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Abstract:

We present a multiwavelength analysis of the outbursts from the neutron star X-ray binary Aql X-1. We focus on three outbursts for which quasi-simultaneous data in radio, optical and Xray bands exist. We find evidence that the disc/jet coupling in Aql X-1 is similar to the one documented for black hole X-ray binaries, at least from the point of view of the general behaviour revealed during outbursts. © Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Licence.

Abstract:

We present spectroscopy and photometry of the He-rich supernova (SN) 2008ax. The early-time spectra show prominent P-Cygni H lines, which decrease with time and disappear completely about 2 months after the explosion. In the same period He i lines become the most prominent spectral features. SN 2008ax displays the ordinary spectral evolution of a Type IIb supernova. A stringent pre-discovery limit constrains the time of the shock breakout of SN 2008ax to within only a few hours. Its light curve, which peaks in the B band about 20 d after the explosion, strongly resembles that of other He-rich core-collapse supernovae. The observed evolution of SN 2008ax is consistent with the explosion of a young Wolf-Rayet (of WNL type) star, which had retained a thin, low-mass shell of its original H envelope. The overall characteristics of SN 2008ax are reminiscent of those of SN 1993J, except for a likely smaller H mass. This may account for the findings that the progenitor of SN 2008ax was a WNL star and not a K supergiant as in the case of SN 1993J, that a prominent early-time peak is missing in the light curve of SN 2008ax, and that Hα is observed at higher velocities in SN 2008ax than in SN 1993J. © 2008 RAS.

Abstract:

We present the results of the analysis of two Chandra observations of Circinus X-1 performed in 2007, for a total exposure time of ∼50 ks. The source was observed with the High Resolution Camera during a long X-ray low-flux state of the source. Cir X-1 is an accreting neutron-star binary system that exhibits ultra-relativistic arcsec-scale radio jets and an extended arcmin-scale radio nebula. Furthermore, a recent paper has shown an X-ray excess on arcmin-scale prominent on the side of the receding radio jet. In our images we clearly detect X-ray structures both on the side of the receding and the approaching radio jet. The X-ray emission is consistent with being from synchrotron origin. Our detection is consistent with neutron-star binaries being as efficient as black-hole binaries in producing X-ray outflows, despite their shallower gravitational potential. © Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Licence.

Abstract:

We present the results of the analysis of two Chandra observations of Circinus X-1 performed in 2007, for a total exposure time of ∼50 ks. The source was observed with the High Resolution Camera during a long X-ray low-flux state of the source. Cir X-1 is an accreting neutron-star binary system that exhibits ultra-relativistic arcsec-scale radio jets and an extended arcmin-scale radio nebula. Furthermore, a recent paper has shown an X-ray excess on arcmin-scale prominent on the side of the receding radio jet. In our images we clearly detect X-ray structures both on the side of the receding and the approaching radio jet. The X-ray emission is consistent with being from synchrotron origin. Our detection is consistent with neutron-star binaries being as efficient as black-hole binaries in producing X-ray outflows, despite their shallower gravitational potential. © Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Licence.

Abstract:

Observations of the black hole X-ray binary V404 Cyg with the very long baseline interferometer the High Sensitivity Array (HSA) have detected the source at a frequency of 8.4 GHz, providing a source position accurate to 0.3 mas relative to the calibrator source. The observations put an upper limit of 1.3 mas on the source size (5.2 au at 4 kpc) and a lower limit of 7 × 10⁶ K on its brightness temperature during the normal quiescent state, implying that the radio emission must be non-thermal, most probably synchrotron radiation, possibly from a jet. The radio light curves show a short flare, with a rise time of ∼30 min, confirming that the source remains active in the quiescent state. © 2008 The Authors.