Cygnus X-3's Little Friend

Abstract

Using the unique X-ray imaging capabilities of the Chandra observatory, a 2006 observation of Cygnus X-3 has provided insight into a singular feature associated with this well-known microquasar. This extended emission, located ~16 arcseconds from Cygnus X-3, varies in flux and orbital phase (shifted by 0.56 in phase) with Cygnus X-3, acting like a celestial X-ray "mirror". The feature's spectrum, flux and time variations allow us to determine the location, size, density, and mass of the scatterer. We find that the scatterer is a Bok globule located along our line of sight, and discuss its relationship to Cygnus X-3. This is the first time such a feature has been identified with the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

35 pages, 14 figures, 1 movie, accepted for publication by ApJ

References in corpus (3)

• Spectral variability in Cygnus X-3
• The nature of the hard state of Cygnus X-3
• A classification of the X-ray and radio states of Cyg X-3 and their long-term correlations

Cited by in corpus (7)

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• Photoionization Emission Models for the Cyg X-3 X-ray Spectrum
• The Dust Scattering Halo of Cygnus X-3
• X-ray Scattered Halo around IGR J17544-2619
• Progenitor constraints for core-collapse supernovae from Chandra X-ray observations