Ultraluminous X-ray sources: Bubbles and optical counterparts

Manfred W. Pakull; Fabien Grisé; Christian Motch; Maccarone

doi:10.1017/S1743921306008489

Ultraluminous X-ray sources: Bubbles and optical counterparts

Manfred W. Pakull, Fabien Grisé, Christian Motch, Maccarone

Astronomy & Astrophysics

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8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Optical studies of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULX) in nearby galaxies have turned out to be instrumental in discriminating between various models including the much advertised intermediate mass black hole hypothesis and various beaming scenarios. Here we report on ESO VLT and SUBARU observations of ULX that have revealed the parent stellar clusters with ages of some 60 million years in two cases. Thus we are able to derive upper limits of about 8 M _⊙ for the mass donors in these systems. The optical counterparts are dominated by X-ray heated accretion disks, and the discovery of the He II λ4686 emission line now allows to derive dynamical masses in these systems. Apparent radial velocity variations of 300 km/s have been detected in NGC 1313 X-2 which, if confirmed by further observations, would exclude the presence of IMBH in these systems.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	293-297
Number of pages	5
Journal	Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Volume	1
Issue number	S230
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921306008489
State	Published - 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1017/S1743921306008489

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title = "Ultraluminous X-ray sources: Bubbles and optical counterparts",

abstract = "Optical studies of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULX) in nearby galaxies have turned out to be instrumental in discriminating between various models including the much advertised intermediate mass black hole hypothesis and various beaming scenarios. Here we report on ESO VLT and SUBARU observations of ULX that have revealed the parent stellar clusters with ages of some 60 million years in two cases. Thus we are able to derive upper limits of about 8 M ⊙ for the mass donors in these systems. The optical counterparts are dominated by X-ray heated accretion disks, and the discovery of the He II λ4686 emission line now allows to derive dynamical masses in these systems. Apparent radial velocity variations of 300 km/s have been detected in NGC 1313 X-2 which, if confirmed by further observations, would exclude the presence of IMBH in these systems.",

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T1 - Ultraluminous X-ray sources

T2 - Bubbles and optical counterparts

AU - Pakull, Manfred W.

AU - Grisé, Fabien

AU - Motch, Christian

AU - Maccarone,

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - Optical studies of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULX) in nearby galaxies have turned out to be instrumental in discriminating between various models including the much advertised intermediate mass black hole hypothesis and various beaming scenarios. Here we report on ESO VLT and SUBARU observations of ULX that have revealed the parent stellar clusters with ages of some 60 million years in two cases. Thus we are able to derive upper limits of about 8 M ⊙ for the mass donors in these systems. The optical counterparts are dominated by X-ray heated accretion disks, and the discovery of the He II λ4686 emission line now allows to derive dynamical masses in these systems. Apparent radial velocity variations of 300 km/s have been detected in NGC 1313 X-2 which, if confirmed by further observations, would exclude the presence of IMBH in these systems.

AB - Optical studies of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULX) in nearby galaxies have turned out to be instrumental in discriminating between various models including the much advertised intermediate mass black hole hypothesis and various beaming scenarios. Here we report on ESO VLT and SUBARU observations of ULX that have revealed the parent stellar clusters with ages of some 60 million years in two cases. Thus we are able to derive upper limits of about 8 M ⊙ for the mass donors in these systems. The optical counterparts are dominated by X-ray heated accretion disks, and the discovery of the He II λ4686 emission line now allows to derive dynamical masses in these systems. Apparent radial velocity variations of 300 km/s have been detected in NGC 1313 X-2 which, if confirmed by further observations, would exclude the presence of IMBH in these systems.

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Ultraluminous X-ray sources: Bubbles and optical counterparts

Abstract

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