Characterizing Black Hole Binary Outbursts: X-ray Characterization of AT2019wey – UROP Spring Symposium 2021

Characterizing Black Hole Binary Outbursts: X-ray Characterization of AT2019wey

Ryan Walker

UROP Logo

Research Mentor(s): Mark Reynolds, Associate Research Scientist
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Astronomy, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 5 (3pm-3:50pm)
Breakout Room: Room 15
Presenter: 5

Event Link

Abstract

AT2019wey is a transient optical source discovered in late 2019 and identified as a bright X-ray by the eROSITA X-ray telescope in early 2020. The nature of the source is unknown, with the source location and outburst properties suggesting an origin in a Galactic low mass X-ray binary. Herein, we present an analysis of multiple observations of AT2019wey made by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory over the course of 6 months in 2020. X-ray spectra in the 1 – 10 keV energy band have been modeled with an absorbed power-law model to study the temporal evolution of the X-ray properties of the source. Over time, the power-law photon index is observed to increase as the source brightened, consistent with the emergence of a prominent accretion disk. We discuss the results of this analysis and place constraints on the nature of this system in the context of models for accreting black holes and neutron stars.

Authors: Ryan Walker, Mark Reynolds
Research Method: Experimental Research

lsa logoum logo