Transient low-mass X-ray binary populations in elliptical galaxies NGC3379 and NGC4278
Astrophysical Journal 702:2 PART 2 (2009)
Abstract:
We propose a physically motivated and self-consistent prescription for the modeling of transient neutron star low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) properties, such as duty cycle (DC), outburst duration, and recurrence time. We apply this prescription to the population synthesis models of field LMXBs presented by Fragos etal., and compare the transient LMXB population to the Chandra X-ray survey of the two elliptical galaxies NGC3379 and NGC4278, which revealed several transient sources. We are able to exclude models with a constant DC for all transient systems, while models with a variable DC based on the properties of each system are consistent with the observed transient populations. We predict that the majority of the observed transient sources in these two galaxies are LMXBs with red giant donors. Finally, our comparison suggests that transient LMXBs are very rare in globular clusters (GCs), and thus the number of identified transient LMXBs may be used as a tracer of the relative contribution of field and GC LMXB populations. © 2009. The American Astronomical Society.DEEP CHANDRA MONITORING OBSERVATIONS OF NGC 4278: CATALOG OF SOURCE PROPERTIES
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES 181:2 (2009) 605-626
Galactic Bulges: the SAURON Perspective
GALAXY EVOLUTION: EMERGING INSIGHTS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES 419 (2009) 131-+
TRANSIENT LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARY POPULATIONS IN ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES NGC 3379 AND NGC 4278
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS 702:2 (2009) L143-L147
Discovery of hot gas in outflow in NGC 3379
Astrophysical Journal 688:2 (2008) 1000-1008