(No) dynamical constraints on the mass of the black hole in two ULXs

T. P. Roberts; J. C. Gladstone; A. D. Goulding; A. M. Swinbank; M. J. Ward; M. R. Goad; A. J. Levan

doi:10.1002/asna.201011508

(No) dynamical constraints on the mass of the black hole in two ULXs

T. P. Roberts, J. C. Gladstone, A. D. Goulding, A. M. Swinbank, M. J. Ward, M. R. Goad, A. J. Levan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present the preliminary results of two Gemini campaigns to constrain the mass of the black hole in an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) via optical spectroscopy. Pilot studies of the optical counterparts of a number of ULXs revealed two candidates for further detailed study, based on the presence of a broad He II 4686 Å emission line. A sequence of 10 long-slit spectra were obtained for each object, and the velocity shift of the ULX counterpart measured. Although radial velocity variations are observed, they are not sinusoidal, and no mass function is obtained. However, the broad He II line is highly variable on timescales shorter than a day. If associated with the reprocessing of X-rays in the accretion disc, its breadth implies that the disc must be close to face-on.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	398-401
Number of pages	4
Journal	Astronomische Nachrichten
Volume	332
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201011508
State	Published - Apr 2011
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Accretion, accretion discs
Binaries: spectroscopic
Black hole physics
X-rays: binaries

Access to Document

10.1002/asna.201011508

Cite this

@article{a5ad438258134a5ca5b5c18f55e38e4b,

title = "(No) dynamical constraints on the mass of the black hole in two ULXs",

abstract = "We present the preliminary results of two Gemini campaigns to constrain the mass of the black hole in an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) via optical spectroscopy. Pilot studies of the optical counterparts of a number of ULXs revealed two candidates for further detailed study, based on the presence of a broad He II 4686 {\AA} emission line. A sequence of 10 long-slit spectra were obtained for each object, and the velocity shift of the ULX counterpart measured. Although radial velocity variations are observed, they are not sinusoidal, and no mass function is obtained. However, the broad He II line is highly variable on timescales shorter than a day. If associated with the reprocessing of X-rays in the accretion disc, its breadth implies that the disc must be close to face-on.",

keywords = "Accretion, accretion discs, Binaries: spectroscopic, Black hole physics, X-rays: binaries",

author = "Roberts, {T. P.} and Gladstone, {J. C.} and Goulding, {A. D.} and Swinbank, {A. M.} and Ward, {M. J.} and Goad, {M. R.} and Levan, {A. J.}",

year = "2011",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1002/asna.201011508",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "332",

pages = "398--401",

journal = "Astronomische Nachrichten",

issn = "0004-6337",

publisher = "Wiley-VCH Verlag",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - (No) dynamical constraints on the mass of the black hole in two ULXs

AU - Roberts, T. P.

AU - Gladstone, J. C.

AU - Goulding, A. D.

AU - Swinbank, A. M.

AU - Ward, M. J.

AU - Goad, M. R.

AU - Levan, A. J.

PY - 2011/4

Y1 - 2011/4

N2 - We present the preliminary results of two Gemini campaigns to constrain the mass of the black hole in an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) via optical spectroscopy. Pilot studies of the optical counterparts of a number of ULXs revealed two candidates for further detailed study, based on the presence of a broad He II 4686 Å emission line. A sequence of 10 long-slit spectra were obtained for each object, and the velocity shift of the ULX counterpart measured. Although radial velocity variations are observed, they are not sinusoidal, and no mass function is obtained. However, the broad He II line is highly variable on timescales shorter than a day. If associated with the reprocessing of X-rays in the accretion disc, its breadth implies that the disc must be close to face-on.

AB - We present the preliminary results of two Gemini campaigns to constrain the mass of the black hole in an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) via optical spectroscopy. Pilot studies of the optical counterparts of a number of ULXs revealed two candidates for further detailed study, based on the presence of a broad He II 4686 Å emission line. A sequence of 10 long-slit spectra were obtained for each object, and the velocity shift of the ULX counterpart measured. Although radial velocity variations are observed, they are not sinusoidal, and no mass function is obtained. However, the broad He II line is highly variable on timescales shorter than a day. If associated with the reprocessing of X-rays in the accretion disc, its breadth implies that the disc must be close to face-on.

KW - Accretion, accretion discs

KW - Binaries: spectroscopic

KW - Black hole physics

KW - X-rays: binaries

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955389296&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79955389296&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/asna.201011508

DO - 10.1002/asna.201011508

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:79955389296

SN - 0004-6337

VL - 332

SP - 398

EP - 401

JO - Astronomische Nachrichten

JF - Astronomische Nachrichten

IS - 4

ER -

(No) dynamical constraints on the mass of the black hole in two ULXs

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this