Search arXivSearch

arXiv · astro-ph/0101104

Optical studies of the X-ray transient XTE J2123-058 - II. Phase-resolved spectroscopy

Abstract

We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the soft X-ray transient XTE J2123-058 in outburst. A useful spectral coverage of 3700-6700A was achieved spanning two orbits of the binary, with single epoch coverage extending to \~9000A. The optical spectrum approximates a steep blue power-law, consistent with emission on the Rayleigh-Jeans tail of a hot black body spectrum. The strongest spectral lines are HeII 4686A and CIII/NIII 4640A (Bowen blend) in emission. Their relative strengths suggest that XTE J2123-058 was formed in the Galactic plane, not in the halo. Other weak emission lines of HeII and CIV are present and Balmer lines show a complex structure, blended with HeII. HeII 4686A profiles show a complex multiple S-wave structure with the strongest component appearing at low velocities in the lower-left quadrant of a Doppler tomogram. H alpha shows transient absorption between phases 0.35-0.55. Both of these effects appear to be analogous to similar behaviour in SW Sex type cataclysmic variables. We therefore consider whether the spectral line behaviour of XTE J2123-058 can be explained by the same models invoked for those systems.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

R. I. Hynes, P. A. Charles, C. A. Haswell, J. Casares, C. Zurita, M. Serra-Ricart. 2001-01-08. Optical studies of the X-ray transient XTE J2123-058 - II. Phase-resolved spectroscopy. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04314.x

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Cosmic Conundrums with Quantum Corrections

Darh energy was discovered over 25 years ago and we do not have an explanation of it. Dark matter comprises 95% of matter in the universe and we still don't know what it is. The Webb telescope has been finding fully formed galaxies with massive black holes millions of times the mass of the sun in the early universe and we don't have any explanation. A quantum density limitation will be used to solve these and other outstanding problems.

astro-ph

On binary pulsars and the force of gravity

The energy-momentum budget of the astrophysical systems can be studied by the exact local conservation equation derived by Landau and Lifshitz. We show that a similar equation is valid for the Einstein-Cartan gravity. We reanalyze a binary pulsar system using the Landau-Lifshitz conservation equation and show that the orbital period change rate can be completely understood as a curvature backreaction process. Taking into account the detailed theoretical and observational research of relativistic binary pulsar systems, especially the system of Hulse and Taylor, we conclude that general relativity and astrophysical observations rule out the existence of gravitational radiation. We comment upon the LIGO GW events and their alternative explanation, as well as the recent pulsar timing arrays data.

astro-ph

Oscillation frequencies and mode lifetimes in alpha Centauri A

We analyse our recently-published velocity measurements of alpha Cen A (Butler et al. 2004). After adjusting the weights on a night-by-night basis in order to optimize the window function to minimize sidelobes, we extract 42 oscillation frequencies with l=0 to 3 and measure the large and small frequency separations. We give fitted relations to these frequencies that can be compared with theoretical models and conclude that the observed scatter about these fits is due to the finite lifetimes of the oscillation modes. We estimate the mode lifetimes to be 1-2 d, substantially shorter than in the Sun.

astro-ph