Searching for the signatures of jet-ISM interactions in X-ray binaries

Abstract

Jets from X-ray binaries are continuously injecting matter and energy into the surrounding interstellar medium (ISM). However, there exist to date relatively few cases where jet-ISM interactions have been directly observed. We review the current examples, and go on to present new data on the proposed hotspots of GRS1915+105, finding no concrete evidence for any association between the hotspots and the central source, in agreement with previous findings in the literature. We also present preliminary results on radio and H-alpha searches for jet-ISM interactions around known X-ray binaries, and discuss strategies for future searches.

arXiv comment7 pages, 3 figures; to be published in proceedings of "A Population Explosion: The Nature and Evolution of X-ray Binaries in Diverse Environments", 28 Oct. - 2 Nov. 2007, St. Petersburg Beach, FL (R.M. Bandyopadhyay, S. Wachter, D. Gelino, & C.R. Gelino, eds.)

Cited by in corpus (4)

• New observations of ULX supershells, and their implications
• Radio emission and jets from microquasars
• A search for signatures of interactions of X-ray binary outflows with their environments with ALMA
• Interaction of a high-mass X-ray binary with the interstellar medium through stellar wind. The case of GX 301-2