Photometric variability of X-ray sources in the galactic bulge

The Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey (GBS) undertakes to find and classify X-ray sources in the Galactic Bulge. Of these X-ray sources, there is likely a significant minority which are Low Mass X-ray Binaries: systems containing either a neutron star or black hole that is accreting matter from a roughly stellar mass companion via Roche-Lobe overflow. I use optical time-series photometry from the Mosaic-II instrument on the Blanco 4m telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory to identify counterparts to new X-ray sources in the GBS. Of those that are variable in brightness, I use the morphology of the changes and the relative proportion of optical and X-ray light, to identify high inclination systems through eclipses, to determine what periodicity, if any, is present in the optical light, and use these properties to partially or fully classify X-ray sources. The GBS contains a variety of X-ray sources, including Low Mass X-ray Binaries, Cataclysmic Variables, Intermediate Polars, Active Galactic Nuclei, W Ursa Ma joris stars, RS Canum Venaticorum stars, active stars, and flare stars. Spectroscopy greatly aids the classification of the X-ray source and is used, where available, to distinguish between source types and identify promising ob jects for further study. Only a handful of sources are identified as potential new Low Mass X-ray Binaries in quiescence, which places limits on the number of such systems in the Galaxy and on their outburst duty cycle. In addition to the GBS, I have done work on echo-tomography of Scorpius X-1, the brightest extra-solar X-ray source in the sky. I have found that reprocessing is dominated by the accretion disk in all observations, and that the companion is not reliably distinguishable in reprocessing of continuum light. I also found that reprocessing mainly occurs in the Flaring Branch of the Z-diagram, turning off in other X-ray states.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Grantor

Physics and Astronomy

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Britt, Christopher Tillman

• X-ray Binaries
• X-ray Surveys
• Galactic Bulge

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Identifier

etd-08222013-152010
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/1079

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-2078