MAXI J1848-015: The First Detection of Relativistically Moving Outflows from a Globular Cluster X-ray Binary

Abstract

Over the past decade, observations of relativistic outflows from outbursting X-ray binaries in the Galactic field have grown significantly. In this work, we present the first detection of moving and decelerating radio-emitting outflows from an X-ray binary in a globular cluster. MAXI J1848-015 is a recently discovered transient X-ray binary in the direction of the globular cluster GLIMPSE-C01. Using observations from the VLA, and a monitoring campaign with the MeerKAT observatory for 500 days, we model the motion of the outflows. This represents some of the most intensive, long-term coverage of relativistically moving X-ray binary outflows to date. We use the proper motions of the outflows from MAXI J1848-015 to constrain the component of the intrinsic jet speed along the line of sight, ${\beta }_{\text{int}}\cos {\theta }_{\text{ejection}}$, to be $=0.19\pm 0.02$. Assuming it is located in GLIMPSE-C01, at 3.4 kpc, we determine the intrinsic jet speed, ${\beta }_{\text{int}}=0.79\pm 0.07$, and the inclination angle to the line of sight, ${\theta }_{\text{ejection}}=76^{\circ }\pm 2^{\circ }$. This makes the outflows from MAXI J1848-015 somewhat slower than those seen from many other known X-ray binaries. We also constrain the maximum distance to MAXI J1848-015 to be $4.3$ kpc. Lastly, we discuss the implications of our findings for the nature of the compact object in this system, finding that a black hole primary is a viable (but as-of-yet unconfirmed) explanation for the observed properties of MAXI J1848-015. If future data and/or analysis provide more conclusive evidence that MAXI J1848-015 indeed hosts a black hole, it would be the first black hole X-ray binary in outburst identified in a Galactic globular cluster.

14 pages, 5 figures, ApJL in press

References in corpus (15)

• The NumPy array: a structure for efficient numerical computation
• CASA, the Common Astronomy Software Applications for Radio Astronomy
• WSClean: an implementation of a fast, generic wide-field imager for radio astronomy
• An extremely powerful long-lived superluminal ejection from the black hole MAXI J1820+070
• A rapidly-changing jet orientation in the stellar-mass black hole V404 Cygni
• The black hole transient MAXI J1348-630: evolution of the compact and transient jets during its 2019/2020 outburst
• Bimodal Infrared Colors of the M87 Globular Cluster System: Peaks in the Metallicity Distribution
• A highly polarised radio jet during the 1998 outburst of the black hole transient XTE J1748-288
• A decade of radio imaging the relativistic outflow in the peculiar X-ray binary Circinus X-1
• Tricolour: an optimized SumThreshold flagger for MeerKAT
• X-Ray Spectroscopy of Newly Identified ULXs Associated With M87's Globular Cluster Population
• The MAVERIC Survey: Variable Jet-Accretion Coupling in Luminous Accreting Neutron Stars in Galactic Globular Clusters
• Radio observations of the Black Hole X-ray Binary EXO 1846-031 re-awakening from a 34-year slumber
• MAXI and NuSTAR observations of the faint X-ray transient MAXI J1848-015 in the GLIMPSE-C01 Cluster
• Cluster Glimpses with Raven: AO Corrected Near and Mid-Infrared Images of Glimpse C01 and Glimpse C02

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Swift J1727.8-1613 has the Largest Resolved Continuous Jet Ever Seen in an X-ray Binary
• Bursts from Space: MeerKAT - The first citizen science project dedicated to commensal radio transients
• Comprehensive Radio Monitoring of the Black Hole X-ray Binary Swift J1727.8$-$1613 during its 2023$-$2024 Outburst
• Large-scale radio bubbles around the black hole transient V4641 Sgr
• The Accretion-Ejection Connection in the Black Hole X-ray Binary MAXI J1820$+$070
• Observational Biases and Improved Modelling of Off-axis Relativistic Jets
• A VLITE Search for Millisecond Pulsars in Globular Clusters: Discovery of a Pulsar in GLIMPSE-C01