Spectacular Trailing Streamers near LMC X-1: The First Evidence of a Jet?

TL;DR

This study presents evidence of a jet from LMC X-1 influencing the surrounding nebula, inferred from filamentary structures and shock ionization, suggesting the jet is currently inactive but intermittently active.

Contribution

First evidence linking jet activity to nebular filamentation around LMC X-1 through integral field spectroscopy and shock ionization analysis.

Findings

Extended filamentary emission likely caused by shock from an undetected jet.

Jet responsible for bow shock is currently off, not due to low brightness.

Jet activity may be intermittent, affecting nebular ionization.

Abstract

We report VIMOS integral field spectroscopy of the N159F nebula surrounding LMC X-1. Our observations reveal a rich, extended system of emission line filaments lining the boundary of a large conical cavity identified in Spitzer mid-IR imaging. We find that X-ray photoionization cannot be solely responsible for the observed ionization structure of N159F. We propose that the extended filamentary emission is produced primarily by ionization from a shock driven by a presently unobserved jet from LMC X-1. We infer a shock velocity of v_s ~ 90 km/s and conclude that the jet responsible for the bow shock is presently undetected because it has switched off, rather than because it has a low surface brightness. This interpretation is consistent with the present soft X-ray spectral state of LMC X-1 and suggests the jet is intermittent.