Understanding intermediate mass black holes through study of ESO 243-49 HLX-1
Abstract
The Ultra Luminous X-ray (ULX) source HLX-1 in the galaxy ESO 243-49 has a maximum X-ray luminosity of 1.3e42 erg/s (0.2-10.0 keV). From the conservative assumption that this value exceeds the Eddington limit by at most a factor of 10, the minimum mass is then 500 solar masses. The X-ray luminosity varies by a factor of 50 with an apparent recurrence timescale of approximately one year. This X-ray variability is associated with spectral state transitions similar to those seen in black hole X-ray binaries. I will present our recent modelling of all of the X-ray data available for HLX-1 and show that it supports the idea that this ULX is powered by sub- and near Eddington accretion onto an intermediate mass black. I will show evidence for jets from this ULX and comment on the nature of the environment around HLX-1.
- Publication:
-
X-ray Binaries. Celebrating 50 Years Since the Discovery of Sco X-1
- Pub Date:
- July 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012xrb..confE..63W