GX 339-4

GX 339-4

GX 339-4 (artist's concept)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Ara
Right ascension 17 02 49.5
Declination -48 47 23
Characteristics
Apparent magnitude (B) 16.3
Apparent magnitude (V) 15.5
Apparent magnitude (J) 15.9
Apparent magnitude (H) 15.4
Apparent magnitude (K) 15.0
Variable type LMXB
Other designations
V821 Ara, 4U 1658-48, 3A 1659-487, 1RXS J170248.5-484719, 2MASS 17024936-4847228
Database references
SIMBADdata

GX 339-4 is a moderately strong variable galactic low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) source[1][2] and black hole candidate that flares from time to time. From spectroscopic measurements, the mass of the black-hole was found to be at least of 5.8 solar masses.[3]

Thomas Henry Markert et al. discovered GX 339-4 in 1973, in data obtained by the MIT Cosmic Ray Experiment on OSO-7.[4][5] An optical counterpoint to the X-ray source was found by Jonathan E. Grindlay in 1979, and it is optically variable.[6] For that reason it was given a variable star designation, V821 Arae, in 1981.[7]

An I band light curve for GX 339-4, platted assuming an orbital period of 0.7 days. Adapted from Cowley et al. (2002)[8]

During the outbursts GX 339-4 shows evolution of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). In the rising phase the QPO frequency monotonically increase as the CENBOL propagates closer to the black hole and in the declining phase the QPO frequency monotonically decreases since the CENBOL recedes away from the black hole after viscosity is decreased. The frequency variation is thus well modeled by the propagating and oscillating shock in the sub-Keplerian flow. The entire spectrum also fits very well using two component advective flow solution.

A strong, variable relativistic jet, emitting from radio to infrared wavelengths was observed by several studies.[9][10][11]

References

  1. ^ SIMBAD
  2. ^ Bradt, H.V.D., and McClintock, J.E., Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys., 21, 13-66 (1983)
  3. ^ Hynes, R. I.; Steeghs, D.; Casares, J.; Charles, P. A.; O'Brien, K. (February 2003). "Dynamical Evidence for a Black Hole in GX 339-4". The Astrophysical Journal. 583 (2, pp. L95–L98): L95 – L98. arXiv:astro-ph/0301127. Bibcode:2003ApJ...583L..95H. doi:10.1086/368108. S2CID 16820881.
  4. ^ Markert, T. H.; Clark, G. W.; Lewin, W. H. G.; Schnopper, H. W.; Sprott, G. F. (January 1973). "Highly variable X-ray source". IAU Circular. 2483. Bibcode:1973IAUC.2483Q...1M. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  5. ^ Markert, T. H.; Canizares, C. R.; Clark, G. W.; Lewin, W. H. G.; Schnopper, H. W.; Sprott, G. F. (September 1973). "Observations of the Highly Variable X-Ray Source GX 339-4". Astrophysical Journal. 184: L67 – L70. Bibcode:1973ApJ...184L..67M. doi:10.1086/181290. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  6. ^ Grindlay, J. E. (August 1979). "The optical counterpart of GX 339-4, a possible black hole X-ray source". Astrophysical Journal. 232: L33 – L37. Bibcode:1979ApJ...232L..33G. doi:10.1086/183031. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  7. ^ Kholopov, P. N.; Samus, N. N.; Kukarkina, N. P.; Medvedeva, G. I.; Perova, N. B. (November 1981). "66th Name-List of Variable Stars" (PDF). Information Bulletin on Variable Stars. 2042. Bibcode:1981IBVS.2042....1K. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  8. ^ Cowley, A. P.; Schmidtke, P. C.; Hutchings, J. B.; Crampton, David (March 2002). "Optical Observations of the Black Hole Candidate GX 339−4 (V821 Arae)". The Astronomical Journal. 123 (3): 1741–1749. Bibcode:2002AJ....123.1741C. doi:10.1086/339028. S2CID 119867410.
  9. ^ Corbel, S.; Nowak, M. A.; Fender, R. P.; Tzioumis, A. K.; Markoff, S. (March 2003). "Radio/X-ray correlation in the low/hard state of GX 339-4". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 400 (3): 1007–1012. arXiv:astro-ph/0301436. Bibcode:2003A&A...400.1007C. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20030090. S2CID 40809381.
  10. ^ Casella, P.; Maccarone, T. J.; O'Brien, K.; Fender, R. P.; Russell, D. M.; van der Klis, M.; Pe'Er, A.; Maitra, D.; Altamirano, D.; Belloni, T.; Kanbach, G.; Klein-Wolt, M.; Mason, E.; Soleri, P.; Stefanescu, A.; Wiersema, K.; Wijnands, R. (May 2010). "Fast infrared variability from a relativistic jet in GX 339-4". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. 404 (1, pp. L21–L25): L21 – L25. arXiv:1002.1233. Bibcode:2010MNRAS.404L..21C. doi:10.1111/j.1745-3933.2010.00826.x. S2CID 41202016.
  11. ^ Gandhi, P.; Blain, A. W.; Russell, D. M.; Casella, P.; Malzac, J.; Corbel, S.; D'Avanzo, P.; Lewis, F. W.; Markoff, S.; Cadolle Bel, M.; Goldoni, P.; Wachter, S.; Khangulyan, D.; Mainzer, A. (October 2011). "A Variable Mid-infrared Synchrotron Break Associated with the Compact Jet in GX 339-4". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 740 (1, article id. L13, 7 pp): L13. arXiv:1109.4143. Bibcode:2011ApJ...740L..13G. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/740/1/l13. S2CID 118406325.


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