Broadband monitoring tracing the evolution of the jet and disk in the black hole candidate X-ray binary MAXI J1659-152

TL;DR

This study presents a comprehensive broadband observational analysis of the black hole candidate MAXI J1659-152, revealing spectral features, physical parameters, and jet-disk correlations over three years, enhancing understanding of black hole binary evolution.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed broadband spectral modeling and long-term correlation analysis of MAXI J1659-152, linking radio, optical, and X-ray data to understand jet and disk evolution.

Findings

Spectral break at radio frequencies identified.

No significant jet contribution to nIR in soft/intermediate states.

Jet break detected at radio frequencies during certain states.

Abstract

MAXI J1659-152 was discovered on 2010 September 25 as a new X-ray transient, initially identified as a gamma-ray burst, but was later shown to be a new X-ray binary with a black hole as the most likely compact object. Dips in the X-ray light curves have revealed that MAXI J1659-152 is the shortest period black hole candidate identified to date. Here we present the results of a large observing campaign at radio, sub-millimeter, near-infrared (nIR), optical and ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. We have combined this very rich data set with the available X-ray observations to compile a broadband picture of the evolution of this outburst. We have performed broadband spectral modeling, demonstrating the presence of a spectral break at radio frequencies and a relationship between the radio spectrum and X-ray states. Also, we have determined physical parameters of the accretion disk and put them into context with respect to the other parameters of the binary system. Finally, we have investigated the radio-X-ray and nIR/optical/UV-X-ray correlations up to ~3 years after the outburst onset to examine the link between the jet and the accretion disk, and found that there is no significant jet contribution to the nIR emission when the source is in the soft or intermediate X-ray spectral state, consistent with our detection of the jet break at radio frequencies during these states.