New observations of ULX supershells, and their implications

Russell, D.M.; Yang, Y.-J.; Gladstone, J.C.; Wiersema, K.; Roberts, T.P.

Abstract

New optical narrowband imaging observations of the fields of several ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs) are presented. Known supershell nebulae are associated with a number of these ULXs, which we detect in emission lines filters such as [S II], He II, [O II] and [O III]. New nebulae are discovered, which are candidate ULX-powered supershells. The morphologies and emission line fluxes of these nebulae could then be used to infer the properties of the emitting gas, which gives clues to the energizing source (photoionization and/or shock-excitation, both possibly from the ULX). Studies of supershells powered by ULXs can help to constrain the nature of ULXs themselves, such as the isotropy of the X-ray emission and the strength of their outflows.

Citation

Russell, D., Yang, Y., Gladstone, J., Wiersema, K., & Roberts, T. (2011). New observations of ULX supershells, and their implications. Astronomical Notes, 332(4), 371-374. https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201011502

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2011
• Deposit Date: Jan 30, 2012
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 24, 2014
• Journal: Astronomische Nachrichten
• Print ISSN: 0004-6337
• Electronic ISSN: 1521-3994
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 332
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 371-374
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201011502
• Keywords: HII regions, ISM bubbles, Jets and outflows, Shock waves, X-rays, Binaries.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1520909