Chandra Observation of LMXBs in the elliptical galaxy M84
Abstract
We present characteristics of the X-ray point source population in the M84 galaxy, observed by Chandra ACIS-S. We find an excess in the number of sources centered on M84, with a spatial distribution closely corresponding to the M84 stellar light. Given an absence of recent star-formation, accreting binaries are the only candidates for the M84 X-ray sources. The majority of M84 sources (with luminosities exceeding 1038 ergs/s) exhibit hardness ratios expected from multi-temperature black-body disk emission. The most luminous sources, which we attribute to accreting black holes exhibit X-ray colors typical of a black body spectrum. We also identify the sources whose X-ray colors match the expectations for constituents of the Cosmic X-ray Background. The number of such sources agrees with that expected to be background sources. After correcting for incompleteness in the source detection, we find a log(N)-log(S) for M84 similar to that of the elliptical galaxy NGC4697, i.e. having a break at a luminosity of Lb=2.4 (+0.6 -0.3) x1038 ergs/s, approximately the Eddington limit on the isotropic luminosity for accretion onto a neutron star. The slope of the luminosity function above the break provides evidence for a mass distribution in the M84 accreting black holes.
Turn this paper into a full lesson
ArcXiv compiles a staged curriculum from this paper: 8-12 lessons across beginner → advanced, synthesised section guides, visuals, flashcards, a quiz, exercises, and on-demand deep dives per section. Grounded in the abstract, never invented.