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NuSTAR observations of the ultraluminous X-ray source M33 X-8: A black hole in a very high state?
Tekijät: Krivonos R., Sazonov S., Tsygankov S., Poutanen J.
Kustantaja: Oxford University Press
Julkaisuvuosi: 2018
Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tietokannassa oleva lehden nimi: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vuosikerta: 480
Numero: 2
Aloitussivu: 2357
Lopetussivu: 2364
eISSN: 1365-2966
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/MNRAS/STY1995
Rinnakkaistallenteen osoite: https://arxiv.org/abs/1807.10427
The closest known ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX), M33 X-8, has been recently observed with NuSTAR during its Extragalactic Legacy program, which includes a hard X-ray survey of the M33 galaxy. We present results of two long observations of M33 taken in 2017 March and July, with M33 X-8 in the field of view. The source demonstrates a nearly constant flux during the observations, and its 3–20 keV spectrum can be well described by two distinct components: a standard accretion disc with a temperature of ∼1 keV at the inner radius and a power law with a photon index Γ ≈ 3, which is significantly detected up to 20 keV. There is also an indication of a high-energy cut-off in the spectrum, corresponding to a temperature of the Comptonizing medium of ≳ 10 keV. The broad-band spectral properties of M33 X-8 resemble black hole X-ray binaries in their very high states, suggesting that M33 X-8 is a black hole accreting at a nearly Eddington rate, in contrast to super-Eddington accretion believed to take place in more luminous ULXs.