Transient X-Ray Binaries in Elliptical Galaxies

Piro, Anthony L.; Bildsten, Lars

doi:10.1086/341341

Cited by 56 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…16 These numbers support the theory which suggests that the LMXB field population largely arises from relatively detached systems evolved from native field binaries and as such will exhibit transient accretion for >75% of their lifetime (Piro & Bildsten 2002). This is as opposed to transient GC-LMXBs, which have a more difficult formation channel (as discussed in Section 3.2).…”

Section: The Field Transient Populationmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…The existence of these populations had been inferred from the first X-ray observations of early-type galaxies with the Einstein Observatory in the 1980s (Trinchieri & Fabbiano 1985;see Fabbiano 1989 and references therein), but their first detection required the subarcsecond resolution of Chandra (Sarazin et al 2000). These populations of extra-galactic LMXBs provide a wider observational base for the understanding of LMXB formation and evolution, which has been debated since their discovery in the Milky Way (see, e.g., Giacconi 1974;Grindlay & Henz 1985; review by Verbunt & van den Heuvel 1995;Piro & Bildsten 2002;King 2002;Bildsten & Deloye 2004). A key observational result that can constrain the nature of these LMXBs is their time variability, as luminous LMXBs (L X 10 37 erg s −1 ) in relatively wide orbits are expected to exhibit transient behavior, according to the "standard" formation scenario of LMXBs in galactic fields (Verbunt & van den Heuvel 1995;Shahbaz et al 1997;Piro & Bildsten 2002;King 2002;Wu et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These populations of extra-galactic LMXBs provide a wider observational base for the understanding of LMXB formation and evolution, which has been debated since their discovery in the Milky Way (see, e.g., Giacconi 1974;Grindlay & Henz 1985; review by Verbunt & van den Heuvel 1995;Piro & Bildsten 2002;King 2002;Bildsten & Deloye 2004). A key observational result that can constrain the nature of these LMXBs is their time variability, as luminous LMXBs (L X 10 37 erg s −1 ) in relatively wide orbits are expected to exhibit transient behavior, according to the "standard" formation scenario of LMXBs in galactic fields (Verbunt & van den Heuvel 1995;Shahbaz et al 1997;Piro & Bildsten 2002;King 2002;Wu et al 2010). For sources originating as ultracompact binaries formed in globular clusters (GCs) instead, transient behavior is only expected at lower luminosities (Bildsten & Deloye 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Spectral and Temporal Properties of Transient Sources in Early-Type Galaxies

Brassington¹,

Fabbiano²,

Zezas³

et al. 2012

ApJ

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We report the spectral and temporal variability properties of 18 candidate transient (TC) and potential transient (PTC) sources detected in deep multi-epoch Chandra observation of the nearby elliptical galaxies, NGC 3379, NGC 4278, and NGC 4697. Only one source can be identified with a background counterpart, leaving 17 TCs + PTCs in the galaxies. Of these, 14 are in the galaxy field, supporting the theoretical picture that the majority of field X-ray binaries (XRBs) will exhibit transient accretion for >75% of their lifetime. Three sources are coincident with globular clusters, including two high-luminosity candidate black hole (BH) XRBs, with L X = 5.4 × 10 38 erg s −1 and L X = 2.8 × 10 39 erg s −1 , respectively. The spectra, luminosities, and temporal behavior of these 17 sources suggest that the transient population is heterogeneous, including neutron star (NS) and BH XRBs in both normal and high-rate accretion modes, and super soft sources containing white dwarf binaries. Our TC and PTC detections are noticeably fewer than the number expected from the population synthesis (PS) models of Fragos et al., tailored to our new Chandra pointings of NGC 4278. We attribute this discrepancy to the PS assumption that the transient population is composed of NS XRBs, as well as differences between the statistical analysis and error estimates used in the model and our observations.

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Section: The Field Transient Populationmentioning

confidence: 55%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Spectral and Temporal Properties of Transient Sources in Early-Type Galaxies

Brassington¹,

Fabbiano²,

Zezas³

et al. 2012

ApJ

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“…In the case of an evolved companion, such systems may be transient sources (King et al 1997;Piro & Bildsten 2002). In order to check this possibility, we investigated the variability of those luminous sources for which multiple observations were available.…”

Section: Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dependence of the low-mass X-ray binary population on stellar age

Zhang

Gilfanov

Bogdán

2012

A&A

128

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Aims. We investigate the dependence of the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) population in early-type galaxies on stellar age. Methods. We selected 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 Gyr, with the median value of 6 Gyr. 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.Results. We found a correlation between the LMXB population and stellar age: older galaxies tend to possess about ≈50% more LMXBs (per unit stellar mass) than the younger ones. The interpretation of this dependence is complicated by large scatter and a rather strong correlation between stellar age and GC content of galaxies in our sample. We present evidence suggesting that the more important factor may be the evolution of the LMXB population with time. Its effect is further amplified by the larger GC content of older galaxies and correspondingly, the larger numbers of dynamically formed binaries in them. We also found clear evolution of the X-ray luminosity function (XLF) with age, i.e., that younger galaxies have more bright sources and fewer faint sources per unit stellar mass. The XLF of LMXBs in younger galaxies appears to extend significantly beyond 10 39 erg/s. Such bright sources seem to be less frequent in older galaxies. We found that 6 out of ≈12 (ultra-) luminous sources are located in GCs.

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“…There are two ways out of this lifetime problem: (i) they are not primordial but they were formed in globular clusters, and somehow released into the field, or (ii) the majority of them are transients with a low duty cycle (see Piro & Bildsten 2002). If the latter is the case, follow-up observations with Chandra will be able to reveal the variability if a sufficient number of them have outbursts that last only a few years and not much longer.…”

Section: Comparison Between Field and Cluster Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Globular cluster X-ray sources

Verbunt

Lewin

2006

Compact Stellar X-Ray Sources

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Two new bright X-ray sources in globular clusters, and many less luminous ones in globular clusters and in old open clusters, have been discovered with ROSAT. Accurate positions obtained with ROSAT help identification with optical objects, which however is still very incomplete in globular clusters. One dim globular cluster source has been identified with a recycled radio pulsar; several others may be cataclysmic variables. The four brightest X-ray sources identified in the old open cluster M 67 are puzzling, as we do not understand why they emit X-rays. In comparison with the two old open clusters studied so far, globular clusters are remarkably underluminous in X-rays. FirstI am grateful to the organizers of this meeting for the opportunity to contribute to this celebration of the 65 th birthday of Joachim Trümper. During my years (1985)(1986)(1987)(1988)(1989) at the Max Planck Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, I have always felt very much at home, as if an 'honorary German', and I thank Joachim and my other colleagues for this. I was impressed with the width and depth of Joachim Trümper's interests, and thoroughly enjoyed my many discussions with him.The deadline for the first Announcement of Opportunity for observing with ROSAT was on a Sunday evening, at midnight (in checking the date, I find it was on my birthday!). Joachim Trümper was in his office that night, to sign proposals until just before the deadline, or almost, as 11 copies needed to be made for submission. Some of the proposals he signed that night contributed to the results discussed in this review.

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Transient X-Ray Binaries in Elliptical Galaxies

Cited by 56 publications

References 23 publications

The Spectral and Temporal Properties of Transient Sources in Early-Type Galaxies

The Spectral and Temporal Properties of Transient Sources in Early-Type Galaxies

Dependence of the low-mass X-ray binary population on stellar age

Globular cluster X-ray sources

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