The shortest orbital period black-hole X-ray binary in quiescence
Abstract
We propose Chandra observations of MAXI J1659-152, the shortest orbital period black hole X-ray binary. Observing the source in quiescence will serve two purposes. 1) The short orbital period of MAXI J1659-152 allows us to extend the comparison between quiescent neutron stars and black holes to orbital periods that, until recently, were only covered by neutron star systems. This will provide us with further insight in the differences between the radiatively inefficient flows in both types of systems. 2) It will also allow us to test whether there exists a minimum luminosity for quiescent black hole systems, as predicted by binary evolution theory. Based on a distance estimate of 4.5 kpc we expect to be able to detect MAXI J1659-152 down to a luminosity of 1.5e30 erg/s in 80 ks with ACIS-S.
- Publication:
-
Chandra Proposal
- Pub Date:
- September 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011cxo..prop.3363H