Spitzer reveals infrared optically thin synchrotron emission from the compact jet of the neutron star x-ray binary 4U 0614+091

S. Migliari; J. A. Tomsick; T. J. Maccarone; E. Gallo; R. P. Fender; G. Nelemans; D. M. Russell

doi:10.1086/505028

Spitzer reveals infrared optically thin synchrotron emission from the compact jet of the neutron star x-ray binary 4U 0614+091

S. Migliari, J. A. Tomsick, T. J. Maccarone, E. Gallo, R. P. Fender, G. Nelemans, D. M. Russell

Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Spitzer observations of the neutron star (ultracompact) X-ray binary (XRB) 4U 0614+091 with the Infrared Array Camera reveal emission of nonthermal origin in the range 3.5-8 μm. The mid-infrared spectrum is well fit by a power law with spectral index of α = -0.57 ± 0.04 (where the flux density is F_v ∞ v^α). Given the ultracompact nature of the binary system, we exclude the possibility that either the companion star or the accretion disk can be the origin of the observed emission. These observations represent the first spectral evidence for a compact jet in a low-luminosity neutron star XRB and furthermore of the presence, already observed in two black hole (BH) XRBs, of a "break" in the synchrotron spectrum of such compact jets. We can derive a firm upper limit on the break frequency of the spectrum of V_thin = 3.7 × 10¹³ Hz, which is lower than that observed in BH XRBs by at least a factor of 10. Assuming a high-energy cooling cutoff at ∼1 keV, we estimate a total (integrated up to X-rays) jet power to X-ray bolometric luminosity ratio of ∼5%, much lower than that inferred in BHs.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L41-L44
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	643
Issue number	1 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/505028
State	Published - May 29 2006

Keywords

ISM: jets and outflows
Infrared: general
Radiation mechanisms: nonthermal
X-rays: binaries

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/505028

Cite this

@article{464fb74dd1f847faa7b4ed4c510e8904,

title = "Spitzer reveals infrared optically thin synchrotron emission from the compact jet of the neutron star x-ray binary 4U 0614+091",

abstract = "Spitzer observations of the neutron star (ultracompact) X-ray binary (XRB) 4U 0614+091 with the Infrared Array Camera reveal emission of nonthermal origin in the range 3.5-8 μm. The mid-infrared spectrum is well fit by a power law with spectral index of α = -0.57 ± 0.04 (where the flux density is Fv ∞ vα). Given the ultracompact nature of the binary system, we exclude the possibility that either the companion star or the accretion disk can be the origin of the observed emission. These observations represent the first spectral evidence for a compact jet in a low-luminosity neutron star XRB and furthermore of the presence, already observed in two black hole (BH) XRBs, of a {"}break{"} in the synchrotron spectrum of such compact jets. We can derive a firm upper limit on the break frequency of the spectrum of Vthin = 3.7 × 1013 Hz, which is lower than that observed in BH XRBs by at least a factor of 10. Assuming a high-energy cooling cutoff at ∼1 keV, we estimate a total (integrated up to X-rays) jet power to X-ray bolometric luminosity ratio of ∼5%, much lower than that inferred in BHs.",

keywords = "ISM: jets and outflows, Infrared: general, Radiation mechanisms: nonthermal, X-rays: binaries",

author = "S. Migliari and Tomsick, {J. A.} and Maccarone, {T. J.} and E. Gallo and Fender, {R. P.} and G. Nelemans and Russell, {D. M.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work is based on observations made with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with NASA. Support for this work was provided by NASA through an award issued by JPL/Caltech. The authors would like to thank Elmar K{\"o}rding for very useful discussions and Stephane Corbel for providing us with the data of GX 339−4. S. M. acknowledges helpful discussions with Mari Polletta. E. G. is supported by NASA through Chandra Postdoctoral Fellowship award PF5-60037, issued by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory Center, which is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for NASA under contract NAS8-03060.",

year = "2006",

month = may,

day = "29",

doi = "10.1086/505028",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "643",

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journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

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T1 - Spitzer reveals infrared optically thin synchrotron emission from the compact jet of the neutron star x-ray binary 4U 0614+091

AU - Migliari, S.

AU - Tomsick, J. A.

AU - Maccarone, T. J.

AU - Gallo, E.

AU - Fender, R. P.

AU - Nelemans, G.

AU - Russell, D. M.

N1 - Funding Information: This work is based on observations made with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with NASA. Support for this work was provided by NASA through an award issued by JPL/Caltech. The authors would like to thank Elmar Körding for very useful discussions and Stephane Corbel for providing us with the data of GX 339−4. S. M. acknowledges helpful discussions with Mari Polletta. E. G. is supported by NASA through Chandra Postdoctoral Fellowship award PF5-60037, issued by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory Center, which is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for NASA under contract NAS8-03060.

PY - 2006/5/29

Y1 - 2006/5/29

N2 - Spitzer observations of the neutron star (ultracompact) X-ray binary (XRB) 4U 0614+091 with the Infrared Array Camera reveal emission of nonthermal origin in the range 3.5-8 μm. The mid-infrared spectrum is well fit by a power law with spectral index of α = -0.57 ± 0.04 (where the flux density is Fv ∞ vα). Given the ultracompact nature of the binary system, we exclude the possibility that either the companion star or the accretion disk can be the origin of the observed emission. These observations represent the first spectral evidence for a compact jet in a low-luminosity neutron star XRB and furthermore of the presence, already observed in two black hole (BH) XRBs, of a "break" in the synchrotron spectrum of such compact jets. We can derive a firm upper limit on the break frequency of the spectrum of Vthin = 3.7 × 1013 Hz, which is lower than that observed in BH XRBs by at least a factor of 10. Assuming a high-energy cooling cutoff at ∼1 keV, we estimate a total (integrated up to X-rays) jet power to X-ray bolometric luminosity ratio of ∼5%, much lower than that inferred in BHs.

AB - Spitzer observations of the neutron star (ultracompact) X-ray binary (XRB) 4U 0614+091 with the Infrared Array Camera reveal emission of nonthermal origin in the range 3.5-8 μm. The mid-infrared spectrum is well fit by a power law with spectral index of α = -0.57 ± 0.04 (where the flux density is Fv ∞ vα). Given the ultracompact nature of the binary system, we exclude the possibility that either the companion star or the accretion disk can be the origin of the observed emission. These observations represent the first spectral evidence for a compact jet in a low-luminosity neutron star XRB and furthermore of the presence, already observed in two black hole (BH) XRBs, of a "break" in the synchrotron spectrum of such compact jets. We can derive a firm upper limit on the break frequency of the spectrum of Vthin = 3.7 × 1013 Hz, which is lower than that observed in BH XRBs by at least a factor of 10. Assuming a high-energy cooling cutoff at ∼1 keV, we estimate a total (integrated up to X-rays) jet power to X-ray bolometric luminosity ratio of ∼5%, much lower than that inferred in BHs.

KW - ISM: jets and outflows

KW - Infrared: general

KW - Radiation mechanisms: nonthermal

KW - X-rays: binaries

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DO - 10.1086/505028

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SN - 0004-637X

VL - 643

SP - L41-L44

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 II

ER -

Spitzer reveals infrared optically thin synchrotron emission from the compact jet of the neutron star x-ray binary 4U 0614+091

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Keywords

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