STAR FORMATION HISTORY AND X-RAY BINARY POPULATIONS: THE CASE OF THE SMALL MAGELLANIC CLOUD

Journal Article · Sun Jun 20 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/716/2/L140· OSTI ID:21451081

Antoniou, V; Zezas, A ^[1]; Hatzidimitriou, D ^[2]; Kalogera, V ^[3]

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1. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 (United States)
2. IESL/Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, P.O. Box 1527, GR-711 10 Heraklion, Crete (Greece)
3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208 (United States)

Using Chandra, XMM-Newton, and optical photometric catalogs we study the young X-ray binary (XRB) populations of the Small Magellanic Cloud. We find that the Be/X-ray binaries (Be-XRBs) are observed in regions with star formation rate bursts {approx}25-60 Myr ago. The similarity of this age with the age of maximum occurrence of the Be phenomenon ({approx}40 Myr) indicates that the presence of a circumstellar decretion disk plays a significant role in the number of observed XRBs in the 10-100 Myr age range. We also find that regions with strong but more recent star formation (e.g., the Wing) are deficient in Be-XRBs. By correlating the number of observed Be-XRBs with the formation rate of their parent populations, we measure a Be-XRB production rate of {approx}1 system per 3 x 10{sup -3} M{sub sun} yr{sup -1}. Finally, we use the strong localization of the Be-XRB systems in order to set limits on the kicks imparted on the neutron star during the supernova explosion.

• OSTI ID: 21451081
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 716; ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
CATALOGS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
GALAXIES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
NEUTRON STARS
PULSARS
RADIATIONS
STARS
X RADIATION