Search for the Most Luminous ULXs in Collisional Ring Galaxies
Abstract
We propose to observe nine prominent collisional ring galaxies in order to explore the upper end of the luminosity function of ultraluminous X-ray sources (``ULXs''), i.e., with Lx > 10^{40} ergs/sec, and to investigate a possible cutoff at high luminosities. The significant numbers of ULXs in collisional ring galaxies, as well as their relatively simple geometry, make these galaxies good targets for such a study. The results may help determine the typical masses of the accretors in ULXs, and thereby bear on whether stellar mass black holes with M < 30 M_sun can radiate in a way that seems to violate the Eddington limit or, alternatively, on how intermediate mass black holes with masses of order 1000 M_sun can form and acquire massive companion stars.
- Publication:
-
Chandra Proposal
- Pub Date:
- September 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009cxo..prop.2856R