The Ultraluminous X-ray Source NGC 1313 X-2 (MS 0317.7-6647) and its Environment

Abstract

We present new optical and {\it Chandra} observations of the field containing the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 1313 X-2. On an ESO 3.6 m image, the {\it Chandra} error box embraces a $R=21.6$ point-like object and excludes a previously proposed optical counterpart. The resulting X-ray/optical flux ratio of NGC 1313 X-2 is $\sim 500$. The value of $f_X/f_{opt}$, the X-ray variability history and the spectral distribution derived from a re-analysis of the {\it ROSAT}, {\it ASCA} and {\it XMM} data indicate a luminous X-ray binary in NGC 1313 as a likely explanation for NGC 1313 X-2. If the X-ray soft component observed in the {\it XMM} EPIC spectrum originates from an accretion disk, the inferred mass of the compact remnant is $\approx 100M_{\odot }$, making it an intermediate mass black hole. The derived optical luminosity ($L\approx 10^5{L}_{\odot }$) is consistent with that of a $\approx 15-20M_{\odot }$ companion. The properties of the environment of NGC 1313 X-2 are briefly discussed.

arXiv comment12 pages, 6 figures; submitted to The Astrophysical Journal

References in corpus (22)

• Ultraluminous X-Ray Sources in External Galaxies
• A `Hypernova' model for SN 1998bw associated with gamma-ray burst of 25 April 1998
• The Nature of Accreting Black Holes in Nearby Galaxy Nuclei
• The Nature of Ultra-Luminous Compact X-Ray Sources in Nearby Spiral Galaxies
• X-ray Spectroscopic Evidence for Intermediate Mass Black Holes: Cool Accretion Disks in Two Ultra--Luminous X-ray Sources
• Chandra High-Resolution Camera Observations of the Luminous X-Ray Source in the Starburst Galaxy M82
• The SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey. Paper II: Image detection, parameterisation, classification and photometry
• A Catalog of Candidate Intermediate-luminosity X-ray Objects
• Radio Emission from an Ultraluminous X-Ray Source
• The Time-Variable Ultra-Luminous X-ray Sources of "The Antennae"
• The identification of an optical counterpart to the super-Eddington X-ray source, NGC 5204 X-1
• XMM-Newton observations of ultraluminous X-ray sources in nearby galaxies
• The optical counterpart of the ultra-luminous x-ray source NGC 5204 X-1
• The Optical Counterpart of the Isolated Neutron Star RX J1605.3+3249
• The nature of ultra-luminous X-ray sources in NGC4565
• Soft X-ray Emission from the Spiral Galaxy NGC 1313
• Extremely Red Objects: an X-ray dichotomy
• BL Lac Identification for the Ultraluminous X-ray Source Observed in the Direction of NGC 4698
• Spectral variability in transonic discs around black holes
• A Deep ROSAT HRI Observation of NGC 1313
• 1WGAJ1216.9+3743: Chandra Finds an Extremely Steep Ultraluminous X-ray Source
• ROSAT Blank Field Sources I: Sample Selection and Archival Data

Cited by in corpus (47)

• X-ray source populations in galaxies
• XMM-Newton observations of the brightest Ultraluminous X-ray sources
• High Resolution Imaging of the HeII lambda 4686 Emission Line Nebula Associated with the Ultraluminous X-Ray Source in Holmberg II
• Low metallicity natal environments and black hole masses in Ultraluminous X-ray Sources
• The Effect of Starburst Metallicity on Bright X-Ray Binary Formation Pathways
• Ultra-luminous X-ray Sources in nearby galaxies from ROSAT HRI observations I. data analysis
• Ultra-luminous X-ray sources and remnants of massive metal-poor stars
• Low metallicity and ultra-luminous X-ray sources in the Cartwheel galaxy
• The star-forming environment of a ULX in NGC 4559: an optical study
• ULX spectra revisited: Accreting, highly magnetized neutron stars as the engines of ultraluminous X-ray sources
• Optical counterparts of the nearest ultraluminous X-ray sources
• A variable Quasi-Periodic Ocillation in M82 X-1. Timing and spectral analysis of XMM-Newton and RossiXTE observations
• Optical emission from massive donors in ULX binary systems
• Irradiation models for ULXs and fits to optical data
• Optical studies of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC1313 X-2
• Spectral Evolution of NGC 1313 X-2: Evidence Against The Cool Disk Model
• X-ray and optical variability of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 1313 X-2
• Ultra-luminous X-ray Sources in nearby galaxies from ROSAT HRI observations II. statistical properties
• Radio and X-ray Properties of Relativistic Beaming Models for Ultra-Luminous X-ray Sources
• Roche-lobe overflow systems powered by black holes in young star clusters: the importance of dynamical exchanges
• VLT Observations of the Ultraluminous X-ray Source NGC 1313 X-2
• Radio pulsars around intermediate mass black holes in super stellar clusters
• NIR Counterparts to ULXs (III): Completing the photometric survey and selected spectroscopic results
• A new Ultraluminous X-ray source in the galaxy NGC 5907
• Population synthesis on high-mass X-ray binaries: prospects and constraints from the universal X-ray luminosity function
• The black hole in NGC 1313 X-2: constraints on the mass from optical observations
• Dynamics of massive stellar black holes in young star clusters and the displacement of ultra-luminous X-ray sources
• A State Transition of the Luminous X-ray Binary in the Low-Metallicity Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxy I Zw 18
• XMM-Newton discovery of transient X-ray pulsar in NGC 1313
• Optical Sources Near the Bright X-Ray Source in NGC 1073
• Modelling optical emission of Ultra-luminous X-ray Sources accreting above the Eddington limit
• Black Holes In Young Stellar Clusters
• Dynamical mass constraints on the ultraluminous X-ray Source NGC 1313 X-2
• Metal-THINGS: On the metallicity and ionization of ULX sources in NGC 925
• The Local Environment of Ultraluminous X-ray Sources Viewed by XMM Newton's Optical Monitor
• Toward a Clean Sample of Ultra-Luminous X-ray Sources
• Super-Eddington Accretion in the Ultraluminous X-ray Source NGC1313 X-2: An Ephemeral Feast
• Remnants of massive metal-poor stars: viable engines for ultra-luminous X-ray sources
• Searching for the orbital period of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 1313 X-2
• A multi-wavelength view of distinct accretion regimes in the pulsating ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 1313 X-2
• Variability in Ultra-luminous X-ray Sources
• A comparative analysis of standard accretion disks spectra: an application to Ultraluminous X-ray Sources
• VLT MUSE observations of the bubble nebula around NGC 1313 X-2 and evidence for additional photoionization
• The metallicity of the nebula surrounding the ultra-luminous X-ray source NGC 1313 X-2
• Optical variability of the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 1313 X-2
• The Ultraluminous X-ray Sources NGC 1313 X-1 and X-2
• The black hole in NGC 1313 X-2