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A 62 Day X-Ray Periodicity and an X-Ray Flare from the Ultraluminous X-Ray Source in M82 | | Philip Kaaret
; Melanie G. Simet
; Cornelia C. Lang
; | | Date: |
3 Apr 2006 | | Abstract: | In 240 days of X-ray monitoring of M82, we have discovered an X-ray periodicity at $62.0 pm 2.5$ days with a peak to peak amplitude corresponding to an isotropic luminosity of $2.4 imes 10^{40}
m erg s^{-1}$ in M82 and an X-ray flare reaching a peak luminosity of $9.8 imes 10^{40}
m erg s^{-1}$. The periodicity and flare likely originate from the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) in M82 which has been identified as a possible intermediate mass black hole. We suggest that the 62~day modulation is due to orbital motion within an X-ray binary with a Roche-lobe overflowing companion star which would imply that the average density of the companion star is near $5 imes 10^{-5}
m g cm^{-3}$ and is therefore a giant or supergiant. Chandra observations just after the flare show an energy spectrum that is consistent with a power-law with no evidence of a thermal component or line emission. Radio observations made with the VLA during the flare allow us to rule out a blazar identification for the source and place strong constraints on relativistically beamed models of the X-ray emission. The Chandra observations reveal a second X-ray source reached a flux of $4.4 imes 10^{-12}
m erg cm^{-2} s^{-1}$ in the 0.3-7 keV band which is dramatically higher than any flux previously seen from this source and corresponds to an isotropic luminosity of $1.1 imes 10^{40}
m erg s^{-1}$. This source is a second ultraluminous X-ray source in M82 and may give rise to the QPOs detected from the central region of M82. | | Source: | arXiv, astro-ph/0604029 | | Services: | Forum | Review | PDF | Favorites | |
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