Identifying the X-ray Source Population of our Nearest Starburst.
Abstract
The dwarf starburst Galaxy IC 10 provides an ideal laboratory to understand young X-ray binary populations. The mass-scaled star formation rate of IC 10 is the highest in the local universe, leading to an unrivaled surface density of massive stars and their evolutionary products. The angular extent of IC 10 fills a single field of view for both Chandra and Gemini, enabling a multi-wavelength whole-galaxy survey. The results of our 2003-10 X-ray monitoring sequence, combined with follow-up Gemini narrow/broad band optical imaging and MOS spectroscopy include: X-ray light-curves, spectra, and variability statistics, and identifications of HMXBs, supernova remnants, and foreground coronae. Among the variable X-ray sources discovered ( 20% of 111 point sources) is a large amplitude logLX=35-37 erg/s recurrent transient with an apparent supergiant counterpart. This object shows similarities to the supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT) class recently identified in the Milky Way.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #220
- Pub Date:
- May 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AAS...22032908L