Swift Studies of Supersoft Sources in M31
Abstract
Supersoft X-ray sources are highly variable. It has been conjectured that many are recent novae, although other possibilities include steady nuclear burning white dwarfs and even intermediate-mass black holes. Time variability can be an important clue to the nature of the sources. Recent Swift observations of SSSs in M31 have demonstrated that Swift can play an important role in helping to probe the mysterious natures of soft X-ray sources.
We will discuss the results so far and the potential for future work.- Publication:
-
AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #10
- Pub Date:
- March 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008HEAD...10.4112D