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Gemini spectroscopy of the ultracompact binary candidate V407 Vulpeculae

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Steeghs, D. (Danny), 1972-, Marsh, T. R., Barros, S. C. C., Nelemans, G., Groot, P. J. (Paul J.), Roelofs, Gijs H. A., Ramsay, G. (Gavin) and Cropper, Mark. (2006) Gemini spectroscopy of the ultracompact binary candidate V407 Vulpeculae. Astrophysical Journal, Vol.649 (No.1). pp. 382-388. ISSN 0004-637X

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/506343

Abstract

We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the optical counterpart to the proposed ultracompact binary system V407 Vul (= RX J1914.4+2456). Our Gemini spectra resolve the 9.48 minute periodicity that has previously been reported for this source. We find that the optical counterpart is dominated by a reddened late-type spectrum of type G9V and contains solely unresolved absorption features. No radial velocity signatures exceeding 10 km s(-1) could be detected on periods from minutes to hours. Using interstellar extinction estimates, we derive a distance to the G9 star of 1.1 - 3.5 kpc. In addition to this stellar spectrum, we detect a blue component that modulates solely on the 9.48 minute period and peaks similar to 0.15 in phase ahead of the X-ray peak. This blue component, which contributes up to 40% of the light, shows no evidence for emission-line features that are the usual hallmarks of an interacting binary. Good-seeing images obtained with the Magellan Telescopes indicate that the variable and the G star are aligned to better than 0."1. Despite the low probability of a chance alignment of a field star along the line of sight, the G9 light cannot be directly associated with the 9.48 minute variable that powers the luminous ( similar to 10(35) ergs s(-1)) and highly variable X-ray source. The outlook for the detection of conclusive radial velocity measurements will remain challenging due to the extinction along the line of sight in conjunction with the contaminating effect of the G9 V star.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	X-ray binaries
Journal or Publication Title:	Astrophysical Journal
Publisher:	IOP Publishing
ISSN:	0004-637X
Date:	20 September 2006
Volume:	Vol.649
Number:	No.1
Number of Pages:	7
Page Range:	pp. 382-388
Identification Number:	10.1086/506343
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek [Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research] (NWO), Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (Great Britain) (PPARC), Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)
Grant number:	NNG04GG30G (NASA), NNG04GG96G (NASA), 639.041.405 (NWO)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/33064