A Wildly Flickering Jet in the Black Hole X-Ray Binary MAXI J1535-571
Journal
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
•
Russell, David M.
•
•
Noori, Hind Al
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Yazeedi, Aisha Al
•
•
Buckley, David A. H.
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Cadolle Bel, Marion
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Ceccobello, Chiara
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Corbel, Stephane
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Coti Zelati, Francesco
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Díaz Trigo, Maria
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Fender, Rob P.
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Gallo, Elena
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Gandhi, Poshak
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Homan, Jeroen
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Koljonen, Karri I. I.
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Lewis, Fraser
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Maccarone, Thomas J.
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Malzac, Julien
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Markoff, Sera
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Miller-Jones, James C. A.
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O'Brien, Kieran
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Russell, Thomas D.
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Saikia, Payaswini
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Shahbaz, Tariq
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Sivakoff, Greg R.
•
•
•
Tetarenko, Alexandra J.
•
van den Ancker, Mario E.
•
Vincentelli, Federico M.
Abstract
We report on the results of optical, near-infrared (NIR), and mid-infrared observations of the black hole X-ray binary candidate (BHB) MAXI J1535-571 during its 2017/2018 outburst. During the first part of the outburst (MJD 58004-58012), the source shows an optical-NIR spectrum that is consistent with an optically thin synchrotron power law from a jet. After MJD 58015, however, the source faded considerably, the drop in flux being much more evident at lower frequencies. Before the fading, we measure a dereddened flux density of ≳100 mJy in the mid-infrared, making MAXI J1535-571 one of the brightest mid-infrared BHBs known so far. A significant softening of the X-ray spectrum is evident contemporaneous with the infrared fade. We interpret it as being due to the suppression of the jet emission, similar to the accretion-ejection coupling seen in other BHBs. However, MAXI J1535-571 did not transition smoothly to the soft state, instead showing X-ray hardness deviations associated with infrared flaring. We also present the first mid-IR variability study of a BHB on minute timescales, with a fractional rms variability of the light curves of ∼15%-22%, which is similar to that expected from the internal shock jet model, and much higher than the optical fractional rms (≲7%). These results represent an excellent case of multiwavelength jet spectral timing and demonstrate how rich, multiwavelength time-resolved data of X-ray binaries over accretion state transitions can help in refining models of the disk-jet connection and jet launching in these systems.
Volume
867
Issue
2
Start page
114
Issn Identifier
0004-637X
Ads BibCode
2018ApJ...867..114B
Rights
open.access
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