2024ApJ...968...41H -
Astrophys. J., 968, 41 (2024/June-2)
Uncovering an Excess of X-Ray Point Sources in the Halos of Virgo Late-type Galaxies.
HU Z., HOU M. and LI Z.
Abstract (from CDS):
We present a systematic search for extraplanar X-ray point sources around 19 late-type, highly inclined disk galaxies residing in the Virgo cluster, based on archival Chandra observations reaching a source detection sensitivity of L(0.5-8 keV) ∼ 1038 erg s–1. Based on the cumulative source surface density distribution as a function of projected vertical distance from the disk midplane, we identify a statistically significant (∼3.3σ) excess of ∼20 X-ray sources within a projected vertical off-disk distance of $0\buildrel{\,\prime}\over{.} 92\mbox{--}2\buildrel{\,\prime}\over{.} 5$ (∼4.4-12 kpc), the presence of which cannot be explained by the bulk stellar content of the individual galaxies, nor by the cosmic X-ray background. On the other hand, there is no significant evidence for an excess of extraplanar X-ray sources in a comparison sample of field late-type edge-on galaxies, for which Chandra observations reaching a similar source detection sensitivity are available. We discuss the possible origins for the observed excess, including low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) associated with globular clusters, supernova-kicked LMXBs, and high-mass X-ray binaries born in recent star formation induced by ram pressure stripping of the disk gas, as well as a class of intracluster X-ray sources previously identified around early-type member galaxies of Virgo. We find that none of these X-ray populations can naturally dominate the observed extraplanar excess, although supernova-kicked LMXBs and the effect of ram pressure are most likely relevant.
Abstract Copyright:
© 2024. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.
Journal keyword(s):
Virgo Cluster - X-ray astronomy - Late-type galaxies - Disk galaxies - X-ray binary stars
Simbad objects:
40
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