Opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in Cygnus X-3
We present simultaneous dual-frequency radio observations of Cygnus X-3 during a phase of low-level activity. We constrain the minimum variability time-scale to be 20min at 43GHz and 30min at 15GHz, implying source sizes of 2-4au. We detect polarized emission at a level of a few per cent at 43GHz wh...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
2009
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.14279.x/full http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5261 |
| _version_ | 1848744747246551040 |
|---|---|
| author | Miller-Jones, James Rupen, M. Turler, M. Lindfors, E. Blundell, K. Pooley, G. |
| author_facet | Miller-Jones, James Rupen, M. Turler, M. Lindfors, E. Blundell, K. Pooley, G. |
| author_sort | Miller-Jones, James |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | We present simultaneous dual-frequency radio observations of Cygnus X-3 during a phase of low-level activity. We constrain the minimum variability time-scale to be 20min at 43GHz and 30min at 15GHz, implying source sizes of 2-4au. We detect polarized emission at a level of a few per cent at 43GHz which varies with the total intensity. The delay of ~10min between the peaks of the flares at the two frequencies is seen to decrease with time, and we find that synchrotron self-absorption and free-free absorption by entrained thermal material play a larger role in determining the opacity than absorption in the stellar wind of the companion. A shock-in-jet model gives a good fit to the light curves at all frequencies, demonstrating that this mechanism, which has previously been used to explain the brighter, longer lived giant outbursts in this source, is also applicable to these low-level flaring events. Assembling the data from outbursts spanning over two orders of magnitude in flux density shows evidence for a strong correlation between the peak brightness of an event, and the time-scale and frequency at which this is attained. Brighter flares evolve on longer time-scales and peak at lower frequencies. Analysis of the fitted model parameters suggests that brighter outbursts are due to shocks forming further downstream in the jet, with an increased electron normalization and magnetic field strength both playing a role in setting the strength of the outburst. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:06:22Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-5261 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:06:22Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-52612019-02-19T04:26:20Z Opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in Cygnus X-3 Miller-Jones, James Rupen, M. Turler, M. Lindfors, E. Blundell, K. Pooley, G. shock waves stars: individual: Cygnus X-3 radio continuum: stars X-rays: binaries ISM: jets and outflows We present simultaneous dual-frequency radio observations of Cygnus X-3 during a phase of low-level activity. We constrain the minimum variability time-scale to be 20min at 43GHz and 30min at 15GHz, implying source sizes of 2-4au. We detect polarized emission at a level of a few per cent at 43GHz which varies with the total intensity. The delay of ~10min between the peaks of the flares at the two frequencies is seen to decrease with time, and we find that synchrotron self-absorption and free-free absorption by entrained thermal material play a larger role in determining the opacity than absorption in the stellar wind of the companion. A shock-in-jet model gives a good fit to the light curves at all frequencies, demonstrating that this mechanism, which has previously been used to explain the brighter, longer lived giant outbursts in this source, is also applicable to these low-level flaring events. Assembling the data from outbursts spanning over two orders of magnitude in flux density shows evidence for a strong correlation between the peak brightness of an event, and the time-scale and frequency at which this is attained. Brighter flares evolve on longer time-scales and peak at lower frequencies. Analysis of the fitted model parameters suggests that brighter outbursts are due to shocks forming further downstream in the jet, with an increased electron normalization and magnetic field strength both playing a role in setting the strength of the outburst. 2009 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5261 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.14279.x/full Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. restricted |
| spellingShingle | shock waves stars: individual: Cygnus X-3 radio continuum: stars X-rays: binaries ISM: jets and outflows Miller-Jones, James Rupen, M. Turler, M. Lindfors, E. Blundell, K. Pooley, G. Opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in Cygnus X-3 |
| title | Opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in Cygnus X-3 |
| title_full | Opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in Cygnus X-3 |
| title_fullStr | Opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in Cygnus X-3 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in Cygnus X-3 |
| title_short | Opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in Cygnus X-3 |
| title_sort | opacity effects and shock-in-jet modelling of low-level activity in cygnus x-3 |
| topic | shock waves stars: individual: Cygnus X-3 radio continuum: stars X-rays: binaries ISM: jets and outflows |
| url | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.14279.x/full http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5261 |