and M83), and an interacting galaxy (M51). We find SSSs in every galaxy, and estimate that the total SSS population of sources with $L > 10^{37}$ erg s$^{-1}$ in each galaxy is at least several hundred and could be significantly larger. In addition, we discover two intriguing features of galactic populations of SSSs. First, there are significant subpopulations of high-luminosity sources; the bolometric luminosities can exceed $10^{39}$ erg s$^{-1}.$ Second, in the spiral galaxies M101, M83 and M51, SSSs appear to be associated with the spiral arms. This may indicate that some SSSs are young systems, possibly younger than $10^8$ years.

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arXiv2002

Chandra Studies of the X-ray Point Source Luminosity Functions of M31

Three different M31 disk fields, spanning a range of stellar populations, were observed by Chandra. We report the X-ray point source luminosity function (LF) of each region, and the LF of M31's globular clusters, and compare these with each other and with the LF of the galaxy's bulge. To interpret the results we also consider tracers of the stellar population, such as OB associations and supernova remnants. We find differences in the LFs among the fields, but cannot definitively relate them to the stellar content of the fields. We find that stellar population information, average and maximum source luminosities, X-ray source densities, and slopes of the LF are useful in combination.

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arXiv2002

X-ray Point Sources in The Central Region of M31 as seen by Chandra

We report on \chandra observations of the central region of M31. By combining eight \chandra ACIS-I observations taken between 1999 and 2001, we have identified 204 X-ray sources within the central $\sim 17'\times17'$ region of M31, with a detection limit of $\sim 2\times10^{35}$\lum. Of these 204 sources, 22 are identified with globular clusters, 2 with supernova remnants, 9 with planetary nebula, and 9 as supersoft sources. By comparing individual images, about 50% of the sources are variable on time scales of months. We also found 13 transients, with light curves showing a variety of shapes. We also extracted the energy spectra of the 20 brightest sources; they can be well fit by a single power-law with a mean photon index of 1.8. The spectral shapes of 12 sources are shown to be variable, suggesting that they went through state changes. The luminosity function of all the point sources is consistent with previous observations (a broken power-law with a luminosity break at $1.7\times10^{37}$\lum). However, when the X-ray sources in different regions are considered separately, different luminosity functions are obtained. This indicates that the star-formation history might be different in different regions.

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