Anderson, Gemma E., Gaensler, B. M., Kaplan, David L., Posselt, Bettina, Slane, Patrick O., Murray, Stephen S., Mauerhan, Jon C., Benjamin, Robert A., Brogan, Crystal L., Chakrabarty, Deepto, Drake, Jeremy J., Drew, J. E., Grindlay, Jonathan E., Hong, Jaesub, Lazio, T. Joseph W., Lee, Julia C., Steeghs, D. (Danny), 1972- and van Kerkwijk, Marten H.. (2011) Identification of a population of X-ray-emitting massive stars in the galactic plane. The Astrophysical Journal, Vol.727 (No.2). p. 105. ISSN 0004-637X

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Abstract

We present X-ray, infrared, optical, and radio observations of four previously unidentified Galactic plane X-ray sources: AX J163252-4746, AX J184738-0156, AX J144701-5919, and AX J144547-5931. Detection of each source with the Chandra X-ray Observatory has provided sub-arcsecond localizations, which we use to identify bright infrared counterparts to all four objects. Infrared and optical spectroscopy of these counterparts demonstrate that all four X-ray sources are extremely massive stars, with spectral classifications: Ofpe/WN9 (AX J163252-4746), WN7 (AX J184738-0156 = WR121a), WN7-8h (AX J144701-5919), and OIf(+) (AX J144547-5931). AX J163252-4746 and AX J184738-0156 are both luminous, hard, X-ray emitters with strong Fe XXV emission lines in their X-ray spectra at similar to 6.7 keV. The multi-wavelength properties of AX J163252-4746 and AX J184738-0156 are not consistent with isolated massive stars or accretion onto a compact companion; we conclude that their X-ray emission is most likely generated in a colliding-wind binary (CWB) system. For both AX J144701-5919 and AX J144547-5931, the X-ray emission is an order of magnitude less luminous and with a softer spectrum. These properties are consistent with a CWB interpretation for these two sources also, but other mechanisms for the generation of X-rays cannot be excluded. There are many other as yet unidentified X-ray sources in the Galactic plane, with X-ray properties similar to those seen for AX J163252-4746, AX J184738-0156, AX J144701-5919, and AX J144547-5931. This may indicate a substantial population of X-ray-emitting massive stars and CWBs in the Milky Way.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	X-ray astronomy, Supergiant stars
Journal or Publication Title:	The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher:	Institute of Physics Publishing, Inc.
ISSN:	0004-637X
Date:	2011
Volume:	Vol.727
Number:	No.2
Page Range:	p. 105
Identification Number:	10.1088/0004-637X/727/2/105
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Australia. Dept. of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, Australian Research Council (ARC), United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Science and Technology Facilities Council (Great Britain) (STFC), Australia
Grant number:	FF0561298 (ARC), 51230.01-A (NASA), NAS8-03060 (NASA), NAS8-39073 (NASA), GO9-0155X (NASA)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/41686

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