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The Next Nearest Black Holes: Chandra and HST Observations of X-ray sources in M31

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2006

M. Garcia
Affiliation:
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Mass., USAgarcia@cfa.harvard.edu
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Abstract

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From October 1999 to the present Chandra has taken nearly monthly snap-shot observations of M31. The first 3 years of this dataset in combination with deeper but less frequent XMM observations has allowed the detection of 45 X-ray transients within M31. By analogy to our Galaxy, many of these transients are likely black hole candidates. We have indentified a few optical counterparts of these possible black holes via simultaneous HST imaging. The census allows a study of the endpoints of stellar evolution in our nearest neighbor galaxy. When stacked, the observations also allow a deep study of the M31 X-ray source population, which turns up a few surprises. The supermassive black hole in the center of M31 is the next nearest one after Sgr A*. Chandra and HST observations allow the detection of a weak X-ray source at the position of this SMBH. These observations provide some of the most secure and severe limitations on accretion in SMBH.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
2006 International Astronomical Union