A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated [gamma]-ray emission
With frequent flaring activity of its relativistic jets, Cygnus X-3 (Cyg X-3) is one of the most active microquasars and is the only Galactic black hole candidate with confirmed high-energy γ-ray emission, thanks to detections by Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi/LAT) and AGILE. In 2011, Cyg X-3 was...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
2012
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33495 |
| _version_ | 1848753962500489216 |
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| author | Corbel, S. Dubus, G. Tomsick, J. Szostek, A. Corbet, R. Miller-Jones, James Richards, J. Pooley, G. Trushkin, S. Dubois, R. Hill, A. Kerr, M. Max-Moerbeck, W. Readhead, A. Bodaghee, A. Tudose, V. Parent, D. Wilms, J. Pottschmidt, K. |
| author_facet | Corbel, S. Dubus, G. Tomsick, J. Szostek, A. Corbet, R. Miller-Jones, James Richards, J. Pooley, G. Trushkin, S. Dubois, R. Hill, A. Kerr, M. Max-Moerbeck, W. Readhead, A. Bodaghee, A. Tudose, V. Parent, D. Wilms, J. Pottschmidt, K. |
| author_sort | Corbel, S. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | With frequent flaring activity of its relativistic jets, Cygnus X-3 (Cyg X-3) is one of the most active microquasars and is the only Galactic black hole candidate with confirmed high-energy γ-ray emission, thanks to detections by Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi/LAT) and AGILE. In 2011, Cyg X-3 was observed to transit to a soft X-ray state, which is known to be associated with high-energy γ-ray emission. We present the results of a multiwavelength campaign covering a quenched state, when radio emission from Cyg X-3 is at its weakest and the X-ray spectrum is very soft. A giant (~20Jy) optically thin radio flare marks the end of the quenched state, accompanied by rising non-thermal hard X-rays. Fermi/LAT observations (E≥ 100 MeV) reveal renewed γ-ray activity associated with this giant radio flare, suggesting a common origin for all non-thermal components. In addition, current observations unambiguously show that the γ-ray emission is not exclusively related to the rare giant radio flares. A three-week period of γ-ray emission is also detected when Cyg X-3 was weakly flaring in radio, right before transition to the radio quenched state. No γ-rays are observed during the ~1-month long quenched state, when the radio flux is weakest. Our results suggest transitions into and out of the ultrasoft X-ray (radio-quenched) state trigger γ-ray emission, implying a connection to the accretion process, and also that the γ-ray activity is related to the level of radio flux (and possibly shock formation), strengthening the connection to the relativistic jets. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:32:51Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-33495 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T08:32:51Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-334952017-09-13T15:30:24Z A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated [gamma]-ray emission Corbel, S. Dubus, G. Tomsick, J. Szostek, A. Corbet, R. Miller-Jones, James Richards, J. Pooley, G. Trushkin, S. Dubois, R. Hill, A. Kerr, M. Max-Moerbeck, W. Readhead, A. Bodaghee, A. Tudose, V. Parent, D. Wilms, J. Pottschmidt, K. gamma-rays: stars black hole physics stars: individual: Cyg X-3 radio continuum: stars X-rays: binaries ISM: jets and outflows With frequent flaring activity of its relativistic jets, Cygnus X-3 (Cyg X-3) is one of the most active microquasars and is the only Galactic black hole candidate with confirmed high-energy γ-ray emission, thanks to detections by Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi/LAT) and AGILE. In 2011, Cyg X-3 was observed to transit to a soft X-ray state, which is known to be associated with high-energy γ-ray emission. We present the results of a multiwavelength campaign covering a quenched state, when radio emission from Cyg X-3 is at its weakest and the X-ray spectrum is very soft. A giant (~20Jy) optically thin radio flare marks the end of the quenched state, accompanied by rising non-thermal hard X-rays. Fermi/LAT observations (E≥ 100 MeV) reveal renewed γ-ray activity associated with this giant radio flare, suggesting a common origin for all non-thermal components. In addition, current observations unambiguously show that the γ-ray emission is not exclusively related to the rare giant radio flares. A three-week period of γ-ray emission is also detected when Cyg X-3 was weakly flaring in radio, right before transition to the radio quenched state. No γ-rays are observed during the ~1-month long quenched state, when the radio flux is weakest. Our results suggest transitions into and out of the ultrasoft X-ray (radio-quenched) state trigger γ-ray emission, implying a connection to the accretion process, and also that the γ-ray activity is related to the level of radio flux (and possibly shock formation), strengthening the connection to the relativistic jets. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33495 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.20517.x Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. fulltext |
| spellingShingle | gamma-rays: stars black hole physics stars: individual: Cyg X-3 radio continuum: stars X-rays: binaries ISM: jets and outflows Corbel, S. Dubus, G. Tomsick, J. Szostek, A. Corbet, R. Miller-Jones, James Richards, J. Pooley, G. Trushkin, S. Dubois, R. Hill, A. Kerr, M. Max-Moerbeck, W. Readhead, A. Bodaghee, A. Tudose, V. Parent, D. Wilms, J. Pottschmidt, K. A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated [gamma]-ray emission |
| title | A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated [gamma]-ray emission |
| title_full | A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated [gamma]-ray emission |
| title_fullStr | A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated [gamma]-ray emission |
| title_full_unstemmed | A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated [gamma]-ray emission |
| title_short | A giant radio flare from Cygnus X-3 with associated [gamma]-ray emission |
| title_sort | giant radio flare from cygnus x-3 with associated [gamma]-ray emission |
| topic | gamma-rays: stars black hole physics stars: individual: Cyg X-3 radio continuum: stars X-rays: binaries ISM: jets and outflows |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33495 |