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The remarkable rapid X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, and IR variability in the black hole XTE J1118+480 | | R.I. Hynes
; C.A. Haswell
; W. Cui
; C.R. Shrader
; K. O’Brien
; S. Chaty
; D.R. Skillman
; J. Patterson
; K. Horne
; | | Date: |
30 Jun 2003 | | Journal: | Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 345 (2003) 292 | | Subject: | astro-ph | | Affiliation: | University of Texas at Austin), C.A. Haswell (Open University), W. Cui (Purdue University), C.R. Shrader (LHEA NASA/GSFC), K. O’Brien (ESO), S. Chaty (Universite Paris, Saclay), D.R. Skillman (CBA East), J. Patterson (Columbia University), K. Hor | | Abstract: | The transient black hole binary XTE J1118+480 exhibited dramatic rapid variability at all wavelengths which were suitably observed during its 2000 April-July outburst. We examine time-resolved X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, and infrared data spanning the plateau phase of the outburst. We find that both X-ray and infrared bands show large amplitude variability. The ultraviolet and optical variability is more subdued, but clearly correlated with that seen in the X-rays. The ultraviolet, at least, appears to be dominated by the continuum, although the lines are also variable. Using the X-ray variations as a reference point, we find that the UV variability at long wavelengths occurs later than that at short wavelengths. Uncertainty in HST timing prohibits a determination of the absolute lag with respect to the X-rays, however. The transfer function is clearly not a delta-function, exhibiting significant repeatable structure. For the main signal we can rule out an origin in reprocessing on the companion star - the lack of variation in the lags is not consistent with this given a relatively high orbital inclination. Weak reprocessing from the disc and/or companion star may be present, but is not required, and another component must dominate the variability. This could be variable synchrotron emission correlated with X-ray variability, consistent with our earlier interpretation of the IR flux as due to synchrotron emission rather than thermal disc emission. In fact the broad-band energy distribution of the variability from IR to X-rays is consistent with expectations of optically thin synchrotron emission. We also follow the evolution of the low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation in X-rays, UV, and optical. Its properties at all wavelengths are similar indicating a common origin. | | Source: | arXiv, astro-ph/0306626 | | Services: | Forum | Review | PDF | Favorites | |
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