Xmm-Newton detection of a transient x-ray source in the vicinity of V838 monocerotis

Rodolfo Montez, Fabio Antonini, Joel H. Kastner, Howard E. Bond, Noam Soker, Romuald Tylenda, Sumner Starrfield, Ehud Behar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the XMM-Newton/EPIC detection in 2008 March of a luminous (L X ∼ 1032-33 erg s-1), variable X-ray source in the vicinity (within ∼ 6″) of the enigmatic star V838 Mon, which underwent a spectacular outburst in early 2002. Spectral modeling of the XMM-Newton X-ray source indicates the presence of two plasma components with characteristic temperatures of TX 2 × ∼ 106 K and ∼ 1.5 × 107 K, attenuated by an absorbing column (NH 4 × 1021cm-2) that is consistent with the visual extinction measured toward V838 Mon (AV ∼ 2). No such luminous source was detected in the immediate vicinity of V838 Mon in Chandra/ACIS-S observations obtained about one year after outburst or, most recently, in 2010 January. The two XMM -Newton source spectral components appear to be marginally spatially resolved, with the spatial centroid of the hard component lying closer to (within ∼ 2″ of) the position of V838 Mon than the broadband source or the soft source component; however, if there are two sources at or near V838 Mon, the Chandra nondetections would imply that both of them are variable. An alternative is that there is a single variable source, and that the apparent spatial separation may actually be due to photon-counting statistics or is perhaps instrumental in origin. We consider constraints placed by the X-ray detection and nondetections on a stellar merger model for the 2002 V838 Mon outburst, in which the spun-up merger product drives a powerful magnetic dynamo. Alternatively, the transient behavior of the X-ray source could indicate that the X-rays arose as a consequence of an interaction between V838 Mon's ejecta and its early-type (B3 V) companion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)795-802
Number of pages8
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume717
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

Keywords

  • stars: individual (V838 Mon)
  • stars: mass-loss
  • stars: peculiar
  • supergiants

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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