RX J0042.3+4115: a stellar mass black hole binary identified in M31

Abstract

Four XMM-Newton X-ray observations of the central region of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) have revealed an X-ray source that varies in luminosity over \~1--3, 10^{38} erg s^{-1} between observations and also displays significant variability over time-scales of a few hundred seconds. The power density spectra of lightcurves obtained in the 0.3--10 keV energy band from the three EPIC instruments on board XMM-Newton are typical of disc-accreting X-ray binaries at low accretion rates, observed in neutron star binaries only at much lower luminosities (~10^{36} erg s^{-1}). However X-ray binaries with massive black hole primaries have exhibited such power spectra for luminosities >10^{38} erg s^{-1}. We discuss alternative possibilities where RX J0042.3+4115 may be a background AGN or foreground object in the field of view, but conclude that it is located within M31 and hence use the observed power spectra and X-ray luminosities to identify the primary as a black hole candidate.

7 pages, 4 figures, A&A accepted

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• The X-ray Properties of M101 ULX-1 = CXOKM101 J140332.74+542102
• Time variability of X-ray sources in the M 31 centre field
• Tracing a Z-track in the M31 X-ray Binary RX J0042.6+4115
• On the artificial nature of aperiodic variability in XMM-Newton observations of M31 X-ray sources and the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 4559 ULX-7
• New XMM-Newton analysis of three bright X-ray sources in M31 globular clusters, including a new black hole candidate
• Identifying a black hole X-ray transient in M31 with XMM-Newton and Chandra
• Reinstating the M31 X-ray system RX J0042.3+4115 as a black hole X-ray binary, and compelling evidence for an extended corona
• Fe K$\alpha$ and Fe K$\beta$ line detection in the NuSTAR spectrum of the ultra-bright Z-source Scorpius X-1
• A Potential Supernova Remnant/X-ray Binary Association in M31