SIMBAD references

2009ApJ...699.1053H - Astrophys. J., 699, 1053-1058 (2009/July-2)

Chandra discovery of an intermediate polar in Baade's window.

HONG J., VAN DEN BERG M., LAYCOCK S., GRINDLAY J.E. and ZHAO P.

Abstract (from CDS):

We have discovered an intermediate polar (IP) in the 100 ks Chandra observation of Baade's window (BW), a low extinction region at about 4° south of the Galactic center. The source exhibits large X-ray modulations at a period of 1028.4 s in the 0.3-8 keV band. The X-ray spectral fit with a power-law model shows that the integrated spectrum is intrinsically hard (photon index Γ = 0.44±0.05) and moderately absorbed (NH= 1.5±1.0x1021/cm2). The relatively poor statistics only allow for a mild constraint on the presence of an iron emission line (equivalent width = 0.5±0.3 keV at 6.7 keV). Quantile analysis reveals that the modulations in the X-ray flux strongly correlate with spectral changes that are dominated by varying internal absorption. The X-ray spectrum of the source is heavily absorbed (NH> 1022/cm2) during the faint phases, while the absorption is consistent with the field value (∼1021/cm2) during the bright phases. These X-ray properties are typical signatures of IPs. Images taken with the IMACS camera on the Magellan 6.5 m telescope show a faint (V ∼ 22), relatively blue object (B0- V0≳ 0.05) within the 2σ error circle of the Chandra source, which is a good candidate for being the optical counterpart. If we assume a nominal range of absolute V magnitude for a cataclysmic variable (MV∼ 5.5-10.5) and the known reddening in the region (AV= 1.4 at >3 kpc), the source would likely be at a distance of 2-10 kpc and not in the local solar neighborhood. The corresponding average X-ray luminosity would be 6x1031 -1033 erg/s in the 2-8 keV band. Assuming the space density of IPs follows the stellar distribution, which is highly concentrated in the Galactic bulge, the source is probably a relatively bright IP (∼1033 erg/s if it is at 8 kpc) belonging to the Galactic bulge X-ray population, the majority of which is now believed to be magnetic cataclysmic variables.

Abstract Copyright:

Journal keyword(s): novae, cataclysmic variables - Galaxy: bulge - X-rays: binaries

Simbad objects: 5

goto Full paper

goto View the references in ADS

To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:2009ApJ...699.1053H and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu