We investigate a sample of eleven Galactic X-ray sources recently discovered with INTEGRAL or RXTE with the goal of identifying their optical and/or near-infrared (NIR) counterpart. For this purpose new Chandra positions of nine objects are presented together with follow-up observations of all the targets in the optical and NIR. For the four sources IGR J16194-2810, IGRJ 16479-4514, IGR J16500-3307 and IGR J19308+530, the Chandra position confirms an existing association with an optical/NIR object, while for two sources (XTE J1716-389 and 18490-0000) it rules out previously proposed counterparts indicating new ones. In the case of IGR J17597-220, a counterpart is selected out of the several possibilities proposed in the literature and we present the first association with an optical/NIR source for J16293-4603 and XTE J1743-363. Moreover, optical/NIR observations are reported for XTE J1710-281 and IGR J17254-3257: we investigate the counterpart to the X-ray sources based on their XMM-Newton positions. We discuss the nature of each system considering its optical/NIR and X-ray properties.
We report the results of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) observations of the GLIMPSE-C01 (hereafter GC01) star cluster. Color-magnitude and color-color diagrams suggest a cluster age of $\gtrsim2$ Gyrs up to $\sim10$ Gyrs (dependent on GC01's metallicity), a distance of 3.3-3.5 kpc, and strong differential reddening with $A_V=14-22$. After performing astrometric corrections, we find that nine of the 15 X-ray sources have at least one NIR counterpart within the 2$σ$ CXO positional error circles. However, given the very high density of NIR sources in the cluster,…
We have determined an improved position for the luminous persistent neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary and atoll source GX 9+1 from archival Chandra X-ray Observatory data. The new position significantly differs from a previously published Chandra position for this source. Based on the revised X-ray position we have identified a new near-infrared (NIR) counterpart to GX 9+1 in Ks-band images obtained with the PANIC and FourStar cameras on the Magellan Baade Telescope. NIR spectra of this Ks=16.5+-0.1 mag star taken with the FIRE spectrograph on the Baade Telescope show a strong Br-gamma emissi…
IGR J18179-1621 is an obscured accreting X-ray pulsar discovered by INTEGRAL on 2012 February 29. We report on our 20 ksec Chandra-High Energy Transmission Gratings Spectrometer observation of the source performed on 2012 March 17, on two short contemporaneous Swift observations, and on our two near-infrared (K_s, H_n, and J_n) observations performed on 2012 March 13 and March 26. We determine the most accurate X-ray position of IGR J18179-1621, alpha_{J2000}=18 h 17m 52.18 s, delta_{J2000}=-16^\circ 21', 31.68" (90% uncertainty of 0.6"). A strong periodic variability at 11.82 s is clearly det…
AX J1949.8+2534 is a candidate supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT) observed in outburst by INTEGRAL (IGR J19498+2534). We report on the results of six Neil Gehrels Swift-XRT, one Chandra, and one NuSTAR observation of the source. We find evidence of rapid X-ray variability on a few ks timescales. Fortunately, Chandra observed the source in a relatively bright state, allowing us to confidently identify the optical/NIR counterpart of the source. We also obtained an optical spectrum of this counterpart, which shows an H$α$ emission line and He I absorption features. The photometry and spectrum…
We report on the first broad-band (1-200 keV) simultaneous Chandra-INTEGRAL observations of the recently discovered hard X-ray transient IGR J17177-3656 that took place on 2011, March 22, about two weeks after the source discovery. The source had an average absorbed 1-200 keV flux of about 8x10^(-10) erg cm^(-2) s^(-1). We extracted a precise X-ray position of IGR J17177-3656, RA=17 17 42.62, DEC= -36 56 04.5 (90% uncertainty of 0.6"). We also report Swift, near infrared and quasi simultaneous radio follow-up observations. With the multi-wavelength information at hand, we propose IGR J17177-36…
The Galactic Ridge X-ray Emission (GRXE) is apparently extended X-ray emission along the Galactic Plane. The X-ray spectrum is characterized by hard continuum with a strong Fe K emission feature in the 6-7 keV band. A substantial fraction (~80%) of the GRXE in the Fe band was resolved into point sources by deep Chandra imaging observations, thus GRXE is mostly composed of dim Galactic X-ray point sources at least in this energy band. To investigate the populations of these dim X-ray point sources, we carried out Near-Infrared (NIR) follow-up spectroscopic observations in two deep Chandra field…
We present extensively dense observations of the super-Chandrasekhar supernova (SC SN) candidate SN 2012dn from $-11$ to $+140$ days after the date of its $B$-band maximum in the optical and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths conducted through the OISTER ToO program. The NIR light curves and color evolutions up to 35 days after the $B$-band maximum provided an excellent match with those of another SC SN 2009dc, providing a further support to the nature of SN 2012dn as a SC SN. We found that SN 2012dn exhibited strong excesses in the NIR wavelengths from $30$ days after the $B$-band maximum. The $…
Using the High Resolution Camera onboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory, we have measured an accurate position for the bright persistent neutron-star X-ray binary and atoll source GX 3+1. At a location that is consistent with this new position we have discovered the near-infrared (NIR) counterpart to GX 3+1 in images taken with the PANIC and FourStar cameras on the Magellan Baade Telescope. The identification of this K_s=15.8+-0.1 mag star as the counterpart is based on the presence of a Br-gamma emission line in a NIR spectrum taken with the FIRE spectrograph on the Baade Telescope. The absolu…
Presence of the apparently extended hard (2-10 keV) X-ray emission along the Galactic plane has been known since the early 1980s. With a deep X-ray exposure using the Chandra X-ray Observatory of a slightly off-plane region in the Galactic bulge, most of the extended emission was resolved into faint discrete X-ray sources in the Fe K band (Revnivtsev et al.,2009). The major constituents of these sources have long been considered to be X-ray active stars and magnetic cataclysmic variables (CVs). However, recent works including our NIR imaging and spectroscopic studies (Morihana et al.,2013, 201…
We present our near-infrared (NIR) imaging observations of two neutron star low mass X-ray binaries XMMU J174716.1-281048 and SAX J1806.5-2215 obtained using the PANIC instrument on the 6.5-meter Magellan telescope and the WHIRC instrument on the 3.5-meter WIYN telescope respectively. Both sources are members of the class of faint to very-faint X-ray binaries and undergo very long X-ray outburst, hence classified as `quasi persistent X-ray binaries'. While XMMU J174716.1-281048 was active for almost 12 years between 2003 and 2015, SAX J1806.5-2215 has been active for more than 5 years now sinc…
IGR J17454-2919 is a hard X-ray transient discovered by INTEGRAL on 2014 September 27. We report on our 20ks Chandra observation of the source, performed about five weeks after the discovery, as well as on INTEGRAL and Swift monitoring long-term observations. X-ray broad-band spectra of the source are compatible with an absorbed power-law, $Γ\sim$1.6-1.8, ${\rm N_H}\sim$(10-12)$\times 10^{22}\,{\rm cm}^{-2}$, with no trace of a cut-off in the data up to about 100keV, and with an average absorbed 0.5-100keV flux of about (7.1-9.7)${\times 10^{-10}~erg~cm^{-2}~s^{-1}}$. With Chandra, we determin…
The supermassive black hole Sgr A* is located at the Milky Way center. We studied its flaring activity close to the DSO/G2 pericenter passage to constrain the physical properties and origin of the flares. Simultaneous/coordinated observations were made in 2014 Feb-Apr with XMM-Newton, HST/WFC3, VLT/SINFONI, VLA and CARMA. We detected 2 X-ray and 3 NIR flares on Mar. 10 and Apr. 2 with XMM-Newton and HST and 2 NIR flares on Apr. 3 and 4 with VLT. The Mar. 10 X-ray flare has a long rise and a rapid decay. Its NIR counterpart peaked 4320s before the X-ray peak implying a variation in the X-ray-to…
The TeV gamma-ray point source HESSJ1832-093 remains unidentified despite extensive multi-wavelength studies. The gamma-ray emission could originate in a very compact pulsar wind nebula or an X-ray binary system composed of the X-ray source XMMU J183245-0921539 and a companion star (2MASS J18324516-0921545). To unveil the nature of XMMUJ183245-0921539 and its relation to HESSJ1832-093, we performed deeper follow-up observations in X-rays with Chandra and Swift to improve source localisation and to investigate time variability. We observed an increase of the X-ray flux by a factor ~6 in the Cha…
We report on the optical spectroscopic follow up observations of the candidate counterparts to four INTEGRAL sources: IGR J04069+5042, IGR J06552-1146, IGR J21188+4901 and IGR J22014+6034. The candidate counterparts were determined with Chandra, and the optical observations were performed with 1.5-m RTT-150 telescope (TÜBİTAK National Observatory, Antalya, Turkey) and 2.4-m Hiltner Telescope (MDM Observatory, Kitt Peak, Arizona). Our spectroscopic results show that one of the two candidates of IGR J04069+5042 and the one observed for IGR J06552-1146 could be active late-type stars in RS CVn sy…
We report timing analysis of near-infrared (NIR), X-ray, and sub-millimeter (submm) data during a three-day coordinated campaign observing Sagittarius A*. Data were collected at 4.5 micron with the Spitzer Space Telescope, 2-8 keV with the Chandra X-ray Observatory, 3-70 keV with NuSTAR, 340 GHz with ALMA, and at 2.2 micron with the GRAVITY instrument on the Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Two dates show moderate variability with no significant lags between the submm and the infrared at 99% confidence. July 18 captured a moderately bright NIR flare (F_K ~ 15 mJy) simultaneous with an X-ra…
Unburned carbon is potentially a powerful probe of Type Ia supernova (SN) explosion mechanisms. We present comprehensive optical and near-infrared (NIR) data on the "transitional" Type Ia SN 2015bp. An early NIR spectrum ($t = -$9.9 days with respect to B-band maximum) displays a striking C I $\lambda1.0693\,μ\rm{m}$ line at $11.9 \times 10^3$~km s$^{-1}$, distinct from the prominent Mg II $\lambda1.0927\,μ\rm{m}$ feature, which weakens toward maximum light. SN 2015bp also displays a clear C II $\lambda6580$A notch early ($t = -10.9$ days) at $13.2 \times 10^3$~km s$^{-1}$, consistent with our…
We present the first systematic analysis of the X-ray variability of Sgr A* during the Chandra X-ray Observatory's 2012 Sgr A* X-ray Visionary Project (XVP). With 38 High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (HETGS) observations spaced an average of 7 days apart, this unprecedented campaign enables detailed study of the X-ray emission from this supermassive black hole at high spatial, spectral and timing resolution. In 3 Ms of observations, we detect 39 X-ray flares from Sgr A*, lasting from a few hundred seconds to approximately 8 ks, and ranging in 2-10 keV luminosity from ~1e34 erg/s to…
We obtained 3 epochs of simultaneous Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/Wide Field Camera 3 and Chandra observations of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 5408 X-1. The counterpart of the X-ray source is seen in all HST filters, from the UV through the NIR, and for the first time, we resolve the optical nebula around the ULX. We identified a small OB association near the ULX that may be the birthplace of the system. The stellar association is young, ~ 5 Myr, contains massive stars up to 40 solar masses, and is thus similar to associations seen near other ULXs, albeit younger. The UV/Optical/NIR spec…
The acceleration and radiative processes active in low-power radio hotspots are investigated by means of new deep near-infrared (NIR) and optical VLT observations, complemented with archival, high-sensitivity VLT, radio VLA and X-ray Chandra data. For the three studied radio galaxies (3C 105, 3C 195 and 3C 227), we confirm the detection of NIR/optical counterparts of the observed radio hotspots. We resolve multiple components in 3C 227 West and in 3C 105 South and characterize the diffuse NIR/optical emission of the latter. We show that the linear size of this component ($\gtrsim$4 kpc) makes …
We report on a broad-band X-ray study (0.5-60 keV) of the poorly known candidate Supergiant Fast X-ray Transient (SFXT) IGR J18462-0223, and on optical and near-infrared (NIR) followup observations of field objects. The out-of-outburst X-ray state has been investigated for the first time with archival INTEGRAL/IBIS, ASCA, Chandra and Swift/XRT observations. This allowed us to place stringent 3 sigma upper limits on the soft (0.5-10 keV) and hard (18-60 keV) X-ray emission of 2.9x10^-13 erg cm^-2 s^-1 and 8x10^-12 erg cm^-2 s^-1, respectively; the source was also detected during an intermediate…
NGC 6231 is a young cluster (age ~2-7 Myr) dominating the Sco OB1 association (distance ~1.59 kpc) with ~100 O and B stars and a large pre-main-sequence stellar population. We combine a reanalysis of archival Chandra X-ray data with multi-epoch NIR photometry from the VVV survey and published optical catalogs to obtain a catalog of 2148 probable cluster members. This catalog is 70% larger than previous censuses of probable cluster members in NGC 6231, and it includes many low-mass stars detected in the NIR but not in the optical and some B-stars without previously noted X-ray counterparts. In …
Gamma-ray burst (GRB) 111215A was bright at X-ray and radio frequencies, but not detected in the optical or near-infrared (nIR) down to deep limits. We have observed the GRB afterglow with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope and Arcminute Microkelvin Imager at radio frequencies, with the William Herschel Telescope and Nordic Optical Telescope in the nIR/optical, and with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. We have combined our data with the Swift X-Ray Telescope monitoring, and radio and millimeter observations from the literature to perform broadband modeling, and determined the macro- and mi…
Identification of three new ultraluminous X-ray sources in NGC 4631 and NGC 1097: Evidence for stellar-mass black holes
Department of Physics, University of Çukurova（丘鲁罗瓦大学物理系）；Space Science and Solar Energy Research and Application Center (UZAYMER), University of Çukurova（丘鲁罗瓦大学空间科学与太阳能研究与应用中心）
The near-infrared (NIR) and X-ray emission of Sagittarius A* shows occasional bright flares that are assumed to originate from the innermost region of the accretion flow. We identified $25$ $4.5 μm$ and $24$ X-ray flares in archival data obtained with the \textit{Spitzer} and \textit{Chandra} observatories. With the help of general relativistic ray-tracing code, we modeled trajectories of ``hot spots'' and studied the light curves of the flares for signs of the effects of general relativity. Despite their apparent diversity in shape, all flares share a common, exponential impulse response, a c…
We report on the archival optical and near-infrared observations of 6 low mass X-ray binaries situated in the Galactic bulge. We processed several recent Chandra and XMM-Newton as well as Einstein datasets of a binary systems suspected to be ultracompact, which gave us arcsec-scale positional uncertainty estimates. We then undertook comprehensive search in existing archives and other Virtual Observatory resources in order to discover unpublished optical/NIR data on these objects. We found and analysed data from ESO Archive and UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) on SLX 1735-269, 3A 1742-29…
We explore here the young stellar populations in the Rosette Molecular Cloud (RMC) region with high spatial resolution X-ray images from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which are effective in locating weak-lined T Tauri stars as well as disk-bearing young stars. A total of 395 X-ray point sources are detected, 299 of which (76%) have an optical or near-infrared (NIR) counterpart identified from deep FLAMINGOS images. From X-ray and mass sensitivity limits, we infer a total population of about 1700 young stars in the survey region. Based on smoothed stellar surface density maps, we investigate t…
Improving the capabilities of detecting faint X-ray sources is fundamental to increase the statistics on faint high-z AGN and star-forming galaxies. We performed a simultaneous Maximum Likelihood PSF fit in the [0.5-2] keV and [2-7] keV energy bands of the 4 Ms{\em Chandra} Deep Field South (CDFS) data at the position of the 34930 CANDELS H-band selected galaxies. For each detected source we provide X-ray photometry and optical counterpart validation. We validated this technique by means of a raytracing simulation. We detected a total of 698 X-ray point-sources with a likelihood $\mathcal{L}$$…
We report the results of a comprehensive analysis of X-ray (Chandra and Swift observatories), optical (Southern African Large Telescope, SALT) and near-infrared (the VVV survey) observations of the Be/X-ray binary pulsar 2S1553-542. Accurate coordinates for the X-ray source are determined and are used to identify the faint optical/infrared counterpart for the first time. Using VVV and SALTICAM photometry, we have constructed the spectral energy distribution (SED) for this star and found a moderate NIR excess that is typical for Be stars and arises due to the presence of circumstellar material …
We present the first extensive X-ray study of the North-America and Pelican star-forming region (NGC7000/IC5070), with the aim of finding and characterizing its young stellar population. X-ray data from Chandra (four pointings) and XMM-Newton (seven pointings) were reduced and source detection was performed on each image. We complement the X-ray data with optical and near-IR data from the IPHAS, UKIDSS, and 2MASS catalogs, and with other published optical and Spitzer IR data. More than 700 X-ray sources are detected, the majority of which have an optical/NIR counterpart. This allows to identif…
A long and intense gamma-ray burst (GRB) was detected by INTEGRAL on July 11 2012 with a duration of ~115s and fluence of 2.8x10^-4 erg cm^-2 in the 20 keV-8 MeV energy range. GRB 120711A was at z~1.405 and produced soft gamma-ray emission (>20 keV) for at least ~10 ks after the trigger. The GRB was observed by several ground-based telescopes that detected a powerful optical flash peaking at an R-band brightness of ~11.5 mag at ~126 s after the trigger. We present a comprehensive temporal and spectral analysis of the long-lasting soft gamma-ray emission detected in the 20-200 keV band with INT…
On 28 May 2008, the Swift satellite detected the first reactivation of SGR 1627-41 since its discovery in 1998. Following this event we began an observing campaign in near infrared wavelengths to search for a possible counterpart inside the error circle of this SGR, which is expected to show flaring activity simultaneous to the high energy flares or at least some variability as compared to the quiescent state. For the follow-up we used the 0.6m REM robotic telescope at La Silla Observatory, which allowed a fast response within 24 hours and, through director discretionary time, the 8.2m Very La…
IGR J09026-4812 was discovered by INTEGRAL in 2006 as a new hard X-ray source. Thereafter, an observation with Chandra pinpointed a single X-ray source within the ISGRI error circle, showing a hard spectrum, and improving its high-energy localisation to a subarcsecond accuracy. Thus, the X-ray source was associated to the infrared counterpart 2MASS J09023731-4813339 whose JHKs photometry indicated a highly reddened source. The high-energy properties and the counterpart photometry suggested a high-mass X-ray binary with a main sequence companion star located 6.3-8.1 kpc away and with a 0.3-10 k…
Tidal disruption events are possible sources of temporary nuclear activity in galactic nuclei and can be considered as good indicators of the existence of super massive black holes in the centers of galaxies. A new X-ray source has been serendipitously detected with ROSAT in a PSPC pointed observation of the galaxy cluster A3571. Given the strong flux decay of the object in subsequent detections, the tidal disruption scenario is investigated as possible explanationof the event. We followed up the evolution of the X-ray transient with ROSAT, XMM-Newton and Chandra for a total period of ~13 year…
We present early-time Swift and Chandra X-ray data along with late-time optical and near-infrared observations of SN 2013by, a Type IIL supernova (SN) that occurred in the nearby spiral galaxy ESO 138$-$G10 (D $\sim 14.8$ Mpc). Optical and NIR photometry and spectroscopy follow the late-time evolution of the supernova from days +89 to +457 post-maximum brightness. The optical spectra and X-ray light curves are consistent with the picture of a SN having prolonged interaction with circumstellar material (CSM) that accelerates the transition from supernova to supernova remnant (SNR). Specifically…
We present deep (265 ks) Chandra X-ray observations of PSO J352.4034$-$15.3373, a quasar at z=5.831 that, with a radio-to-optical flux ratio of R>1000, is one of the radio-loudest quasars in the early universe and is the only quasar with observed extended radio jets of kpc-scale at $z \gtrsim 6$. Modeling the X-ray spectrum of the quasar with a power law, we find a best fit of $Γ= 1.99^{+0.29}_{-0.28}$, leading to an X-ray luminosity of $L_{2-10} = 1.26^{+0.45}_{-0.33} \times 10^{45}\ {\rm erg}\ {\rm s}^{-1}$ and an X-ray to UV brightness ratio of $α_{\rm OX} = -1.36 \pm 0.11$. We identify a d…
Fading into darkness: A weak mass ejection and low-efficiency fallback accompanying black hole formation in M31-2014-DS1
Columbia University（哥伦比亚大学）；Flatiron Institute（平顿研究所）；Center for Astrophysics — Harvard & Smithsonian（哈佛-史密森尼天体物理中心）；California Institute of Technology（加州理工学院）；University of Michigan（密歇根大学）；Massachusetts Institute of Technology（麻省理工学院）
