Multiple Components of the Luminous Compact X-ray Source at the Edge of Holmberg II observed by ASCA and ROSAT

Abstract

We report the results of the analysis of ASCA/ROSAT observations of the compact luminous X-ray source found at the edge of the nearby star-forming dwarf galaxy Holmberg II (UGC 4305).Our ASCA spectrum revealed that the X-ray emission extends to the hard band and can be best described by a power-law with a photon spectral index of 1.9. The ASCA spectrum does not fit with a multi-color disk blackbody. The joint ASCA-ROSAT spectrum suggests two components to the spectrum: the hard power-law component and a warm thermal plasma kT~0.3[keV]. An additional absorption over that of our galaxy is required. The wobble correction of the ROSAT HRI image has clearly unveiled the existence of an extended component which amounts to 27+/-5% of the total X-ray emission. These observations indicate that there are more than one component in the X-ray emission. The properties of the point-like component is indicative of an accretion onto an intermediate mass blackhole, unless a beaming is taking place. We argue that the extended component does not come from electron scattering and/or reflection by scattered optically-thick clouds of the central radiation. Possible explanations of this X-ray source include multiple supernova remnants feeding an intermediate-mass blackhole. (abridged)

12 pages, 6 figures accepted to Astronomical Journal

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