Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Optical Variability Of The Black Hole Candidate Gx339-4 (X1659-487, V821 Ara) - Limits On Periodic Modulation, R. H. D. Corbet, J. R. Thorstensen, P. A. Charles, W. B. Honey

Dartmouth Scholarship

We present results of extensive CCD optical photometry (over 1000 frames representing ~150 hr of integration time) of the optical counterpart of the X-ray source GX339–4 obtained during the high (soft) state. The source was seen to be significantly variable. We do not, however, detect any periodic modulation with semi-amplitude greater than ~0.03 mag for periods less than ~0.5 day or semi-amplitude greater than ~0.07 mag for longer periods. An optical spectrum obtained shortly after GX339–4 made a transition from a ‘low’ to a ‘high’ state is also presented and compared with previous results. The width of the He II …