NuSTAR reveals the hidden nature of SS433

Middleton MJ, Walton DJ, Alston W, Dauser T, Eikenberry S, Jiang YF, Fabian AC, Fuerst F, Brightman M, Marshall H, Parker M, Pinto C, Harrison FA, Bachetti M, Altamirano D, Bird AJ, Perez G, Miller-Jones J, Charles P, Boggs S, Christensen F, Craig W, Forster K, Grefenstette B, Hailey C, Madsen K, Stern D, Zhang W (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press

Book Volume: 506

Pages Range: 1045-1058

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stab1280

Abstract

SS433 is the only Galactic binary system known to persistently accrete at highly super-critical (or hyper-critical) rates, similar to those in tidal disruption events, and likely needed to explain the rapid growth of those very high redshift quasars containing massive SMBHs. Probing the inner regions of SS433 in the X-rays is crucial to understanding this system, and super-critical accretion in general, but is highly challenging due to obscuration by the surrounding wind, driven from the accretion flow. NuSTAR observed SS433 in the hard X-ray band across multiple phases of its 162 d superorbital precession period. Spectral-timing tools allow us to infer that the hard X-ray emission from the inner regions is likely being scattered towards us by the walls of the wind-cone. By comparing to numerical models, we determine an intrinsic X-ray luminosity of >= 2 x 10(37) erg s(-1) and that, if viewed face on, we would infer an apparent luminosity of >1 x 10(39) erg s(-1), confirming SS433's long-suspected nature as an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX). We present the discovery of a narrow, similar to 100 s lag due to atomic processes occurring in outflowing material travelling at least 0.14-0.29c, which matches absorption lines seen in ULXs and - in the future - will allow us to map a super-critical outflow for the first time.

Authors with CRIS profile

Thomas Dauser Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut

Involved external institutions

University of Southampton GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Cambridge GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Florida US United States (USA) (US) Simons Foundation US United States (USA) (US) European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) ES Spain (ES) California Institute of Technology (Caltech) US United States (USA) (US) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) US United States (USA) (US) INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari IT Italy (IT) Curtin University AU Australia (AU) University of California, Berkeley US United States (USA) (US) Technical University of Denmark / Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) DK Denmark (DK) Columbia University US United States (USA) (US) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Middleton, M.J., Walton, D.J., Alston, W., Dauser, T., Eikenberry, S., Jiang, Y.-F.,... Zhang, W. (2021). NuSTAR reveals the hidden nature of SS433. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 506(1), 1045-1058. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab1280

MLA:

Middleton, M. J., et al. "NuSTAR reveals the hidden nature of SS433." Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 506.1 (2021): 1045-1058.

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