The Orbital Period of the Ultraluminous X-ray Source in M82 | Zendy

P. Kaaret | Zendy; Melanie G. Simet | Zendy; Cornelia Lang | Zendy

AI Assistant Blog Pricing

Home ZAIA Blog

Open Access

The Orbital Period of the Ultraluminous X-ray Source in M82

Author(s) -

P. Kaaret,

Melanie G. Simet,

Cornelia Lang

Publication year - 2006

Publication title -

science

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 12.556

H-Index - 1186

eISSN - 1095-9203

pISSN - 0036-8075

DOI - 10.1126/science.1121067

Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , orbital period , supergiant , luminosity , astronomy , x ray binary , black hole (networking) , galaxy , period (music) , neutron star , stars , computer network , routing protocol , routing (electronic design automation) , computer science , link state routing protocol , acoustics

The ultraluminous x-ray source (ULX) in the galaxy M82 has been identified asa possible intermediate-mass black hole. We have found that the x-ray flux fromM82 is modulated with a peak-to-peak amplitude corresponding to an isotropicluminosity of 2.4x10^40 erg/s in M82 and a period of 62.0 +/- 2.5 days, whichwe interpret as the orbital period of the ULX binary. This orbital periodimplies that the mass-donor star must be a giant or supergiant. Largemass-transfer rates, sufficient to fuel the ULX, are expected for a giant-phasemass donor in an x-ray binary. The giant phase has a short lifetime, indicatingthat we see the ULX in M82 in a brief and unusual period of its evolution.Comment: 3 pages, appeared in Scienc

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research