MICROQUASARS


Adapted from J. M. Paredes and J. Martí,  Contribution to Science, 2 (3): 303-314 (2003):

The concept of microquasars refer to a new kind of X-ray binary stars in our Galaxy, one with the ability to generate collimated beams, or jets, of relativistic plasma. The ejection takes place in a bipolar way perpendicular to the accretion disk associated with the compact star, a black hole or a neutron star. The word ‘microquasar’ was chosen due to the extraordinary analogy between these astronomical objects and quasars and other active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at cosmological distances. This analogy will be discussed later. The relativistic jets of plasma are probably the most reliable fingerprints of microquasar sources. The first microquasar discovered was the system SS 433. For many years, it was considered a mere curiosity in the galactic fauna. Galactic microquasars are one of the most recent additions to the field of high energy astrophysics and have attracted increasing interest over the last decade. They are now primary targets for all space-based observatories working in the X-ray and γ-ray domains.


A catalog

Name

Position (J2000.0)

Spectral type

Magnitude

Activity

Orbital period (d)

Scorpius X-1

16h19m55s.09
–15°38‘24”.9 

Subgiant

12.2

Periodic

2.8

GRO J1655–40

16h54m00s.16
–39°50‘44”.7 

F5IV

14.2 - 17.3

Transcient

2.6

V4641 Sgr

18h19m21s.63
 –25°24‘25”.9

B9III

8.5 - 13.5

Transcient

2.8

LS 5039

18h26m15s.06
–14°50‘54.”3 

O6.5V

11.2

Periodic

4.1

SS 433

19h11m49s.57
 +04°58‘57”.8

A

14.2

Periodic

13.1

Cygnus X-1

19h58m21s.68
+35°12‘05”.8 

O9.7Iab

8.95

Periodic

5.6



Scorpius X-1



Download: _scorpiusx-1_20120525_022.fit


V4641 Sgr

Field of microquasar V4641 Sgr (LISA guiding camera - Atik 314L+, 30 sec. exposure) - V = 13.3


Download: _v4641sgr_20120514_070.fit


LS 5039

 
Field of microquasar LS 5039 (LISA guiding camera - Atik 314L+, 30 sec. exposure) - V = 11.2

Download: _ls5039_20120514_018.fit


SS 433 (V1343 Aql)



The 2D near infrared spectrum of SS433 before sky removal. June 16.05, 2012 obsertaion - C11 + LISA IR spectrograph - 10 x 600 sec. exposure.
Note the presence of natural OH and O2 bands + sky pollution HPS lamps spectrum. For more details
click here. Click on the image for enlarge.

















Download: _ss433_20120525_108.fit
Download: _ss433_20120525_948.fit
Download: _ss433_20120529_051.fit
Download: _ss433_20120530_974.fit
Download:
_ss433_20120613_947.fit
Download:
_ss433_20120615_915.fit
Download:
_ss433_20120616_047.fit


Cygnus X-1





Download: _cygnusx-1_20120525_067.fit
Download: _cygnusx-1_20120529_101.fit


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