Gandhi, P., Makishima, K., Durant, M. et al. (6 more authors) (2008) Rapid optical and X-ray timing observations of GX 339-4: flux correlations at the onset of a low/hard state. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society , 390 (1). L29-L33. ISSN 0035-8711
Abstract
We present the discovery of optical/X-ray flux correlations on rapid time-scales in the low/hard state of the Galactic black hole GX 339-4. The source had recently emerged from outburst and was associated with a relatively faint counterpart with mag V ≈ 17. The optical [Very Large Telescope (VLT)/ULTRACAM] and X-ray (Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer) data show a clear positive cross-correlation function (CCF) signal, with the optical peak lagging X-rays by ∼150 ms, preceded by a shallow rise and followed by a steep decline along with broad anticorrelation dips. An examination of the light curves shows that the main CCF features are reproduced in superpositions of flares and dips. The CCF peak is narrow and the X-ray autocorrelation function (ACF) is broader than the optical ACF, arguing against reprocessing as the origin for the rapid optical emission. X-ray flaring is associated with spectral hardening, but no corresponding changes are detected around optical peaks and dips. The variability may be explained in the context of synchrotron emission with interaction between a jet and a corona. The complex CCF structure in GX 339-4 has similarities to that of another remarkable X-ray binary XTE J1118+480, in spite of showing a weaker maximum strength. Such simultaneous multiwavelength, rapid timing studies provide key constraints for modelling the inner regions of accreting stellar sources.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ©:2008 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 RAS Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. |
Keywords: | accretion, accretion discs; black hole physics; stars: individual: GX339-4; X-rays: binaries; BLACK-HOLE BINARIES; XTE J1118+480; SYNCHROTRON EMISSION; MAGNETIC FLARES; JET MODEL; GX-339-4; VARIABILITY; DISC; XTE-J1118+480; GX339-4 |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Physics and Astronomy (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 06 Nov 2017 16:08 |
Last Modified: | 06 Nov 2017 16:08 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-3933.2008.00529.x |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/j.1745-3933.2008.00529.x |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:123552 |