Jillian Bornak et al 2009 ApJ 701 L110 doi:10.1088/0004-637X/701/2/L110
Jillian Bornak1,5, Bernard J. McNamara1,5,6, Thomas E. Harrison1,5, Michael P. Rupen2, Reba M. Bandyopadhyay3,6 and Stefanie Wachter4
Show affiliationsThe low-mass X-ray binary and Z source GX 17+2 undergoes infrared K-band brightening episodes of at least 3.5 mag. The source of these episodes is not known. Prior published K-band magnitudes and new K-band measurements acquired between 2006 and 2008 suggest that the episodes last at least 4 hr and have a period of 3.01254 ± 0.00002 days. Future bright episodes can be predicted using the ephemeris JDmax(n) = 2454550.79829 + (3.01254 ± 0.00002)(n) days. A growing body of evidence suggests that the GX 17+2 could have a synchrotron jet, which could cause this activity.
ISM: jets and outflows; radiation mechanisms: non-thermal; stars: individual (GX 17+2); stars: neutron; X-rays: binaries
98.70.Qy X-ray sources; X-ray bursts
Issue 2 (2009 August 20)
Received 2009 March 4, accepted for publication 2009 July 21
Published 2009 August 7
Jillian Bornak et al 2009 ApJ 701 L110
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