Bibcode
Plotkin, R. M.; Gallo, Elena; Jonker, Peter G.; Miller-Jones, James C. A.; Homan, Jeroen; Muñoz-Darias, T.; Markoff, Sera; Armas Padilla, M.; Fender, Rob; Rushton, Anthony P.; Russell, David M.; Torres, Manuel A. P.
Bibliographical reference
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 456, Issue 3, p.2707-2716
Advertised on:
3
2016
Citations
26
Refereed citations
24
Description
We present coordinated multiwavelength observations of the high Galactic
latitude (b = +50°) black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) Swift
J1357.2-0933 in quiescence. Our broad-band spectrum includes strictly
simultaneous radio and X-ray observations, and near-infrared, optical,
and ultraviolet data taken 1-2 d later. We detect Swift J1357.2-0933 at
all wavebands except for the radio (f5 GHz < 3.9 μJy
beam-1; 3σrms). Given current constraints on
the distance (2.3-6.3 kpc), its 0.5-10 keV X-ray flux corresponds to an
Eddington ratio LX/LEdd = 4 ×
10-9-3 × 10-8 (assuming a black hole mass of
10 M⊙). The broad-band spectrum is dominated by
synchrotron radiation from a relativistic population of outflowing
thermal electrons, which we argue to be a common signature of
short-period quiescent BHXBs. Furthermore, we identify the frequency
where the synchrotron radiation transitions from optically thick-to-thin
(νb ≈ 2-5 × 1014 Hz), which is the
most robust determination of a `jet break' for a quiescent BHXB to date.
Our interpretation relies on the presence of steep curvature in the
ultraviolet spectrum, a frequency window made observable by the low
amount of interstellar absorption along the line of sight. High Galactic
latitude systems like Swift J1357.2-0933 with clean ultraviolet
sightlines are crucial for understanding black hole accretion at low
luminosities.