Journal article
The orbital period of the ultraluminous x-ray source in M82
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.311(5760), pp.491-491
01/27/2006
DOI: 10.1126/science.1121067
PMID: 16400109
Abstract
The ultraluminous x-ray source (ULX) in the galaxy M82 has been identified as a possible intermediate-mass black hole formed in stellar collisions in the super star cluster MGG 11. The x-ray flux from M82 is modulated, with a peak-to-peak amplitude corresponding to an isotropic luminosity of 2.4 _ 1040 erg s-1 in M82 and a period of 62.0 +/- 2.5 days, which we interpret as the orbital period of the ULX binary. This orbital period implies that the mass-donor star must be a giant or supergiant. Large mass-transfer rates, sufficient to fuel the ULX, are expected for a giant-phase mass donor in an x-ray binary. The giant phase has a short lifetime, indicating that we see the ULX in M82 in a brief and unusual period of its evolution.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The orbital period of the ultraluminous x-ray source in M82
- Creators
- Philip Kaaret - University of IowaMelanie G Simet - University of IowaCornelia C Lang - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.311(5760), pp.491-491
- DOI
- 10.1126/science.1121067
- PMID
- 16400109
- ISSN
- 0036-8075
- eISSN
- 1095-9203
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/27/2006
- Academic Unit
- Liberal Arts and Science Admin; Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984428777302771
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