Determining the nature of IC 10 X-2: A comprehensive study of the Optical/Infrared emission from an extragalactic BeHMXB

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Hauptverfasser: Alnaqbi, Jwaher, Gelfand, Joseph D., Saikia, Payaswini, Heinke, Craig, Baglio, M. C., Russell, David M., Zhang, Guobao, Manousakis, Antonios, Katkov, Ivan Yu., Lewis, Fraser
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Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Alnaqbi, Jwaher
Gelfand, Joseph D.
Saikia, Payaswini
Heinke, Craig
Baglio, M. C.
Russell, David M.
Zhang, Guobao
Manousakis, Antonios
Katkov, Ivan Yu.
Lewis, Fraser
author_facet Alnaqbi, Jwaher
Gelfand, Joseph D.
Saikia, Payaswini
Heinke, Craig
Baglio, M. C.
Russell, David M.
Zhang, Guobao
Manousakis, Antonios
Katkov, Ivan Yu.
Lewis, Fraser
contents 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 super-giant HMXB and super-fast X-ray transient (SFXT) by previous work. Our analysis of regular (daily and weekly) observations by both the Zwicky Transient Factory and Las Cumbres Observatory over a ~5 year period indicates both periodic flares and variations in the apparent magnitude and color with a $\sim26.5$~d period -- 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 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 neutron star. Lastly, the numerous, short duration, episodes where IC 10 X-2 is significantly ``redder'' or ``bluer'' than normal likely result from from clumps within this system -- which can accrete onto the neutron star (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, a significant source of ionizing photons in its host galaxy IC 10, a low mass, metal-poor starburst galaxy similar in many respect to those thought to be common in the early Universe.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_06626
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Determining the nature of IC 10 X-2: A comprehensive study of the Optical/Infrared emission from an extragalactic BeHMXB
Alnaqbi, Jwaher
Gelfand, Joseph D.
Saikia, Payaswini
Heinke, Craig
Baglio, M. C.
Russell, David M.
Zhang, Guobao
Manousakis, Antonios
Katkov, Ivan Yu.
Lewis, Fraser
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
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 super-giant HMXB and super-fast X-ray transient (SFXT) by previous work. Our analysis of regular (daily and weekly) observations by both the Zwicky Transient Factory and Las Cumbres Observatory over a ~5 year period indicates both periodic flares and variations in the apparent magnitude and color with a $\sim26.5$~d period -- 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 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 neutron star. Lastly, the numerous, short duration, episodes where IC 10 X-2 is significantly ``redder'' or ``bluer'' than normal likely result from from clumps within this system -- which can accrete onto the neutron star (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, a significant source of ionizing photons in its host galaxy IC 10, a low mass, metal-poor starburst galaxy similar in many respect to those thought to be common in the early Universe.
title Determining the nature of IC 10 X-2: A comprehensive study of the Optical/Infrared emission from an extragalactic BeHMXB
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.06626