TWO RAPIDLY VARIABLE GALACTIC X-RAY TRANSIENTS OBSERVED WITH CHANDRA, XMM-NEWTON, AND SUZAKU
- University of Alberta, Department of Physics, Room 238 CEB, 11322-89 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G7 (Canada)
- Space Sciences Laboratory, 7 Gauss Way, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-7450 (United States)
- Northwestern University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208 (United States)
We have identified two moderately bright, rapidly variable transients in new and archival X-ray data near the Galactic center. Both objects show strong, flaring variability on timescales of tens to thousands of seconds, evidence of N{sub H} variability, and hard spectra. XMMU J174445.5-295044 is seen at 2-10 keV fluxes of 3 x 10{sup -11} to <10{sup -12} erg cm{sup -2} s{sup -1}, with N{sub H} at or above 5 x 10{sup 22} cm{sup -2}, by XMM-Newton, Chandra, and Suzaku. A likely Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) counterpart with K{sub S} = 10.2 shows colors indicative of a late-type star. CXOU J174042.0-280724 is a likely counterpart to the fast hard transient IGR J17407-2808. Chandra observations find F{sub X} (2-10 keV) {approx}10{sup -12} erg cm{sup -2} s{sup -1}, with large N{sub H} variations (from 2 x 10{sup 22} to >2 x 10{sup 23} cm{sup -2}). No 2MASS counterpart is visible, to K{sub S} >13. XMMU J174445.5-295044 seems likely to be a new symbiotic star or symbiotic X-ray binary, while CXOU J174042.0-280724 is more mysterious, likely an unusual low-mass X-ray binary.
- OSTI ID:
- 21319553
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 701, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/701/2/1627; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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