MKT J170456.2–482100: the first transient discovered by MeerKAT

We report the discovery of the first transient with MeerKAT, MKT J170456.2–482100, discovered in ThunderKAT images of the low-mass X-ray binary GX339–4. MKT J170456.2–482100 is variable in the radio, reaching a maximum flux density of 0.71±0.11mJy on 2019 October 12, and is undetected in 15 out of 4...

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Main Authors: Driessen, LN, McDonald, I, Buckley, DAH, Caleb, M, Kotze, EJ, Potter, SB, Rajwade, KM, Rowlinson, A, Stappers, BW, Tremou, E, Woudt, PA, Fender, RP, Armstrong, R, Groot, P, Heywood, I, Horesh, A, van der Horst, AJ, Koerding, E, McBride, VA, Miller-Jones, JCA, Mooley, KP, Wijers, RAMJ
Format: Journal article
Jezik:English
Izdano: Oxford University Press 2019
Opis
Izvleček:We report the discovery of the first transient with MeerKAT, MKT J170456.2–482100, discovered in ThunderKAT images of the low-mass X-ray binary GX339–4. MKT J170456.2–482100 is variable in the radio, reaching a maximum flux density of 0.71±0.11mJy on 2019 October 12, and is undetected in 15 out of 48 ThunderKAT epochs. MKT J170456.2–482100 is coincident with the chromospherically active K-type sub-giant TYC 8332-2529-1, and ∼18yr of archival optical photometry of the star shows that it varies with a period of 21.25±0.04d⁠. The shape and phase of the optical light curve changes over time, and we detect both X-ray and UV emission at the position of MKT J170456.2–482100, which may indicate that TYC 8332-2529-1 has large star spots. Spectroscopic analysis shows that TYC 8332-2529-1 is in a binary, and has a line-of-sight radial velocity amplitude of 43kms−1⁠. We also observe a spectral feature in antiphase with the K-type sub-giant, with a line-of-sight radial velocity amplitude of ∼12±10kms−1⁠, whose origins cannot currently be explained. Further observations and investigation are required to determine the nature of the MKT J170456.2–482100 system.