Program: GS-2011B-Q-31

Title:What feeds the intermediate mass black hole HLX-1 in ESO~243-49?
PI:Mathieu Servillat
Co-I(s): Klaas Wiersema, Natalie Webb, Olivier Godet, Didier Barret, Jean-Pierre Lasota, Tom Maccarone, Sean Farrell

Abstract

We will image the new intermediate mass black hole candidate, HLX-1 in ESO 243-49, with the S II and r-band filters during the next outburst of this system. We will conduct 4 observations of ~1.5 hours in each filter, over ~2 weeks. The proposed imaging, in conjunction with our continued Swift monitoring will allow us to determine the region of the disc in which the outburst starts which will discriminate between the competing models describing the X-ray outbursts observed. These data will also show whether the whole disc is involved, which will give information on the mass accumulated in the disc and therefore the accretion rate, giving a handle on the nature of the secondary star and the orbit (circular/elliptical). This study of such a unique object will finally give us clues as to how intermediate mass black holes are fed and therefore grow, two of the many unknown characteristics of these little understood objects.

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