The radio spectrum of a quiescent stellar mass black hole |
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Authors: | E Gallo R P Fender R I Hynes |
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Institution: | Astronomical Institute 'Anton Pannekoek' and Centre for High-energy Astrophysics, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 403, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, the Netherlands;McDonald Observatory and Department of Astronomy, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C1400, Austin, TX 78712, USA |
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Abstract: | Observations of V404 Cyg performed using the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope at four frequencies, over the interval 1.4–8.4 GHz, have provided us with the first broad-band radio spectrum of a 'quiescent' stellar mass black hole. The measured mean flux density is of 0.35 mJy, with a spectral index α=+0.09 ± 0.19 (such that S ν∝να ). Synchrotron emission from an inhomogeneous partially self-absorbed outflow of plasma accounts for the flat/inverted radio spectrum, in analogy with hard-state black hole X-ray binaries, indicating that a steady jet is being produced between a few 10−6 and a few per cent of the Eddington X-ray luminosity. |
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Keywords: | binaries: general stars: individual: V404 Cyg ISM: jets and outflows |
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