Pulsars, transients and relativistic astrophysics

Abstract:

We present a multiwavelength study of the black hole X-ray binary V404 Cyg in quiescence, focusing upon the spectral energy distribution (SED). Radio, optical, ultraviolet (UV) and X-ray coverage is simultaneous. We supplement the SED with additional non-simultaneous data in the optical through infrared where necessary. The compiled SED is the most complete available for this, the X-ray and radio brightest quiescent black hole system. We find no need for a substantial contribution from accretion light from the near-UV to the near-IR, and in particular the weak UV emission constrains published spectral models for V404 Cyg. We confirm that no plausible companion spectrum and interstellar extinction can fully explain the mid-IR, however, and an infrared (IR) excess from a jet or cool disc appears to be required. The X-ray spectrum is consistent with a F ∼ 2 power law as found by all other studies to date. There is no evidence for any variation in the hardness over a range of a factor of 10 in luminosity. The radio flux is consistent with a flat spectrum (in f ν). The break frequency between a flat and optically thin spectrum most likely occurs in the mid or far-IR, but is not strongly constrained by these data. We find the radio to be substantially variable but with no clear correlation with X-ray variability. © 2009 RAS.