Seminars and Events

Natalie Webb: The intermediate mass black hole candidate ESO 243-49 HLX-1

Time: 16:00

Location: 0.63

Description: Abstract:
The Ultra Luminous X-ray (ULX) source HLX-1 in the galaxy ESO 243-49
has a maximum X-ray luminosity of 1.3e42 erg/s (0.2-10.0 keV). From
the conservative assumption that this value exceeds the Eddington
limit by at most a factor of 10, the minimum mass is then 500 solar
masses. The X-ray luminosity varies by a factor of 50 with an
apparent recurrence timescale of approximately one year. This X-ray
variability is associated with spectral state transitions similar to
those seen in black hole X-ray binaries, along with transient radio
emission which is consistent with discrete jet ejections during the
transition from the low/hard to the high/soft state, also seen in the
X-ray binaries. I will review the evidence supporting the intermediate
mass black hole identification and discuss our recent multiwavelength
observations taken during the 2012 outburst of HLX-1. Using these
observations and numerical modelling of the system, I will present
constraints the outburst mechanism for this extreme object, as well as
the nature of the environment around HLX-1.