Rapid optical flaring in MXB 1735-444 and an optical burst from GX 17+2

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/184973· OSTI ID:5748852

Imamura, J N; Steiman-Cameron, T Y; Middleditch, J

The results of high-speed white-light photometry of five low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXB), including MXB 1735-444 (V926 Sco), are reported. It is found that MXB 1735-444 was in a previously unreported state. It showed rapid optical flaring on time scales of 10 s or less to about 20 minutes over the course of a 2 hr observation. During the bursts, the optical luminosity increased by up to a factor of five; the average optical luminosity of MXB 1735-444 was about 2 x 10 to the 34th ergs/s at these times. Qualitatively similar long type II X-ray bursts have been observed from the rapid burster, MXB 1730-335, and long X-ray bursts of undetermined type have been observed from GX 17+2 (4U 1813-14). The detection of an optical burst from the source GX 17+2 is also reported. Optical bursts have not been previously reported in this object. 21 references.

• Research Organization: Oregon Univ., Eugene; Los Alamos National Lab., NM; Joint Institute for Lab. Astrophysics, Boulder, CO
• OSTI ID: 5748852
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 320; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BINARY STARS
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY BURSTS
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
LUMINOSITY
NEUTRON STARS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOMETRY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
STARS
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR FLARES
VISIBLE RADIATION