Probing the behaviour of the X-ray binary Cygnus X-3 with very-long-baseline radio interferometry

Abstract

In order to test the recently proposed classification of the radio/X-ray states of the X-ray binary Cyg X-3, we present an analysis of the radio data available for the system at much higher spatial resolutions than used for defining the states. The radio data set consists of archival VLBA data at 5 or 15 GHz and new e-EVN data at 5 GHz. We also present 5 GHz MERLIN observations of an outburst of Cyg X-3. In the X-ray regime we use quasi-simultaneous with radio, monitoring and pointed RXTE observations. We find that when the radio emission from both jet and core is globally considered, the behaviour of Cyg X-3 at milliarcsecond scales is consistent with that described at arcsecond scales. However, when the radio emission is disentangled in a core component and a jet component the situation changes. It becomes clear that in active states the radio emission from the jet is dominating that from the core. This shows that in these states the overall radio flux cannot be used as a direct tracer of the accretion state.

Accepted for publication in MNRAS

References in corpus (16)

• X-ray Properties of Black-Hole Binaries
• Modelling the behaviour of accretion flows in X-ray binaries
• A radio-emitting outflow in the quiescent state of A0620-00: implications for modelling low-luminosity black hole binaries
• The Orbital Period of the Wolf-Rayet Binary IC 10 X-1; Dynamic Evidence that the Compact Object is a Black Hole
• Revisiting the radio/X-ray flux correlation in the black hole V404 Cyg: from outburst to quiescence
• The disc-jet coupling in the neutron star X-ray binary Aquila X-1
• Effects of the stellar wind on X-ray spectra of Cygnus X-3
• The nature of the hard state of Cygnus X-3
• Spectral variability in Cygnus X-3
• A 33 hour period for the Wolf-Rayet/black hole X-ray binary candidate NGC 300 X-1
• First e-VLBI observations of Cygnus X-3
• Opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in Cygnus X-3
• Synchrotron flaring behaviour of CygnusX-3 during the February-March 1994 and September 2001 outbursts
• First e-VLBI observations of GRS 1915+105
• What do we understand from multi-frequency monitoring of microquasars?
• Long-term multi-frequency monitoring of microquasars

Cited by in corpus (10)

• A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated Gamma-ray emission
• Magic constraints on Gamma-ray emission from Cygnus X-3
• A comprehensive study of high-energy gamma-ray and radio emission from Cyg X-3
• The AGILE monitoring of Cygnus X-3: transient gamma-ray emission and spectral constraints
• Hadronic Gamma-Ray and Neutrino Emission from Cygnus X-3
• A multiple-beam CLEAN for imaging intra-day variable radio sources
• Major and Minor Flares on Cygnus X-3 Revisited
• The innermost jet in the hidden ultra-luminous X-ray source Cygnus X-3
• VLBI Observation of Microquasar Cyg X-3 during an X-ray State Transition from Soft to Hard in the 2007 May-June Flare
• State-Dependent Orbital Modulation of X-rays in CYG X-3