NuSTAR view of the central region of M31
Abstract
Our neighbouring large spiral galaxy, the Andromeda galaxy (M31 or NGC 224), is an ideal target to study the X-ray source population of a nearby galaxy. NuSTAR observed the central region of M31 in 2015 and allows studying the population of X-ray point sources at energies higher than 10 keV. Based on the source catalogue of the large XMM-Newton survey of M31, we identified counterparts to the XMM-Newton sources in the NuSTAR data. The NuSTAR data only contain sources of a brightness comparable (or even brighter) than the selected sources that have been detected in XMM-Newton data. We investigate hardness ratios, spectra, and long-term light curves of individual sources obtained from NuSTAR data. Based on our spectral studies, we suggest four sources as possible X-ray binary candidates. The long-term light curves of seven sources that have been observed more than once show low (but significant) variability.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- April 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/sty106
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1801.10151
- Bibcode:
- 2018MNRAS.475.4911S
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: individual: M 31;
- X-rays: binaries;
- X-rays: galaxies;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- 14 pages, 8 figures, accepted by MNRAS