The Ultraviolet and Optical Counterparts of the Intermediate Mass Black Hole Candidate ESO 243-49 HLX-1
Abstract
We request imaging observations of the record breaking hyper-luminous X-ray source and intermediate mass black hole candidate HLX-1 in the galaxy ESO 243-49, in order to investigate the nature of recent detections of UV emission and an optical counterpart. HLX-1 is currently the best candidate for an intermediate mass black hole, the possible building blocks of super-massive black holes found in the centres of galaxies. UV emission possibly associated with the X-ray source position was recently detected in lower resolution observations with the Swift and GALEX satellites. If this emission can be tied to HLX-1 and is point-like in nature, it will likely be dominated by emission from a hot accretion disc. By obtaining UV photometry we will be able to place constraints upon the temperature of the disc and therefore the mass of the black hole. The optical counterpart may be related to disc emission, though it is also possible that it is associated with a globular cluster or nucleated dwarf galaxy. By obtaining photometry of the counterpart in near-infrared to UV wavelengths we will be able to construct a broad-band SED, which will allow us to place firm constraints on the environment around this intriguing object.
- Publication:
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HST Proposal
- Pub Date:
- September 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010hst..prop12256F