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Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations of the black hole binary LMC X-3reveal an extended very low X-ray state lasting from 2003 December 13 until2004 March 18, unprecedented both in terms of its low luminosity (>15 timesfainter than ever before seen in this source) and long duration (~3 timeslonger than a typical low/hard state excursion). During this event little to nosource variability is observed on timescales of ~hours-weeks, and the X-rayspectrum implies an upper limit of 1.2x10^35 erg s^-1. Five years later anotherextended low state occurs, lasting from 2008 December 11 until 2009 June 17.This event lasts nearly twice as long as the first, and while significantvariability is observed, the source remains reliably in the low/hard spectralstate for the ~188 day duration. These episodes share some characteristics withthe "anomalous low states" in the neutron star binary Her X-1. The averageperiod and amplitude of the variability of LMC X-3 have different valuesbetween these episodes. We characterize the long-term variability of LMC X-3before and after the two events using conventional and nonlinear time seriesanalysis methods, and show that, as is the case in Her X-1, the characteristicamplitude of the variability is related to its characteristic timescale.Furthermore, the relation is in the same direction in both systems. Thissuggests that a similar mechanism gives rise to the long-term variability,which in the case of Her X-1 is reliably modeled with a tilted, warpedprecessing accretion disk.

Anomalous Low States and Long Term Variability in the Black Hole Binary LMC X-3