Optical variability of the LMC supersoft source RX J0513.9-6951

Southwell, K. A.; Livio, M.; Charles, P. A.; Sutherland, W.; Alcock, C.; Allsman, R. A.; Alves, D.; Axelrod, T. S.; Bennett, D. P.; Cook, K. H.; Freeman, K. C.; Griest, K.; Guern, J.; Lehner, M. J.; Marshall, S. L.; Peterson, B. A.; Pratt, M. R.; Quinn, P. J.; Rodgers, A. W.; Stubbs, C. W.; Welch, D. L.

doi:10.1007/BFb0102261

K. A. Southwell¹,
M. Livio²,
P. A. Charles¹,
W. Sutherland¹,
C. Alcock^3,4,
R. A. Allsman⁵,
D. Alves³,
T. S. Axelrod^3,6,
D. P. Bennett^3,4,
K. H. Cook^3,4,
K. C. Freeman⁶,
K. Griest^4,7,
J. Guern^4,7,
M. J. Lehner^4,7,
S. L. Marshall^4,8,
B. A. Peterson⁶,
M. R. Pratt^4,8,
P. J. Quinn⁶,
A. W. Rodgers⁶,
C. W. Stubbs^4,8 &
…
D. L. Welch⁹

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 472))

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Abstract

We present optical spectroscopy and photometry of the LMC supersoft source (SSS) RX J0513.9-6951. Through the exceptional monitoring capabilities of the MACHO project, we show the optical history of this object for a≈3 year period. Recurring low states, in which the optical brightness drops by up to a magnitude, are observed at quasi-regular intervals. Analysis of the high state data reveals a small modulation with a semi-amplitude of ≈0.02 magnitudes at P=0^d.76278±0^d.00005. By considering all the available data, including optical photometry, spectroscopy and X-ray observations, we suggest a theoretical model to explain the fundamental variations exhibited by this source.

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Authors and Affiliations

Dept. of Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics Bldg, Keble Road, OX1 3RH, Oxford, England
K. A. Southwell, P. A. Charles & W. Sutherland
Space Telescope Science Inst., 3700 San Martin Drive, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA
M. Livio
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 94550, Livermore, CA
C. Alcock, D. Alves, T. S. Axelrod, D. P. Bennett & K. H. Cook
Center for Particle Astrophysics, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, CA
C. Alcock, D. P. Bennett, K. H. Cook, K. Griest, J. Guern, M. J. Lehner, S. L. Marshall, M. R. Pratt & C. W. Stubbs
Supercomputing Facility, Australian Nat. Univ., 0200, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia
R. A. Allsman
Mt. Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories, 2611, A.C.T., Australia
T. S. Axelrod, K. C. Freeman, B. A. Peterson, P. J. Quinn & A. W. Rodgers
Department of Physics, University of California, 92093, San Diego, CA
K. Griest, J. Guern & M. J. Lehner
Department of Physics, University of California, 93106, Santa Barbara, CA
S. L. Marshall, M. R. Pratt & C. W. Stubbs
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Mc Master University, L8S 4M1, Hamilton, Canada
D. L. Welch

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K. A. Southwell
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M. Livio
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P. A. Charles
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W. Sutherland
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C. Alcock
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R. A. Allsman
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D. Alves
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T. S. Axelrod
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D. P. Bennett
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K. H. Cook
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K. C. Freeman
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K. Griest
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J. Guern
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M. J. Lehner
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S. L. Marshall
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B. A. Peterson
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M. R. Pratt
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P. J. Quinn
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A. W. Rodgers
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C. W. Stubbs
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D. L. Welch
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Jochen Greiner

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Southwell, K.A. et al. (1996). Optical variability of the LMC supersoft source RX J0513.9-6951. In: Greiner, J. (eds) Supersoft X-Ray Sources. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 472. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0102261

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0102261
Published: 26 December 2006
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-61390-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-68512-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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