X-ray binary GX 3+1 investigated with AstroSat

Tomasz Nowakowski is a member of the physics.org community.

Astronomers have investigated a low-mass X-raybinary using AstroSat. There was a thermonuclear burst from this source and the study gave more insight into the properties of GX 3. There is a paper published on arXiv.org.

A normal star or a white dwarf can be used to transfer mass into a black hole. The companion star's mass is used to divide it into two X-ray binaries.

There is an increase in X-ray luminosities observed. The types of X-ray bursts that occur are called type I X-ray bursts and involve the detonation of thermonuclear bombs.

A persistently bright X-ray source that was classified as an LMXB of atoll subtype with a soft spectrum was discovered in 1964. The source of the first type I burst was found to be a very active X-ray burster, with bursting activity inspected by many studies.

Many of the LMXB's properties are still unknown. Astronomers from Tezpur University in India decided to inspect the telescope with AstroSat's Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter and Soft X-ray Telescope.

We reported the AstroSat observation of the bright atoll source. The researchers wrote that the light curve obtained from the LAXPC 20 showed the presence of a thermonuclear burst feature.

There was one type I thermonuclear burst that lasted 15 seconds. When the narrow energy bands became harder, the light curve of the X-ray burst dropped. The burst was the strongest in the 5–8 keV band with a count rate higher than the soft band. It was found that the burst decayed at higher energies and that the temperature was decreasing as the burst evolved.

The astronomer noticed a double peak in the burst at higher energies. The burst was brief, lasting about two seconds and showing a double peak.

The researchers claim that the burst is aPRE burst.

The team was able to estimate the Eddington luminosity, which was found to be at a level of over 300 undecillion erg/s. The study found that the system is most likely some 30,000 light years away.

More information: Ankur Nath, Biplob Sarkar, Jayashree Roy, Ranjeev Misra, AstroSat observation of rapid Type-I thermonuclear burst from the low mass X-ray binary GX 3+1. arXiv:2206.07450v1 [astro-ph.HE], arxiv.org/abs/2206.07450

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