SU Lyncis, a hard X-ray bright M giant: Clues point to a large hidden population of symbiotic stars

Symbiotic star surveys have traditionally relied almost exclusively on low resolution optical spectroscopy. However, we can obtain a more reliable estimate of their total Galactic population by using all available signatures of the symbiotic phenomenon. Here we report the discovery of a hard X-ray s...

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Autores principales: Mukai, K., Luna, G.J.M., Cusumano, G., Segreto, A., Munari, U., Sokoloski, J.L., Lucy, A.B., Nelson, T., Nuñez, N.E.
Formato: JOUR
Materias:
Binaries: symbiotic
Stars: individual: SU Lyn
X-rays: binaries
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_17453925_v461_n1_pL1_Mukai
Aporte de:
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires
id todo:paper_17453925_v461_n1_pL1_Mukai
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spelling todo:paper_17453925_v461_n1_pL1_Mukai2023-10-03T16:31:57Z SU Lyncis, a hard X-ray bright M giant: Clues point to a large hidden population of symbiotic stars Mukai, K. Luna, G.J.M. Cusumano, G. Segreto, A. Munari, U. Sokoloski, J.L. Lucy, A.B. Nelson, T. Nuñez, N.E. Binaries: symbiotic Stars: individual: SU Lyn X-rays: binaries Symbiotic star surveys have traditionally relied almost exclusively on low resolution optical spectroscopy. However, we can obtain a more reliable estimate of their total Galactic population by using all available signatures of the symbiotic phenomenon. Here we report the discovery of a hard X-ray source, 4PBC J0642.9+5528, in the Swift hard X-ray all-sky survey, and identify it with a poorly studied red giant, SU Lyn, using pointed Swift observations and ground-based optical spectroscopy. The X-ray spectrum, the optical to UV spectrum, and the rapid UV variability of SU Lyn are all consistent with our interpretation that it is a symbiotic star containing an accreting white dwarf. The symbiotic nature of SU Lyn went unnoticed until now, because it does not exhibit emission lines strong enough to be obvious in low resolution spectra. We argue that symbiotic stars without shell-burning have weak emission lines, and that the current lists of symbiotic stars are biased in favour of shell-burning systems. We conclude that the true population of symbiotic stars has been underestimated, potentially by a large factor. © 2016 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. JOUR info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_17453925_v461_n1_pL1_Mukai
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Binaries: symbiotic
Stars: individual: SU Lyn
X-rays: binaries
spellingShingle Binaries: symbiotic
Stars: individual: SU Lyn
X-rays: binaries
Mukai, K.
Luna, G.J.M.
Cusumano, G.
Segreto, A.
Munari, U.
Sokoloski, J.L.
Lucy, A.B.
Nelson, T.
Nuñez, N.E.
SU Lyncis, a hard X-ray bright M giant: Clues point to a large hidden population of symbiotic stars
topic_facet Binaries: symbiotic
Stars: individual: SU Lyn
X-rays: binaries
description Symbiotic star surveys have traditionally relied almost exclusively on low resolution optical spectroscopy. However, we can obtain a more reliable estimate of their total Galactic population by using all available signatures of the symbiotic phenomenon. Here we report the discovery of a hard X-ray source, 4PBC J0642.9+5528, in the Swift hard X-ray all-sky survey, and identify it with a poorly studied red giant, SU Lyn, using pointed Swift observations and ground-based optical spectroscopy. The X-ray spectrum, the optical to UV spectrum, and the rapid UV variability of SU Lyn are all consistent with our interpretation that it is a symbiotic star containing an accreting white dwarf. The symbiotic nature of SU Lyn went unnoticed until now, because it does not exhibit emission lines strong enough to be obvious in low resolution spectra. We argue that symbiotic stars without shell-burning have weak emission lines, and that the current lists of symbiotic stars are biased in favour of shell-burning systems. We conclude that the true population of symbiotic stars has been underestimated, potentially by a large factor. © 2016 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.
format JOUR
author Mukai, K.
Luna, G.J.M.
Cusumano, G.
Segreto, A.
Munari, U.
Sokoloski, J.L.
Lucy, A.B.
Nelson, T.
Nuñez, N.E.
author_facet Mukai, K.
Luna, G.J.M.
Cusumano, G.
Segreto, A.
Munari, U.
Sokoloski, J.L.
Lucy, A.B.
Nelson, T.
Nuñez, N.E.
author_sort Mukai, K.
title SU Lyncis, a hard X-ray bright M giant: Clues point to a large hidden population of symbiotic stars
title_short SU Lyncis, a hard X-ray bright M giant: Clues point to a large hidden population of symbiotic stars
title_full SU Lyncis, a hard X-ray bright M giant: Clues point to a large hidden population of symbiotic stars
title_fullStr SU Lyncis, a hard X-ray bright M giant: Clues point to a large hidden population of symbiotic stars
title_full_unstemmed SU Lyncis, a hard X-ray bright M giant: Clues point to a large hidden population of symbiotic stars
title_sort su lyncis, a hard x-ray bright m giant: clues point to a large hidden population of symbiotic stars
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_17453925_v461_n1_pL1_Mukai
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