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.
Publications using this program's data
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[data]
[ADS] Optical Variability of the Accretion Disk around the Intermediate-mass Black Hole ESO 243-49 HLX-1 during the 2012 Outburst
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[data]
[ADS] Combined analysis of Hubble and VLT photometry of the intermediate mass black hole ESO 243-49 HLX-1