Program: GN-2021B-Q-129
| Title: | Probing Relativistic Jets through Optical Timing Observations of X-ray Binaries |
| PI: | Alexandra Tetarenko |
| Co-I(s): | Thomas Maccarone, Gregory Sivakoff, Piergiorgio Casella, Poshak Gandhi, Arash Bahramian, James Miller-Jones, Thomas Russell |
Abstract
Black hole X-ray binaries (BHXBs) are accreting objects that launch powerful relativistic jets. These binary systems evolve through bright outburst phases on rapid timescales of days to months, allowing us to probe jet phenomena in real time. Our team has recently shown that we can move beyond spectral and imaging studies of these outflows, and use time domain observations to address the key open questions in jet research.We propose for 11.4 hrs of Gemini 'Alopeke/Zorro ToO observations (3 x 3.8-hr epochs) to obtain high time resolution, multi-band, optical observations of the next bright out-bursting BHXB. These Gemini data will be combined with simultaneous multi-wavelength data (radio, mm/sub-mm, IR, X-ray) to carry out a comprehensive multi-wavelength spectral timing study, and gain insights into jet physics, particle acceleration, and how these processes relate to the accretion flow.