The 2003 Outburst of the X-ray Transient H 1743-322: Comparisons with the Black Hole Microquasar XTE J1550-564

TL;DR

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the 2003 outburst of H 1743-322, comparing its spectral, timing, radio, and optical behavior with the well-known black hole binary XTE J1550-564, highlighting their similarities and suggesting H 1743-322 is a black hole system.

Contribution

It offers the first detailed multi-wavelength comparison of H 1743-322 with XTE J1550-564, emphasizing their similar behaviors and supporting the black hole binary classification of H 1743-322.

Findings

H 1743-322 exhibits spectral states similar to XTE J1550-564.

Both sources show high-frequency QPOs with a 3:2 ratio.

Radio and optical data support the black hole binary nature.

Abstract

The bright X-ray transient H 1743-322 was observed daily by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) during most of its 8-month outburst in 2003. We present a detailed spectral analysis and a supporting timing analysis of all of these data, and we discuss the behavior and evolution of the source in terms of the three principal X-ray states defined by Remillard and McClintock. These X-ray results are complemented by Very Large Array (VLA) data obtained at six frequencies that provide quite complete coverage of the entire outburst cycle at 4.860 GHz and 8.460 GHz. We also present photometric data and finding charts for the optical counterpart in both outburst and quiescence. We closely compare H 1743-322 to the well-studied black-hole X-ray transient XTE J1550-564 and find the behaviors of these systems to be very similar. As reported elsewhere, both H 1743-322 and XTE J1550-564 are relativistic jet sources and both exhibit a pair of high-frequency QPO oscillations with a 3:2 frequency ratio. The many striking similarities between these two sources argue strongly that H 1743-322 is a black hole binary, although presently no dynamical data exist to support this conclusion.