SWIFT J1753.5-0127: A Surprising Optical/X-Ray Cross-Correlation Function

Durant, Martin; Gandhi, Poshak; Shahbaz, Tariq; Fabian, Andy P.; Miller, Jon; Dhillon, V. S.; Marsh, Tom R.
Bibliographical reference

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 682, Issue 1, pp. L45-L48.

Advertised on:
7
2008
Number of authors
7
IAC number of authors
2
Citations
58
Refereed citations
47
Description
We have conducted simultaneous optical and X-ray observations of SWIFT J1753.5-0127 with RXTE and ULTRACAM, while the system persisted in its relatively bright low/hard state. In the cross-correlation function, we find that the optical emission, with a broad negative peak, leads the X-ray emission by a few seconds and has a smaller positive peak at positive lags. This is markedly different from what was seen for the similarly interesting system XTE J1118+480, and it is the first time that such a correlation function has been so clearly measured. We suggest a physical scenario for its origin.
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