Search

Using the observations of the high-energy detector of the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT) for Scorpius X-1 from 2017 to 2020, we search for hard X-ray tails in the X-ray spectra in ∼30–200 keV. The hard X-ray tails are found throughout the Z -track on the hardness–intensity diagram, and the detected hard X-ray tails become hard and weak from the horizontal branch (HB), through the normal branch (NB), to the flaring branch (FB). Comparing the hard X-ray spectra of Insight-HXMT between Cyg X-1 and Sco X-1, it is concluded that the hard X-ray spectrum of Cyg X-1 shows a high-energy cutoff, implying a hot corona in it, but the high-energy cutoff is not seen in the hard X-ray spectrum of Sco X-1. From fitting the broadband spectrum of Sco X-1 in ∼2–200 keV, it is proposed that the hard X-ray tails in the HB and NB can be explained by the overall Comptonization COMPTB model, suggesting that the hard X-ray tails could have resulted from the Comptonization of the photons from the neutron star (NS) surface by the thermal electrons in the region between the NS and the disk and the energetic electrons in the freefall toward the NS in the converging flow onto the NS. However, this model cannot be responsible for the hard X-ray tails in the FB. Further study on the FB hard X-ray tails is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast X-ray Transients (FXTs) are X-ray flares with durations ranging from a few hundred seconds to a few hours. Possible origins include the tidal disruption of a white dwarf by an intermediate-mass black hole, a supernova shock breakout, or a binary neutron star merger. We present the X-ray light curve and spectrum as well as deep optical imaging of the FXT XRT 210423, which has been suggested to be powered by a magnetar produced in a binary neutron star merger. Our Very Large Telescope and Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) observations began on 2021 May 6, thirteen days after the onset of the flare. No transient optical counterpart is found in the 1.″ (3 σ) X-ray uncertainty region of the source to a depth g s = 27.0 AB mag. (We use the word "counterpart" for any transient light in a wave band other than the original X-ray detection wave band, whereas the word "host" refers to the host galaxy.) A candidate host lies within the 1.″ X-ray uncertainty region with a magnitude of 25.9 ± 0.1 in the GTC/HiPERCAM g s filter. Due to its faintness, it was not detected in other bands, precluding a photometric redshift determination. We detect two additional candidate host galaxies: one with z spec = 1.5082 ± 0.0001 and an offset of 4.″2 ± 1.″ (37 ± 9 kpc) from the FXT, and another one with z phot = 1.04 − 0.14 + 0.22 and an offset of 3.″6 ± 1.″ (30 ± 8 kpc). Based on the properties of all the prospective hosts, we favor a binary neutron star merger, as previously suggested in the literature, as the explanation for XRT 210423. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present 18 yr of OGLE photometry together with spectra obtained over 12 yr revealing that the early Oe star AzV 493 shows strong photometric (Δ I < 1.2 mag) and spectroscopic variability with a dominant, 14.6 yr pattern and ∼40 day oscillations. We estimate the stellar parameters T eff = 42,000 K, log L / L ⊙ = 5.83 ± 0.15 , M / M ⊙ = 50 ± 9, and v sin i = 370 ± 40 km s−1. Direct spectroscopic evidence shows episodes of both gas ejection and infall. There is no X-ray detection, and it is likely a runaway star. The star AzV 493 may have an unseen companion on a highly eccentric (e > 0.93) orbit. We propose that close interaction at periastron excites ejection of the decretion disk, whose variable emission-line spectrum suggests separate inner and outer components, with an optically thick outer component obscuring both the stellar photosphere and the emission-line spectrum of the inner disk at early phases in the photometric cycle. It is plausible that AzV 493's mass and rotation have been enhanced by binary interaction followed by the core-collapse supernova explosion of the companion, which now could be either a black hole or a neutron star. This system in the Small Magellanic Cloud can potentially shed light on OBe decretion disk formation and evolution, massive binary evolution, and compact binary progenitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid increase in serendipitous X-ray source detections requires the development of novel approaches to efficiently explore the nature of X-ray sources. If even a fraction of these sources could be reliably classified, it would enable population studies for various astrophysical source types on a much larger scale than currently possible. Classification of large numbers of sources from multiple classes characterized by multiple properties (features) must be done automatically and supervised machine learning (ML) seems to provide the only feasible approach. We perform classification of Chandra Source Catalog version 2.0 (CSCv2) sources to explore the potential of the ML approach and identify various biases, limitations, and bottlenecks that present themselves in these kinds of studies. We establish the framework and present a flexible and expandable Python pipeline, which can be used and improved by others. We also release the training data set of 2941 X-ray sources with confidently established classes. In addition to providing probabilistic classifications of 66,369 CSCv2 sources (21% of the entire CSCv2 catalog), we perform several narrower-focused case studies (high-mass X-ray binary candidates and X-ray sources within the extent of the H.E.S.S. TeV sources) to demonstrate some possible applications of our ML approach. We also discuss future possible modifications of the presented pipeline, which are expected to lead to substantial improvements in classification confidences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We make the first observation-based calculation of the energy that goes into cosmic ray protons versus cosmic ray electrons in shock acceleration during structure formation. We find a ratio of energy in cosmic ray protons to energy in cosmic ray electrons of 0.86. This value, calculated from the nonthermal X-ray component reported here from RTXE and the Fermi LAT upper limit for gamma-ray emission, is significantly lower than theoretical estimates that place most of the nonthermal energy in protons. Our estimate is based on the detection of nonthermal X-ray emission using the 3â€"20 keV RXTE spectrum, which shows residual emission not well modeled by a single thermal component. The statistical significance of adding a nonthermal, power-law component is 96%. The significance of adding a second thermal component is 90%. The addition of a component consisting of full cosmic X-ray background fluctuation to an isothermal model is significant with 92% confidence. The cumulative probability for the two-thermal-component model is 81% and 90% for the thermal plus power law. Thus the model with nonthermal emission is the preferred description of the data. Evidence of shock heating between the clusters in the spectro-imaging data of XMM, Chandra, and Suzaku indicates that a cosmic ray component should also be present and supports a nonthermal interpretation for the additional component. The bolometric nonthermal X-ray luminosity is 1.6 Ă— 1044 ergs sâˆ'1, 36% of the total X-ray emission in the 0.1â€"100 keV band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present observations of ASASSN-20hx, a nearby ambiguous nuclear transient (ANT) discovered in NGC 6297 by the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN). We observed ASASSN-20hx from âˆ'30 to 275 days relative to the peak UV/optical emission using high-cadence, multiwavelength spectroscopy and photometry. From Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite data, we determine that the ANT began to brighten on 2020 June 22.8 with a linear rise in flux for at least the first week. ASASSN-20hx peaked in the UV/optical 30 days later on 2020 July 22.8 (MJD = 59052.8) at a bolometric luminosity of L = (3.15 ± 0.04) Ă— 1043 erg sâˆ'1. The subsequent decline is slower than any TDE observed to date and consistent with many other ANTs. Compared to an archival X-ray detection, the X-ray luminosity of ASASSN-20hx increased by an order of magnitude to L x ∼ 1.5 Ă— 1042 erg sâˆ'1 and then slowly declined over time. The X-ray emission is well fit by a power law with a photon index of Î" ∼ 2.3â€"2.6. Both the optical and near-infrared spectra of ASASSN-20hx lack emission lines, unusual for any known class of nuclear transient. While ASASSN-20hx has some characteristics seen in both tidal disruption events and active galactic nuclei, it cannot be definitively classified with current data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progenitors of core-collapse supernovae (SNe) can shed significant mass to circumstellar material (CSM) in the months to years preceding core collapse. The ensuing SN explosion launches ejecta that may subsequently collide with this CSM, producing shocks that can power emissions across the electromagnetic spectrum. In this work we explore the thermal signatures of dense CSM interaction when the CSM density profile is truncated at some outer radius. CSM with optical depth > c/v (where v is the shock velocity) will produce primarily ∼blackbody optical/UV emission, whereas lower optical depth CSM will power bremsstrahlung X-ray emission. Focusing on the latter, we derive light curves and spectra of the resulting X-ray transients that include a detailed treatment of Comptonization. Due to strong photoelectric absorption, the X-ray light curve is dominated by the postinteraction phase that occurs after the shock reaches the CSM truncation radius. We treat this regime here for the first time. Using these results, we present the phase space of optical, UV, and X-ray transients as a function of CSM properties, and discuss detectability prospects. We find that ROSAT would not have been sensitive to CSM X-ray transients but that eROSITA is expected to detect many such events. Future wide-field UV missions such as the Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite will dramatically enhance sensitivity to large optical depth CSM configurations. Finally, we present a framework within which CSM properties may be directly inferred from observable features of X-ray transients. This can serve as an important tool for studying stellar mass loss using SN X-ray detections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) by definition have masses of MIMBH ∼ 102−5M⊙, a range with few observational constraints. Finding IMBHs in globular star clusters (GCs) would validate a formation channel for massive black-hole seeds in the early universe. Here, we simulate a 60 hr observation with the next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) of 728 GC candidates in the Virgo Cluster galaxy NGC 4472. Interpreting the radio detection thresholds as signatures of accretion onto IMBHs, we benchmark IMBH mass thresholds in three scenarios and find the following: (1) radio analogs of ESO 243-49 HLX-1, a strong IMBH candidate with in a star cluster, are easy to access in all 728 GC candidates. (2) For the 30 GC candidates with extant X-ray detections, the empirical fundamental-plane relation involving black-hole mass plus X-ray and radio luminosities suggests access to , with an uncertainty of 0.44 dex. (3) A fiducial Bondi accretion model was applied to all 728 GC candidates and to radio stacks of the GC candidates. This model suggests access to IMBH masses, with a statistical uncertainty of 0.39 dex, of for individual GC candidates, and for radio stacks of about 100–200 GC candidates. The fiducial Bondi model offers initial guidance, but is subject to additional systematic uncertainties and should be superseded by hydrodynamical simulations of gas flows in GCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]