Speaker
Mr
Deatrick Foster
(South African Astronomical Observatory)
Description
We report on the recent observation of a 115-day modulation in the X-ray flux of the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 5408 X-1, and in particular, the interpretation of this modulation as the orbital period. We suggest that this modulation is more likely superorbital in nature. Comparing the properties of this ULX with those of the prototype micro-quasar SS 433, we argue that NGC 5408 X-1 may be very similar to SS 433: a hyper-accreting stellar-mass black hole in a shorter-period binary, and hence the 115-day modulation is due to inner-disc/jet precession.
Primary author
Mr
Deatrick Foster
(South African Astronomical Observatory)
Co-author
Prof.
Phil Charles
(South African Astronomical Observatory)
