Delimiting the black hole mass in the X-ray transient MAXI J1659-152 with H$\alpha$ spectroscopy

Abstract

MAXI J1659-152 is a 2.4 h orbital period X-ray dipping transient black hole candidate. We present spectroscopy of its $I\approx 23$ quiescent counterpart where we detect H$\alpha$ emission with full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of $3200\pm 300$ km s${}^{-1}$. Applying the correlation between the H$\alpha$ FWHM and radial velocity semi-amplitude of the donor star for quiescent X-ray transients, we derive $K_2=750\pm 80$ km s${}^{-1}$. The orbital period and $K_2$ lead to a mass function of $4.4\pm 1.4M{}_{\odot }$ (1$\sigma$). The donor to compact object mass ratio and binary inclination are likely in the range $q=M_2/M_1=0.02-0.07$ and $i=70{}^{\circ }-80{}^{\circ }$. These constraints imply a 68% confidence level interval for the compact object mass of $3.3\lesssim M_1(M_{\odot })\lesssim 7.5$, confirming its black hole nature. These quasi-dynamical limits are compared to mass estimates from modelling of X-ray data and any discrepancies are discussed. We review the properties of optical spectroscopy and time-series photometry collected during the 2010-2011 outburst. We interpret the apparent modulations found soon after the onset of high-accretion activity and during the 2011 rebrightening event as originating in the accretion disc. These have signatures consistent with superhumps, with the 2011 modulation having a fractional period excess $<0.6\%$ (3$\sigma$). We propose that direct irradiation of the donor by the central X-ray source was not possible due to its occultation by the disc outer regions. We argue that disc shielding significantly weakens the donor star contribution to the optical variability in systems with $q\lesssim 0.07$, including neutron star ultra-compact X-ray binaries.

8 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in MNRAS

References in corpus (24)

• X-ray Properties of Black-Hole Binaries
• The Donor Stars of Cataclysmic Variables
• Potential Kick Velocity distribution of black hole X-ray binaries and implications for natal kicks
• The binary mass ratio in the black hole transient MAXI J1820+070
• The mass function of GX 339-4 from spectroscopic observations of its donor star
• The Galactic distribution of X-ray binaries and its implications for compact object formation and natal kicks
• Dynamical confirmation of a black hole in MAXI J1820+070
• A Black Hole Nova Obscured by an Inner Disk Torus
• Hard-state accretion disk winds from black holes: the revealing case of MAXI J1820+070
• The evolutionary status of Cataclysmic Variables: Eclipse modelling of 15 systems
• Swift J1753.5-0127: The Black Hole Candidate with the shortest orbital period
• Further Evidence for Variable Synchrotron Emission in XTE J1118+480 in Outburst
• Lorentz Factors of compact jets in Black hole X-ray binaries
• IR Monitoring of the Microquasar GRS 1915+105: Detection of Orbital and Superhump Signatures
• The 2005 outburst of the halo black hole X-ray transient XTE J1118+480
• Hot, dense He II outflows during the 2017 outburst of the X-ray transient Swift J1357.2-0933
• Hibernating black holes revealed by photometric mass functions
• Discovery of optical outflows and inflows in the black hole candidate GRS 1716-249
• Orbital period dependent spatial scatter of Galactic Black Hole Transients
• The long-term optical evolution of the black hole candidate MAXI J1659-152
• A retrograde spin of the black hole in MAXI J1659--152
• Bowen emission from Aquila X-1: evidence for multiple components and constraint on the accretion disc vertical structure
• Constraining the nature of the accreting binary in CXOGBS J174623.5-310550
• RXTE Observations of New Black Hole Candidates XTE J1752-223 and MAXI J1659-152

Cited by in corpus (15)

• The observed mass distribution of Galactic black hole LMXBs is biased against massive black holes
• Hard-state optical wind during the discovery outburst of the black-hole X-ray dipper MAXI J1803-298
• Dynamical confirmation of a stellar-mass black hole in the transient X-ray dipping binary MAXI J1305-704
• Discovery of optical and infrared accretion disc wind signatures in the black hole candidate MAXI J1348-630
• A correlation between Ha trough depth and inclination in quiescent X-ray transients: evidence for a low-mass black hole in GRO J0422+32
• The peculiar spectral evolution of the new X-ray transient MAXI J0637-430
• A 2-hr binary period for the black hole transient MAXI J0637-430
• An Overview of Compact Star Populations and Some of Its Open Problems
• Estimating the spin of the black hole candidate MAXI J1659-152 with the X-ray continuum-fitting method
• Global Accretion Properties of Black Hole X-Ray Binaries: A Phenomenological Perspective
• Characterising the short-orbital period X-ray transient Swift J1910.2-0546
• An apparent positive relation between spin and orbital angular momentum in X-ray binaries
• A search for optical counterparts in quiescent black hole X-ray transients
• A multi-wavelength study of GRS 1716-249 in outburst : constraints on its system parameters
• Empirical correlation between masses of black holes and Wolf-Rayet stars derived from their mass distributions in spectroscopic binaries