The X-ray Spectra of the Luminous LMXBs in NGC 3379: Field and Globular Cluster Sources
N. J. Brassington, G. Fabbiano, S. Blake, A. Zezas, L. Angelini, R. L. Davies, J. Gallagher, V. Kalogera, D. -W. Kim, A. R. King, A. Kundu, G. Trinchieri, S. Zepf
备注：
Accepted to ApJ; 24 pages with 17 figures. Replacement includes additional simulations and a decision tree summarizing the simulation results
From a deep multi-epoch Chandra observation of the elliptical galaxy NGC 3379 we report the spectral properties of eight luminous LMXBs (LX>1.2E38 erg/s). We also present a set of spectral simulations, produced to aid the interpretation of low-count single-component spectral modeling. These simulations demonstrate that it is possible to infer the spectral states of X-ray binaries from these simple models and thereby constrain the properties of the source. Of the eight LMXBs studied, three reside within globular clusters, and one is a confirmed field source. Due to the nature of the luminosity cut all sources are either neutron star binaries emitting at or above the Eddington luminosity or black hole binaries. The spectra from these sources are well described by single-component models, with parameters consistent with Galactic LMXB observations, where hard-state sources have a range in photon index of 1.5-1.9 and thermally dominated sources have inner disc temperatures between ~0.7-1.55 keV. The large variability observed in the brightest globular cluster source (LX>4E38 erg/s) suggests the presence of a black hole binary. At its most luminous this source is observed in a thermally dominated state with kT=1.5 keV, consistent with a black hole mass of ~4 Msol. This observation provides further evidence that globular clusters are able to retain such massive binaries. We also observed a source transitioning from a bright state (LX~1E39 erg/s), with prominent thermal and non-thermal components, to a less luminous hard state (LX=3.8E38 erg/s, Gamma=1.85). In its high flux emission this source exhibits a cool-disc component of ~0.14 keV, similar to spectra observed in some ultraluminous X-ray sources. Such a similarity indicates a possible link between `normal' stellar mass black holes in a high accretion state and ULXs.
We have searched for [OIII] 5007 emission in high resolution spectroscopic data from Flames/Giraffe VLT observations of 174 massive globular clusters (GCs) in NGC4472. No planetary nebulae (PNe) are observed in these clusters, constraining the number of PNe per bolometric luminosity, α<0.8*10^{-7}PN/L_{\odot}. This is significantly lower than the rate predicted from stellar evolution, if all stars produce PNe. Comparing our results to populations of PNe in galaxies, we find most galaxies have a higher αthan these GCs (more PNe per bolometric luminosity - though some massive early-type galaxies…
We investigate the radial distribution of the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) population in the elliptical galaxy NGC 4649, using Chandra and Hubble data to separate the field and globular cluster (GC) populations. GCs with LMXBs have the same radial distribution as the parent red and blue GCs. The radial profile of field LMXBs follows the V-band profile within the D25 of NGC 4649. Using the spatial information provided by our data, we find that the global galaxy-wide relations between cumulative number and luminosity of LMXBs and the integrated stellar mass hold on local scales within D25. An ex…
For the first time, we have systematically explored the population of discrete X-ray sources in the outskirts of early-type galaxies. Based on a broad sample of 20 galaxies observed with Chandra we detected overdensity of X-ray sources in their outskirts. The overdensity appears as halos of resolved sources around the galaxies. These halos are broader than the stellar light, extending out to at least ~ 10 Re (Re is the effective radius). These halos are composed of sources fainter than ~5E38 erg/s, whereas the more luminous sources appear to follow the distribution of the stellar light, sugges…
We report significant inhomogeneities in the projected two-dimensional (2D) spatial distributions of Low-Mass X-ray Binaries (LMXBs) and Globular Clusters (GCs) of the intermediate mass elliptical galaxy NGC4278. In the inner region of NGC4278, a significant arc-like excess of LMXBs extending south of the center at ~50" in the western side of the galaxy can be associated to a similar over-density of the spatial distribution of red GCs from~Brassington et al. (2009). Using a recent catalog of GCs produced by Usher et al.(2013) and covering the whole field of the NGC4278 galaxy, we have discover…
If millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are responsible for the excess gamma-ray emission observed from the region surrounding the Galactic Center, the same region should also contain a large population of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). In this study, we compile and utilize a sizable catalog of LMXBs observed in the the Milky Way's globular cluster system and in the Inner Galaxy, as well as the gamma-ray emission observed from globular clusters, to estimate the flux of gamma rays predicted from MSPs in the Inner Galaxy. From this comparison, we conclude that only up to $\sim$4-23% of the observed gamm…
We report significant anisotropies in the projected two-dimensional (2D) spatial distributions of Globular Clusters (GCs) of the giant Virgo elliptical galaxy NGC4649 (M60). Similar features are found in the 2D distribution of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), both associated with GCs and in the stellar field. Deviations from azimuthal symmetry suggest an arc-like excess of GCs extending north at 4-15 kpc galactocentric radii in the eastern side of major axis of NGC4649. This feature is more prominent for red GCs, but still persists in the 2D distribution of blue GCs. High and low luminosity GC…
We consider an accretion-disc origin for the broad and luminous forbidden-line emission observed in ultraluminous X-ray (ULX) sources CXOJ033831.8-352604 and XMMU 122939.7+075333 in globular clusters hosted by elliptical galaxies NGC 1399 and NGC 4472, respectively. We will refer to the latter by the globular cluster name RZ2109. The first has strong [OIII] and [NII], the second only [OIII]. Both H$α$ and H$β$ are very weak or undetected in both objects. We assume that the large line widths are due to Keplerian rotation around a compact object and derive expressions for maximum line luminositi…
We present three newly discovered globular clusters (GCs) in the Local Group dwarf irregular NGC 6822. Two are luminous and compact, while the third is a very low luminosity diffuse cluster. We report the integrated optical photometry of the clusters, drawing on archival CFHT/Megacam data. The spatial positions of the new GCs are consistent with the linear alignment of the already-known clusters. The most luminous of the new GCs is also highly elliptical, which we speculate may be due to the low tidal field in its environment.
We present a wide field study of the Globular Clusters/Low Mass X-ray Binaries connection in the cD elliptical NGC1399, combining HST/ACS and Chandra high resolution data. We find evidence that LMXB formation likelihood is influenced by GCs structural parameters, in addition to the well known effects of mass and metallicity, independently from galactocentric distance.
We present a wide field study of the Globular Clusters/Low Mass X-ray Binary (LMXB) connection in the giant elliptical NGC1399. The large FOV of the ACS/WFC, combined with the HST and Chandra high resolution, allow us to constrain the LMXB formation scenarios in elliptical galaxies. We confirm that NGC1399 has the highest LMXB fraction in GCs of all nearby elliptical galaxies studied so far, even though the exact value depends on galactocentric distance due to the interplay of a differential GC vs galaxy light distribution and the GC color dependence. In fact LMXBs are preferentially hosted by…
We have compared the combined X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of LMXBs detected in Chandra observations of young, post-merger elliptical galaxies, with that of typical old elliptical galaxies. We find that the XLF of the 'young' sample does not present the prominent high luminosity break at LX > 5 x 1038 erg s-1 found in the old elliptical galaxy XLF. The 'young' and 'old' XLFs differ with a 3σ statistical significance (with a probability less than 0.2% that they derive from the same underlying parent distribution). Young elliptical galaxies host a larger fraction of luminous LMXBs (LX > 5 x 1…
We investigate the dependence of the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) population in early-type galaxies on stellar age, by selecting 20 massive nearby early-type galaxies from the Chandra archive occupying a relatively narrow range of masses and spanning a broad range of ages, from 1.6 Gyr to more than 10 Gyrs, with the median value of 6 Gyrs. With the ~ 2000 X-ray point sources detected in total, we correlated the specific number of LMXBs in each galaxy with its stellar age and globular cluster (GC) content. We found a correlation between the LMXB population and stellar age: older galaxies tend t…
(abridged) We present a statistical study of the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) populations of three nearby, old elliptical galaxies: NGC 3379, NGC 4278, and NGC 4697. With a cumulative ~1 Ms Chandra ACIS observing time, we detect 90-170 LMXBs within the D25 ellipse of each galaxy. Cross-correlating Chandra X-ray sources and HST optical sources, we identify 75 globular cluster (GC) LMXBs and 112 field LMXBs. In the low luminosity range allowed by our deeper data (LX < 5 x 1037 erg s-1), we find a significant relative lack of GC-LMXBs, when compared with field sources. Using the co-added sample f…
Aims. M 31 has been completely imaged for the first time obtaining a luminosity lower limit ~10^35 erg s-1 in the 0.2-4.5 keV band. Our XMM-Newton EPIC survey combines archival observations with observations taken between June 2006 and February 2008. The main goal of the paper is a study of the X-ray source population of M 31. Methods. An X-ray catalogue of 1897 sources was created; 914 were detected for the first time. Source classification and identification were based on X-ray hardness ratios, spatial extent of the sources, and by cross correlating with catalogues in the X-ray, optical, inf…
In globular clusters, dynamical evolution produces luminous X-ray emitting binaries at a rate about 200 times greater than in the field. If globular clusters also produce SNe Ia at a high rate, it would account for much of the SN Ia events in early type galaxies and provide insight into their formation. Here we use archival HST images of nearby galaxies that have hosted SNe Ia to examine the rate at which globular clusters produce these events. The location of the SN Ia is registered on an HST image obtained before the event or after the supernova faded. Of the 36 nearby galaxies examined, 21 …
We use Hubble Space Telescope imaging to show that the nearby dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 4449 has an unusual abundance of luminous red star clusters. Joint constraints from integrated photometry, low-resolution spectroscopy, dynamical mass-to-light ratios, and resolved color-magnitude diagrams provide evidence that some of these clusters are old globular clusters. Spectroscopic data for two massive clusters suggest intermediate metallicities ([Fe/H] ~ -1) and subsolar Mg enhancement ([Mg/Fe] ~ -0.1 to -0.2). One of these clusters may be the nucleus of a tidally disrupting dwarf galaxy; the oth…
