FUSE Spectra of the Black Hole Binary LMC X-3

Abstract

Far-ultraviolet spectra of LMC X-3 were taken covering photometric phases 0.47 to 0.74 in the 1.7-day orbital period of the black-hole binary (phase zero being superior conjunction of the X-ray source). The continuum is faint and flat, but appears to vary significantly during the observations. Concurrent RXTE/ASM observations show the system was in its most luminous X-ray state during the FUSE observations. The FUV spectrum contains strong terrestrial airglow emission lines, while the only stellar lines clearly present are emissions from the O VI resonance doublet. Their flux does not change significantly during the FUSE observations. These lines are modelled as two asymmetrical profiles, including the local ISM absorptions due to C II and possibly O VI. Velocity variations of O VI emission are consistent with the orbital velocity of the black hole and provide a new constraint on its mass.

arXiv comment12 pages including 1 table, 4 diagrams To appear in AJ

References in corpus (4)

• Discovery of Recurring Soft to Hard State Transitions in LMC X-3
• XMM-Newton Optical Monitor observations of LMC X-3
• The optical long `period' of LMC X-3
• X-Ray and UV Orbital Phase Dependence in LMC X-3

Cited by in corpus (11)

• A Global Spectral Study of Black Hole X-ray Binaries
• Global optical/infrared - X-ray correlations in X-ray binaries: quantifying disc and jet contributions
• Revisiting a fundamental test of the disc instability model for X-ray binaries
• Warm-Hot Gas in and around the Milky Way: Detection and Implications of OVII Absorption toward LMC X-3
• X-ray and UV spectroscopy of Galactic diffuse hot gas along the LMC X--3 sight line
• A Global Study of the Behaviour of Black Hole X-ray Binary Discs
• First X-ray polarization measurement confirms the low black-hole spin in LMC X-3
• Measuring the black hole masses in accreting X-ray binaries by detecting the Doppler orbital motion of their accretion disk wind absorption lines
• Variable O VI and N V Emission from the X-ray Binary LMC X-3: Heating of the Black Hole Companion
• Black Hole Spin Evolution Affected by Magnetic Field Decay
• Impact on orbital period of X-ray Binary system attached to a cosmic string