Recent discoveries of supersoft X-ray sources in M 31
Abstract
Classical novae (CNe) have recently been reported to represent the major class of supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs) in the central area of our neighbouring galaxy M 31. This paper presents a review of results from recent X-ray observations of M 31 with XMM-Newton and Chandra. We carried out a dedicated optical and X-ray monitoring program of CNe and SSSs in the central area of M 31. We discovered the first SSSs in M 31 globular clusters (GCs) and their connection to the very first discovered CN in a M 31 GC. This result may have an impact on the CN rate in GCs. Furthermore, in our optical and X-ray monitoring data we discovered the CN M3 1N 2007-11a, which shows a very short SSS phase of 29-52 days. Short SSS states (durations ≤ 100 days) of CNe indicate massive white dwarfs (WDs) that are candidate progenitors of supernovae type Ia. In the case of M31N 2007-11a, the optical and X-ray light curves suggest a binary containing a WD with MWD > 1.0 M_⊙. Finally, we present the discovery of the SSS counterpart of the CN M31N 2006-04a. The X-ray light curve of M31N 2006-04a shows short-time variability, which might indicate an orbital period of about 2 hours
Additional Information
© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim. Received 2009 Dec 18, accepted 2009 Dec 23. Published online 2010 Feb 15. We wish to thank the anonymous referee for helpful comments. The X-ray work is based in part on observations with XMM-Newton, an ESA Science Mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA. The XMM-Newton project is supported by the Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft und Technologie / Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt (BMWI/DLR FKZ 50 OX 0001) and the Max-Planck Society. We would like to thank the Swift team for the scheduling of the ToO observations. M. Henze and H.S. acknowledge support from the BMWI/DLR, FKZ 50 OR 0405. G.S. acknowledges support from the BMWI/DLR, FKZ 50 OR 0405, and from grants AYA2008-04211-C02-01 and AYA2007- 66256. M. Hernanz acknowledges support from grants AYA2008- 01839 and 2009 SGR 315. A.R. acknowledges support through NASA/Chandra grant GO9-0024X. D. Hartmann acknowledges internal funding from Clemson University for partial support of the operation of Super-LOTIS.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 17847
- DOI
- 10.1002/asna.200911325
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20100405-092658353
- ESA Member States
- GO9-0024X
- NASA
- FKZ 50 OX 0001
- Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft und Technologic / Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt (BMWI/DLR)
- FKZ 50 OR 0405
- Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft und Technologic / Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt (BMWI/DLR)
- Max-Planck Society
- Clemson University
- Created
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2010-04-21Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-08Created from EPrint's last_modified field