Multiwavelength studies of radio -jet X -ray binaries
Abstract
This thesis discusses multiwavelength observations of GRS 1915+105, GRO J1655-40 and GX 339-4. GRS 1915+105 and GRO J1655-40 are the two confirmed Galactic superluminal sources, both believed to harbor black holes. The premise for including GX 339-4 in this work is that it is a strong black hole candidate, and may have undergone a jet ejection episode. The three sources are monitored in the hard X-rays with BATSE on CGRO and in the soft X-rays with the ASM on RXTE. In addition, ground-based radio telescopes have observed and occasionally extensively monitored all three sources. Long-term monitoring has shown all three sources to be highly variable and has not revealed a consistent relationship between the radio and X-ray emission. The GRS 1915+105 hard X-ray light curve shows extended outbursts lasting up to ~450 days. The soft X-ray light curve shows periods of flaring and chaotic activity interspersed with ``lulls''. Two double-peaked radio flares were observed, the second of which was associated with a series of ejection events and with lulls in the soft X-ray light curves. No high resolution imaging was conducted at the time of the first double- peaked flare, so there is no firm evidence that an ejection did occur. However, based on similarities in the soft X-rays and radio behavior, we proposed that an ejection may indeed have occurred in conjunction with the first double-peaked radio flare. For GRO J1655-40, the hard X-ray light curve shows clearly defined multiple outbursts, most of which are associated with jet ejection episodes and major radio flares. An outburst occurred simultaneously in the radio and the soft and hard X-rays in GX 339-4 lasting for about 100 days. Differences and similarities in the radio and X-ray behavior of GRS 1915+105, GRO J1655-40 and GX 339-4 are highlighted, especially during known jet ejection episodes, and certain features are singled out as possible signatures of jet ejections.
- Publication:
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Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- November 1999
- Bibcode:
- 1999PhDT........22H
- Keywords:
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- Physics: Astronomy and Astrophysics