Discovery of a Rare Eclipsing Be/X-Ray Binary System, Swift J010902.6-723710 = SXP 182
We report on the discovery of Swift J010902.6-723710, a rare eclipsing Be/X-ray Binary system by the Swift SMC Survey (S-CUBED). Swift J010902.6-723710 was discovered via weekly S-CUBED monitoring observations when it was observed to enter a state of X-ray outburst on 2023 October 10. X-ray emission...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad354a |
| _version_ | 1797221202829246464 |
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| author | Thomas M. Gaudin Jamie A. Kennea M. J. Coe I. M. Monageng Andrzej Udalski L. J. Townsend David A. H. Buckley Phil A. Evans |
| author_facet | Thomas M. Gaudin Jamie A. Kennea M. J. Coe I. M. Monageng Andrzej Udalski L. J. Townsend David A. H. Buckley Phil A. Evans |
| author_sort | Thomas M. Gaudin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We report on the discovery of Swift J010902.6-723710, a rare eclipsing Be/X-ray Binary system by the Swift SMC Survey (S-CUBED). Swift J010902.6-723710 was discovered via weekly S-CUBED monitoring observations when it was observed to enter a state of X-ray outburst on 2023 October 10. X-ray emission was found to be modulated by a 182 s period. Optical spectroscopy is used to confirm the presence of a highly inclined circumstellar disk surrounding a B0-0.5Ve optical companion. Historical UV and IR photometry is then used to identify strong eclipse-like features reoccurring in both light curves with a 60.623 day period, which is adopted as the orbital period of the system. Eclipsing behavior is found to be the result of a large accretion disk surrounding the neutron star. Eclipses are produced when the disk passes in front of the OBe companion, blocking light from both the stellar surface and circumstellar disk. This is only the third Be/X-ray binary to have confirmed eclipses. We note that this rare behavior provides an important opportunity to constrain the physical parameters of a Be/X-ray binary with greater accuracy than is possible in noneclipsing systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:01:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4887c9becd79413dae573ebbad619741 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-8205 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:01:42Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-4887c9becd79413dae573ebbad6197412024-04-05T10:35:03ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052024-01-019651L1010.3847/2041-8213/ad354aDiscovery of a Rare Eclipsing Be/X-Ray Binary System, Swift J010902.6-723710 = SXP 182Thomas M. Gaudin0https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6957-8466Jamie A. Kennea1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6745-4790M. J. Coe2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0763-8547I. M. Monageng3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4754-3526Andrzej Udalski4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5207-5619L. J. Townsend5https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9788-3345David A. H. Buckley6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7004-9956Phil A. Evans7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8465-3353Pennsylvania State University , USAPennsylvania State University , USAPhysics and Astronomy, The University of Southampton , SO17 1BJ, UKSouth African Astronomical Observatory , PO Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town 7935, South Africa; Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town , Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South AfricaAstronomical Observatory, University of Warsaw , Al. Ujazdowskie 4, 00-478 Warszawa, PolandSouth African Astronomical Observatory , PO Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town 7935, South Africa; Southern African Large Telescope , PO Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town 7935, South AfricaSouth African Astronomical Observatory , PO Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town 7935, South Africa; Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town , Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Southern African Large Telescope , PO Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town 7935, South Africa; Department of Astronomy, University of the Free State , PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, Cape Town 9300, South AfricaLeicester University , UKWe report on the discovery of Swift J010902.6-723710, a rare eclipsing Be/X-ray Binary system by the Swift SMC Survey (S-CUBED). Swift J010902.6-723710 was discovered via weekly S-CUBED monitoring observations when it was observed to enter a state of X-ray outburst on 2023 October 10. X-ray emission was found to be modulated by a 182 s period. Optical spectroscopy is used to confirm the presence of a highly inclined circumstellar disk surrounding a B0-0.5Ve optical companion. Historical UV and IR photometry is then used to identify strong eclipse-like features reoccurring in both light curves with a 60.623 day period, which is adopted as the orbital period of the system. Eclipsing behavior is found to be the result of a large accretion disk surrounding the neutron star. Eclipses are produced when the disk passes in front of the OBe companion, blocking light from both the stellar surface and circumstellar disk. This is only the third Be/X-ray binary to have confirmed eclipses. We note that this rare behavior provides an important opportunity to constrain the physical parameters of a Be/X-ray binary with greater accuracy than is possible in noneclipsing systems.https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad354aHigh mass x-ray binary starsMassive starsX-ray binary starsHigh energy astrophysicsEclipsing binary stars |
| spellingShingle | Thomas M. Gaudin Jamie A. Kennea M. J. Coe I. M. Monageng Andrzej Udalski L. J. Townsend David A. H. Buckley Phil A. Evans Discovery of a Rare Eclipsing Be/X-Ray Binary System, Swift J010902.6-723710 = SXP 182 The Astrophysical Journal Letters High mass x-ray binary stars Massive stars X-ray binary stars High energy astrophysics Eclipsing binary stars |
| title | Discovery of a Rare Eclipsing Be/X-Ray Binary System, Swift J010902.6-723710 = SXP 182 |
| title_full | Discovery of a Rare Eclipsing Be/X-Ray Binary System, Swift J010902.6-723710 = SXP 182 |
| title_fullStr | Discovery of a Rare Eclipsing Be/X-Ray Binary System, Swift J010902.6-723710 = SXP 182 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Discovery of a Rare Eclipsing Be/X-Ray Binary System, Swift J010902.6-723710 = SXP 182 |
| title_short | Discovery of a Rare Eclipsing Be/X-Ray Binary System, Swift J010902.6-723710 = SXP 182 |
| title_sort | discovery of a rare eclipsing be x ray binary system swift j010902 6 723710 sxp 182 |
| topic | High mass x-ray binary stars Massive stars X-ray binary stars High energy astrophysics Eclipsing binary stars |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad354a |
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