2024A&A...683A..21M -
Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 683A21 (2024/3-1)
eRASSU J060839.5-704014: A double degenerate ultra-compact binary in the direction of the LMC.
MAITRA C., HABERL F., VASILOPOULOS G., RAU A., SCHWOPE A., FRIEDRICH S., BUCKLEY D.A.H., VALDES F., LANG D. and MACFARLANE S.A.
Abstract (from CDS):
Context. During four all-sky surveys (eRASS1-4), eROSITA, the soft X-ray instrument aboard Spektrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) detected a new supersoft X-ray source, eRASSU J060839.5-704014, in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC).
Aims. We arranged follow-up observations in the X-ray and optical wavelengths and further searched in archival observations to reveal the nature of the object.
Methods. Using X-ray observations with XMM-Newton we investigated the temporal and spectral behaviour of the source.
Results. We discover pulsations at 374 s with a pulse profile consistent with 100% modulation. We identify two other periodicities in the eROSITA data, which we establish as aliases due to the sampling of the eROSITA light curve. We identify a multi-wavelength counterpart to the X-ray source in UVW1 and g, r, i, and z images obtained by the optical/UV monitor on XMM-Newton and the Dark Energy Camera at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The timing and spectral characteristics of the source are consistent with a double degenerate ultra-compact binary system in the foreground of the LMC. eRASSU J060839.5-704014 belongs to a rare class of AM CVns, which are important to study in the context of progenitors of SN Ia and for persistent gravitational wave detection.
Conclusions. We identify eRASSU J060839.5-704014 as a new double degenerate ultra-compact binary located in the foreground of the LMC.
Abstract Copyright:
© The Authors 2024
Journal keyword(s):
white dwarfs - Magellanic Clouds - X-rays: binaries - X-rays: individuals: eRASSU J060839.5-704014
Simbad objects:
8
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