Start year
1997
Organizational Unit
Organizing institutions
Grants related:
General
Description
Accreting black-holes and neutron stars in X-ray binaries provide an ideal laboratory for exploring the physics of compact objects, yielding not only confirmation of the existence of stellar mass black holes via dynamical mass measurements, but also the best opportunity for probing high-gravity environments and the physics of accretion; the most efficient form of energy production known. The latter is an essential physical process to understand the universe, playing a crucial role in galactic and extra-galactic astronomy.
This project has the following scientific goals:
- X-ray binaries offer the opportunity to study accretion as its best, since their relevant changes occur on convenient time-scales for human beings. This project focuses on the universal relation between black-hole accretion and ejection processes in the form of collimated jets and wide-angle winds. We will focus on the general properties and astrophysical impact of the cold optical accretion disc wind that our group has discovered. We want to understand how frequent these winds are, which is their impact in the black-hole accretion process, and what is their relation with jets and hot X-ray winds. Likewise, we carry out very detailed X-ray spectral studies on the different accretion states and geometries and their evolution with luminosity.
- We want to define the mass distribution of black-holes and neutron stars. Thus, we continue our contribution to one of the fundamental experiments in modern astrophysics by measuring dynamical masses in X-ray binaries. We expect to significantly improve the observed mass distribution of compact objects. This will allow testing models of supernovae explosions and close binary evolution as well as setting constraints on the equation of state of nuclear matter. We will measure masses in newly discovered or known transient X-ray binaries. In addition, we will also search for the large number of dormant X-ray binaries expected in the Galaxy and suitable for dynamical studies.
- To study the structure of accretion discs in different energy bands (optical-X rays). The high energy spectral distribution and time variability during outburst is important to constrain the eruption models and accretion disc properties (e.g. radius of advective disc) as well as to constrain the contribution of the jet to the optical and infrared emission of the system.
see group web page: https://research.iac.es/proyecto/compactos/pages/en/introduction.php
Members
Principal investigator
Montserrat
Armas Padilla
Project staff
Jorge
Casares Velázquez
Tariq
Shahbaz
Teodoro
Muñoz Darias
Manuel Ángel
Pérez Torres
Virginia Anahi
Cúneo
María Guayente
Panizo Espinar
Ignacio
González Martínez-Pais
Pablo
Rodríguez Gil
Jonay Isai
González Hernández
Collaborators
Prof.
P. Charles
Prof.
R. Fender
Prof.
P. Jonker -
Prof.
T. Marsh
Dr.
D. Steeghs
Dr.
S. Motta
Prof.
T. Belloni
Dr.
K. O'Brien
Dr.
B. Gaensicke
Prof.
J.M. Paredes
Dr.
M. Ribó
Dr.
J. Marti
Prof.
S. Campana
Dr.
P. D’Avanzo
Dr.
I. Negueruela
Dr.
J.M. Corral-Santana
Dr.
D. Russell
Prof.
Rudy Wijnands
Dr.
N. Degenaar
Dr.
A. de Ugarte
Dr.
Y. Ueda
Dr.
R.I. Hynes
María Jesús
Arevalo Morales
Josefa
Becerra González
Artemio
Herrero Davo
Garik
Israelian
Results
- Our team has led the multi-wavelength study of the two 2015 outbursts of the Black-hole transient V404 Cyg. In 2018, we published a global paper which include all the spectroscopy taken during the 1989 and 2015 campaigns.
- We have presented solid evidence for the presence of very similar wind to that found in V404 Cyg in another black hole transient, V4641 Sgr.
- We published the final paper as well as a pilot study on a novel method developed by the group. It aims at discovering and measuring masses of black hole transient in quiescence. This method has the potential of increasing the known population of these systems by a factor of three.
- We measured the mass of the neutron star in PSR J2215+5135 and found it is one of the heaviest known to date.
- We presented the first detailed study on the ultra-compact system SLX 1737-282.
Scientific activity
Related publications
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Fast infrared winds during the radio-loud and X-ray obscured stages of the black hole transient GRS 1915+105The black hole transient GRS 1915+105 entered a new phase of activity in 2018, generally characterised by low X-ray and radio fluxes. This phase has only been interrupted by episodes of strong and variable radio emission, where high levels of X-ray absorption local to the source were measured. We present 18 epochs of near-infrared spectroscopySánchez-Sierras, J. et al.
Advertised on:
122023 -
Hβ spectroscopy of the high-inclination black hole transient Swift J1357.2−0933 during quiescenceSwift J1357.2−0933 is a transient low-mass X-ray binary hosting a stellar-mass black hole. The source exhibits optical dips and very broad emission lines during both outburst and quiescence, which are thought to be the result of a high orbital inclination. We present phase-resolved spectroscopy obtained with the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTCCorral-Santana, J. M. et al.
Advertised on:
112023 -
An infrared FWHM-K<SUB>2</SUB> correlation to uncover highly reddened quiescent black holesAmong the sample of Galactic transient X-ray binaries (SXTs) discovered to date, about 70 have been proposed as likely candidates to host a black hole. Yet, only 19 have been dynamically confirmed. Such a reliable confirmation requires phase-resolved spectroscopy of their companion stars, which is generally feasible when the system is in aCúneo, V. A. et al.
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112023 -
Unveiling optical signatures of outflows in accreting white dwarfsAccreting white dwarfs are known to show signatures of wind-type outflows in the ultraviolet. However, at optical wavelengths, wind detections have only been reported for a few sources. We present GTC-10.4 m optical spectroscopy of four accreting white dwarfs (BZ Cam, V751 Cyg, MV Lyr, and V425 Cas) observed during luminous epochs, when theirCúneo, V. A. et al.
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112023 -
The orbital period of the recurrent nova V2487 Oph revealedWe present the first reliable determination of the orbital period of the recurrent nova V2487 Oph (Nova Oph 1998). We derived a value of 0.753 ± 0.016 d (18.1 ± 0.4 h) from the radial velocity curve of the intense He II λ4686 emission line as detected in time-series X-shooter spectra. The orbital period is significantly shorter than earlier claimsRodríguez-Gil, Pablo et al.
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122023 -
The orbital period, black hole mass, and distance to the X-ray transient GRS 1716-249 ( =N Oph 93)We present evidence for a 0.278(8) d ( =6.7 h) orbital period in the X-ray transient GRS 1716-249 (=N Oph 93), based on a superhump modulation detected during the 1995 mini-outburst plus ellipsoidal variability in quiescence. With a quiescent magnitude of r = 23.19 ± 0.15 N Oph 93 is too faint to warrant a full dynamical study through dedicatedCasares, J. et al.
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122023 -
UltraCompCAT: A comprehensive catalogue of ultra-compact and short orbital period X-ray binariesUltracompact X-ray binaries (UCXBs) are a distinctive but elusive family of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) characterised by their tight orbits and degenerate donor stars. Here we present UltraCompCAT, the first online and comprehensive catalogue of UCXBs. The initial version of UltraCompCAT comprises 49 sources, including 20 confirmed UCXBs (thoseArmas Padilla, M. et al.
Advertised on:
92023 -
Matter ejections behind the highs and lows of the transitional millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038Transitional millisecond pulsars are an emerging class of sources that link low-mass X-ray binaries to millisecond radio pulsars in binary systems. These pulsars alternate between a radio pulsar state and an active low-luminosity X-ray disc state. During the active state, these sources exhibit two distinct emission modes (high and low) thatBaglio, M. C. et al.
Advertised on:
92023 -
Sub-second infrared variability from the archetypal accreting neutron star 4U 1728-34We report on the first simultaneous high-time resolution X-ray and infrared (IR) observations of a neutron star low mass X-ray binary in its hard state. We performed $\approx 2\,$ h of simultaneous observations of 4U 1728-34 using HAWK-I@VLT, XMM-Newton, and NuSTAR. The source displayed significant X-ray and IR variability down to sub-second timeVincentelli, F. M. et al.
Advertised on:
102023 -
A 5.3-min-period pulsing white dwarf in a binary detected from radio to X-raysWhite dwarf stars are the most common stellar fossils. When in binaries, they make up the dominant form of compact object binary within the Galaxy and can offer insight into different aspects of binary formation and evolution. One of the most remarkable white dwarf binary systems identified to date is AR Scorpii (AR Sco). AR Sco is composed of an MPelisoli, Ingrid et al.
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82023 -
An eclipsing 47 min double white dwarf binary at 400 pcWe present the discovery of the eclipsing double white dwarf (WD) binary WDJ 022558.21-692025.38 that has an orbital period of 47.19 min. Following identification with the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, we obtained time series ground based spectroscopy and high-speed multiband ULTRACAM photometry which indicate a primary DA WD of mass $0.40Munday, James et al.
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102023 -
Dynamical mass of the white dwarf in XY Ari: a test for intermediate polar X-ray spectral modelsWe present a dynamical study of the eclipsing intermediate polar XY Ari based on time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy obtained with the EMIR spectrograph on the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias. Using main sequence template spectra taken with the same instrument setup as the target spectra, we measure a radial velocity amplitude of the late K-Álvarez-Hernández, A. et al.
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92023 -
Panning for gold, but finding helium: Discovery of the ultra-stripped supernova SN 2019wxt from gravitational-wave follow-up observationsWe present the results from multi-wavelength observations of a transient discovered during an intensive follow-up campaign of S191213g, a gravitational wave (GW) event reported by the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration as a possible binary neutron star merger in a low latency search. This search yielded SN 2019wxt, a young transient in a galaxy whose skyAgudo, I. et al.
Advertised on:
72023 -
Ask the machine: systematic detection of wind-type outflows in low-mass X-ray binariesThe systematic discovery of outflows in the optical spectra of low-mass X-ray binaries opened a new avenue for the study of the outburst evolution in these extreme systems. However, the efficient detection of such features in a continuously growing data base requires the development of new analysis techniques with a particular focus on scalabilityMata Sánchez, D. et al.
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92023 -
GRB 201015A and the nature of low-luminosity soft gamma-ray burstsGRB 201015A is a peculiarly low luminosity, spectrally soft gamma-ray burst (GRB), with T 90 = 9.8 ± 3.5 s (time interval of detection of 90 per cent of photons from the GRB), and an associated supernova (likely to be type Ic or Ic-BL). GRB 201015A has an isotropic energy $E_{\gamma , \rm iso}$$= 1.75 ^{+0.60} _{-0.53} \times 10^{50}$ erg, andPatel, M. et al.
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82023 -
The evolution of the UV/optical lag spectrum of NGC 7469 seen by the Liverpool TelescopeWe present the results regarding the analysis of an intensive monitoring of the Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) NGC 7469. We observed the source for 4 months with almost daily cadence in the ugriz bands, using the IO:O on the Liverpool Telescope. We measured the lags with respect to the u band and found a clear change in the lag spectrum between theVincentelli, F. M. et al.
Advertised on:
52023 -
Optical and near-infrared spectroscopy of the black hole transient 4U 1543-47 during its 2021 ultra-luminous stateWe present simultaneous optical and near-infrared spectra obtained during the 2021 outburst of the black hole transient 4U 1543-47. The X-ray hardness-intensity diagram and the comparison with similar systems reveal a luminous outburst, probably reaching the Eddington luminosity, as well as a long-lasting excursion to the so-called ultra-luminousSánchez-Sierras, J. et al.
Advertised on:
52023 -
The Fast X-Ray Transient XRT 210423 and Its Host GalaxyFast X-ray Transients (FXTs) are X-ray flares with durations ranging from a few hundred seconds to a few hours. Possible origins include the tidal disruption of a white dwarf by an intermediate-mass black hole, a supernova shock breakout, or a binary neutron star merger. We present the X-ray light curve and spectrum as well as deep optical imagingEappachen, D. et al.
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52023 -
Multiwavelength observations of the extraordinary accretion event AT2021lwxWe present observations from X-ray to mid-infrared wavelengths of the most energetic non-quasar transient ever observed, AT2021lwx. Our data show a single optical brightening by a factor >100 to a luminosity of 7 × 10 45 erg s -1 and a total radiated energy of 1.5 × 10 53 erg, both greater than any known optical transient. The decline is smooth andWiseman, P. et al.
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72023 -
Neutron star mass estimates from gamma-ray eclipses in spider millisecond pulsar binariesReliable neutron star mass measurements are key to determining the equation of state of cold nuclear matter, but such measurements are rare. Black widows and redbacks are compact binaries consisting of millisecond pulsars and semi-degenerate companion stars. Spectroscopy of the optically bright companions can determine their radial velocitiesClark, C. J. et al.
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42023
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