We report on Chandra, NuSTAR, and MDM observations of two INTEGRAL sources, namely IGR J17528-2022 and IGR J20063+3641. IGR J17528-2022 is an unidentified INTEGRAL source, while IGR J20063+3641 was recently identified as a magnetic cataclysmic variab
le (mCV) by Halpern et al. (2018). The Chandra observation of IGR J17528-2022 has allowed us to locate the optical counterpart to the source and to obtain its optical spectrum, which shows a strong H$alpha$ emission line. The optical spectrum and flickering observed in the optical time-series photometry in combination with the X-ray spectrum, which is well fit by an absorbed partially covered thermal bremsstrahlung model, suggests that this source is a strong mCV candidate. The X-ray observations of IGR J20063+3641 reveal a clear modulation with a period of 172.46$pm0.01$ s, which we attribute to the white dwarf spin period. Additional MDM spectroscopy of the source has also allowed for a clear determination of the orbital period at 0.731$pm0.015$ d. The X-ray spectrum of this source is also well fit by an absorbed partially covered thermal bremsstrahlung model. The X-ray spectrum, spin periodicity, and orbital periodicity allow this source to be further classified as an intermediate polar.
Here we report on X-ray observations of ten 17-60 keV sources discovered by the INTEGRAL satellite. The primary new information is sub-arcsecond positions obtained by the Chandra X-ray Observatory. In six cases (IGR J17040-4305, IGR J18017-3542, IGR
J18112-2641, IGR J18434-0508, IGR J19504+3318, and IGR J20084+3221), a unique Chandra counterpart is identified with a high degree of certainty, and for five of these sources (all but J19504), Gaia distances or proper motions indicate that they are Galactic sources. For four of these, the most likely classifications are that the sources are magnetic Cataclysmic Variables (CVs). J20084 could be either a magnetic CV or a High Mass X-ray Binary. We classify the sixth source (J19504) as a likely Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN). In addition, we find likely Chandra counterparts to IGR J18010-3045 and IGR J19577+3339, and the latter is a bright radio source and probable AGN. The other two sources, IGR J12529-6351 and IGR J18013-3222 do not have likely Chandra counterparts, indicating that they are transient, highly variable, or highly absorbed.
PSR J1809-1917 is a young ($tau=51$ kyr) energetic ($dot{E}=1.8times10^{36}$ erg s$^{-1}$) radio pulsar powering an X-ray pulsar wind nebula (PWN) that exhibits morphological variability. We report on the results of a new monitoring campaign by the C
handra X-ray Observatory (CXO), carried out across 6 epochs with a $sim$7-week cadence. The compact nebula can be interpreted as a jet-dominated outflow along the pulsars spin axis. Its variability can be the result of Doppler boosting in the kinked jet whose shape changes with time (akin to the Vela pulsar jet). The deep X-ray image, composed of 405 ks of new and 131 ks of archival CXO data, reveals an arcminute-scale extended nebula (EN) whose axis of symmetry aligns with both the axis of the compact nebula and the direction toward the peak of the nearby TeV source HESS J1809-193. The ENs morphology and extent suggest that the pulsar is likely moving through the ambient medium at a transonic velocity. We also resolved a faint 7$$-long nonthermal collimated structure protruding from the PWN. It is possibly another instance of a misaligned outflow (also known as a kinetic jet) produced by high-energy particles escaping the PWNs confinement and tracing the interstellar magnetic field lines. Finally, taking advantage of the 536 ks exposure, we analyzed the point sources in the J1809 field and classified them using multiwavelength data. None of the classified sources in the field can reasonably be expected to produce the extended TeV flux in the region, suggesting that PSR J1809-1917 is indeed the counterpart to HESS/eHWC J1809-193.
Observing the famous high-mass, eccentric X-ray and gamma-ray binary PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 with Chandra, we detected X-ray emitting clumps moving from the binary with speeds of about 0.1 of the speed of light, possibly with acceleration. The clumps ar
e being ejected at least once per binary period, 3.4 years, presumably around binary periastrons. The power-law spectra of the clumps can be interpreted as synchrotron emission of relativistic electrons. Here we report the results of 8 observations of the clumps in 2011-2017 (two binary cycles) and discuss possible interpretations of this unique phenomenon.
We present the analysis of the Chandra X-ray Observatory observations of the eccentric gamma-ray binary PSR B1259-63/LS 2883. The analysis shows that the extended X-ray feature seen in previous observations is still moving away from the binary with a
n average projected velocity of about 0.07c and shows a hint of acceleration. The spectrum of the feature appears to be hard (photon index of 0.8) with no sign of softening compared to previously measured values. We interpret it as a clump of plasma ejected from the binary through the interaction of the pulsar with the decretion disk of the O-star around periastron passage. We suggest that the clump is moving in the unshocked relativistic pulsar wind (PW), which can accelerate the clump. Its X-ray emission can be interpreted as synchrotron radiation of the PW shocked by the collision with the clump.
We review the multiwavelength properties of the few known gamma-ray binaries, focusing on extended emission recently resolved with Chandra. We discuss the implications of these findings for the nature of compact objects and for physical processes operating in these systems.
