Optical counterpart to Swift J0243.6+6124

Abstract

Swift J0243.6+6124 was discovered during a giant X-ray outburst in October 2017. While there are numerous studies in the X-ray band, very little is known about the optical counterpart. We have performed an spectral and photometric analysis of the optical counterpart of this intriguing source. We find that the optical counterpart to Swift J0243.6+6124 is a V = 12.9, O9.5Ve star, located at a distance of $\sim5$ kpc. The optical extinction in the direction of the source is $A_V=3.6$ mag. The rotational velocity of the O-type star is 210 km s$^{-1}$. The long-term optical variability agrees with the growth and subsequent dissipation of the Be circumstellar disk after the giant X-ray outburst. The optical and X-ray luminosity are strongly correlated during the outburst, suggesting a common origin. We did not detect short-term periodic variability that could be associated with nonradial pulsations from the Be star photosphere.