Determining the Nature of IC 10 X-2: A Comprehensive Study of the Optical/IR Emission from an Extragalactic BeHMXB
We present a comprehensive analysis of the optical and infrared (IR) properties of high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) IC 10 X-2, classified as a supergiant HMXB and superfast X-ray transient by previous work. Our analysis of regular (daily and weekly) observations by both the Zwicky Transient Facility an...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad82df |
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| author | Jwaher Alnaqbi Joseph D. Gelfand Payaswini Saikia Craig Heinke M. C. Baglio David M. Russell Guobao Zhang Antonios Manousakis Ivan Yu. Katkov Fraser Lewis |
| author_facet | Jwaher Alnaqbi Joseph D. Gelfand Payaswini Saikia Craig Heinke M. C. Baglio David M. Russell Guobao Zhang Antonios Manousakis Ivan Yu. Katkov Fraser Lewis |
| author_sort | Jwaher Alnaqbi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present a comprehensive analysis of the optical and infrared (IR) properties of high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) IC 10 X-2, classified as a supergiant HMXB and superfast X-ray transient by previous work. Our analysis of regular (daily and weekly) observations by both the Zwicky Transient Facility and Las Cumbres Observatory over a 5 yr period indicates both periodic flares and variations in the apparent magnitude and color with a period of ∼26.5 days—likely the orbital period of this binary system. The periodic flaring suggests the stellar companion is a Be star, with flares resulting from increased accretion onto the neutron star (NS) when it enters the stellar decretion disk. The periodic variations in the optical/IR brightness and color likely result from orbital variations in the hydrogen column density along the line of sight or a transient accretion disk around the NS. Lastly, the numerous short-duration episodes where IC 10 X-2 is significantly “redder” or “bluer” than normal likely result from clumps within this system—which can accrete onto the NS (causing IC 10 X-2 to appear bluer) or pass through the line of sight (causing IC 10 X-2 to appear redder). These results substantially increase our understanding of the evolution of this source, which is a significant source of ionizing photons in its host galaxy IC 10, a low-mass, metal-poor starburst galaxy similar in many respects to those thought to be common in the early Universe. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1aa92cb7c26140a79eb2fc453cc89eb4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-1aa92cb7c26140a79eb2fc453cc89eb42025-01-12T17:12:46ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01978217010.3847/1538-4357/ad82dfDetermining the Nature of IC 10 X-2: A Comprehensive Study of the Optical/IR Emission from an Extragalactic BeHMXBJwaher Alnaqbi0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4644-6580Joseph D. Gelfand1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4679-1058Payaswini Saikia2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5319-6620Craig Heinke3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3944-6109M. C. Baglio4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1285-4057David M. Russell5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3500-631XGuobao Zhang6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8630-5435Antonios Manousakis7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0747-7488Ivan Yu. Katkov8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6425-6879Fraser Lewis9https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3352-2334Center for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), New York University Abu Dhabi , PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EECE), HALCON (EDGE Group), PO Box 146466, Abu Dhabi, UAECenter for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), New York University Abu Dhabi , PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Affiliate Member, Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics (CCPP), New York University , 726 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, USACenter for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), New York University Abu Dhabi , PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAEPhysics Dept., CCIS 4-183, University of Alberta , Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, CanadaINAF, Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera , Via Bianchi 46, Merate (LC), I-23807, ItalyCenter for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), New York University Abu Dhabi , PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAEYunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences , People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of Applied Physics and Astronomy, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah , PO Box 27272, University City, Sharjah, UAE; Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST) , PO Box 27272, University City, Sharjah, UAECenter for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), New York University Abu Dhabi , PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Sternberg Astronomical Institute , Lomonosov Moscow State University, Universitetskij pr., 13, Moscow, 119234, RussiaFaulkes Telescope Project, School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University , The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK; Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University , 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, UKWe present a comprehensive analysis of the optical and infrared (IR) properties of high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) IC 10 X-2, classified as a supergiant HMXB and superfast X-ray transient by previous work. Our analysis of regular (daily and weekly) observations by both the Zwicky Transient Facility and Las Cumbres Observatory over a 5 yr period indicates both periodic flares and variations in the apparent magnitude and color with a period of ∼26.5 days—likely the orbital period of this binary system. The periodic flaring suggests the stellar companion is a Be star, with flares resulting from increased accretion onto the neutron star (NS) when it enters the stellar decretion disk. The periodic variations in the optical/IR brightness and color likely result from orbital variations in the hydrogen column density along the line of sight or a transient accretion disk around the NS. Lastly, the numerous short-duration episodes where IC 10 X-2 is significantly “redder” or “bluer” than normal likely result from clumps within this system—which can accrete onto the NS (causing IC 10 X-2 to appear bluer) or pass through the line of sight (causing IC 10 X-2 to appear redder). These results substantially increase our understanding of the evolution of this source, which is a significant source of ionizing photons in its host galaxy IC 10, a low-mass, metal-poor starburst galaxy similar in many respects to those thought to be common in the early Universe.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad82dfHigh mass x-ray binary stars |
| spellingShingle | Jwaher Alnaqbi Joseph D. Gelfand Payaswini Saikia Craig Heinke M. C. Baglio David M. Russell Guobao Zhang Antonios Manousakis Ivan Yu. Katkov Fraser Lewis Determining the Nature of IC 10 X-2: A Comprehensive Study of the Optical/IR Emission from an Extragalactic BeHMXB The Astrophysical Journal High mass x-ray binary stars |
| title | Determining the Nature of IC 10 X-2: A Comprehensive Study of the Optical/IR Emission from an Extragalactic BeHMXB |
| title_full | Determining the Nature of IC 10 X-2: A Comprehensive Study of the Optical/IR Emission from an Extragalactic BeHMXB |
| title_fullStr | Determining the Nature of IC 10 X-2: A Comprehensive Study of the Optical/IR Emission from an Extragalactic BeHMXB |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determining the Nature of IC 10 X-2: A Comprehensive Study of the Optical/IR Emission from an Extragalactic BeHMXB |
| title_short | Determining the Nature of IC 10 X-2: A Comprehensive Study of the Optical/IR Emission from an Extragalactic BeHMXB |
| title_sort | determining the nature of ic 10 x 2 a comprehensive study of the optical ir emission from an extragalactic behmxb |
| topic | High mass x-ray binary stars |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad82df |
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