Tracking optical variability and outflows across the accretion states of the black hole transient MAXI J1820+070

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Autori principali: Baglio, M. C., Alabarta, K., Russell, D. M., Masetti, N., Messa, M. M., Darias, T. Muñoz, Vincentelli, F. M., Rout, S. K., Saikia, P., Gabuya, A., Chavushyan, V., Qaissieh, T. Al, Palado, A.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Baglio, M. C.
Alabarta, K.
Russell, D. M.
Masetti, N.
Messa, M. M.
Darias, T. Muñoz
Vincentelli, F. M.
Rout, S. K.
Saikia, P.
Gabuya, A.
Chavushyan, V.
Qaissieh, T. Al
Palado, A.
author_facet Baglio, M. C.
Alabarta, K.
Russell, D. M.
Masetti, N.
Messa, M. M.
Darias, T. Muñoz
Vincentelli, F. M.
Rout, S. K.
Saikia, P.
Gabuya, A.
Chavushyan, V.
Qaissieh, T. Al
Palado, A.
contents We present a study of the minute-timescale optical variability and spectroscopic outflow signatures in the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070 during its 2018 outburst and re-brightenings. Minute-cadence, multi-filter optical light curves were obtained with the Las Cumbres Observatory network and the Al Sadeem Observatory (UAE) over 2018-2020, complemented by X-ray data from Swift/BAT, XRT, and MAXI. We also acquired contemporaneous low-resolution optical spectra with the 2.1 m OAN San Pedro Martir and OAGH Cananea telescopes (Mexico) and the 1.5 m G.D. Cassini telescope at Loiano (Italy). The optical fractional rms peaks in the hard state and is dominated by short-timescale flickering that strengthens toward longer wavelengths, suggesting that the variability is jet-driven. In this scenario, inflow fluctuations inject velocity perturbations at the jet base (internal shock model). The variability is quenched in the soft state, with any residual signal likely linked to accretion-flow fluctuations. This behaviour supports the accretion-ejection coupling in black hole binaries and shows that the jet's variability signature extends to optical wavelengths in all hard states. In the faintest hard states, residual optical variability may instead trace cyclo-synchrotron emission from the hot flow. The spectra show double-peaked emission lines and tentative cold-wind signatures during the hard state. Such winds were reported during the main 2018 outburst; here we find evidence of their presence also in later re-brightenings. Their absence in the soft state likely reflects stronger disc ionisation from the higher X-ray flux, suppressing low-ionisation optical features.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_16124
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Tracking optical variability and outflows across the accretion states of the black hole transient MAXI J1820+070
Baglio, M. C.
Alabarta, K.
Russell, D. M.
Masetti, N.
Messa, M. M.
Darias, T. Muñoz
Vincentelli, F. M.
Rout, S. K.
Saikia, P.
Gabuya, A.
Chavushyan, V.
Qaissieh, T. Al
Palado, A.
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
We present a study of the minute-timescale optical variability and spectroscopic outflow signatures in the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070 during its 2018 outburst and re-brightenings. Minute-cadence, multi-filter optical light curves were obtained with the Las Cumbres Observatory network and the Al Sadeem Observatory (UAE) over 2018-2020, complemented by X-ray data from Swift/BAT, XRT, and MAXI. We also acquired contemporaneous low-resolution optical spectra with the 2.1 m OAN San Pedro Martir and OAGH Cananea telescopes (Mexico) and the 1.5 m G.D. Cassini telescope at Loiano (Italy). The optical fractional rms peaks in the hard state and is dominated by short-timescale flickering that strengthens toward longer wavelengths, suggesting that the variability is jet-driven. In this scenario, inflow fluctuations inject velocity perturbations at the jet base (internal shock model). The variability is quenched in the soft state, with any residual signal likely linked to accretion-flow fluctuations. This behaviour supports the accretion-ejection coupling in black hole binaries and shows that the jet's variability signature extends to optical wavelengths in all hard states. In the faintest hard states, residual optical variability may instead trace cyclo-synchrotron emission from the hot flow. The spectra show double-peaked emission lines and tentative cold-wind signatures during the hard state. Such winds were reported during the main 2018 outburst; here we find evidence of their presence also in later re-brightenings. Their absence in the soft state likely reflects stronger disc ionisation from the higher X-ray flux, suppressing low-ionisation optical features.
title Tracking optical variability and outflows across the accretion states of the black hole transient MAXI J1820+070
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.16124