Spitzer Space Telescope Observations of Low Mass X-ray Binaries

TL;DR

This study uses archival Spitzer data to analyze the mid-infrared properties of low mass X-ray binaries, aiming to identify features like jets, disks, and companions, providing new insights into their environments.

Contribution

First comprehensive mid-IR analysis of low mass X-ray binaries using space-based observations, revealing potential signatures of disks and companions.

Findings

Initial spectral energy distributions established

Search for jet and disk signatures conducted

Environmental characteristics of sources analyzed

Abstract

We present preliminary results from our archival Spitzer Space Telescope program aimed at characterizing the mid-IR properties of compact objects, both isolated and in binary systems, i.e. white dwarfs, X-ray binaries, cataclysmic variables, and magnetars. Most of these sources are too faint at mid-IR wavelengths to be observable from the ground, so this study provides the very first comprehensive look at the mid-IR emission of these objects. Here we present our results for the low mass X-ray binaries. We considered all of the systems listed in the most recent catalog of Liu et al. (2007) that have known optical counterparts. The particular goals of our projects encompass: to establish the mid-IR spectral energy distribution, to search for the signatures of jets, circumbinary disks, low mass or planetary companions and debris disks, and to study the local environment of these sources.