On the Formation of Ultraluminous X-ray Sources with Neutron Star Accretors: the Case of M82 X-2
| Autor: | Fragos, Tassos, Linden, Tim, Kalogera, Vicky, Sklias, Panos |
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| Rok vydání: | 2015 |
| Předmět: | |
| Druh dokumentu: | Working Paper |
| DOI: | 10.1088/2041-8205/802/1/L5 |
| Popis: | The recent discovery of a neutron star accretor in the ultra-luminous X-ray source M82 X-2 challenges our understanding of high-mass X-ray binary formation and evolution. By combining binary population synthesis and detailed mass-transfer models, however, we show that the binary parameters of M82 X-2 are not surprising provided non-conservative mass transfer is allowed. Specifically, the donor-mass lower limit and orbital period measured for M82 X-2 lie near the most probable values predicted by population synthesis models, and systems such as M82 X-2 should exist in approximately 13% of the galaxies with a star-formation history similar to M82. We conclude that the binary system that formed M82 X-2 is most likely less than 50 Myr old and contains a donor star which had an initial mass of approximately 8-10 M$_\odot$, while the NS's progenitor star had an initial mass in the $8-25\,\rm M_{\odot}$ range. The donor star still currently resides on the main sequence, and is capable of continued MT on the thermal timescale, while in the ultra-luminous X-ray regime, for as long as 400,000 years. Comment: 6 pages, 4 Figures, The Astrophysical Journal Letters (in press) |
| Databáze: | arXiv |
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