Echelle Spectroscopy of gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856

TL;DR

This study used high-resolution spectroscopy over 50 days to analyze the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856, revealing spectral features and constraining the nature of its compact object.

Contribution

First detailed spectroscopic analysis of 1FGL J1018.6-5856 providing spectral classification and constraints on the compact object mass.

Findings

Spectral type confirmed as O6 V((f)).

Radial velocity amplitude estimated to be less than 40 km/s.

Likely the compact object is a neutron star with mass less than 2.2 solar masses.

Abstract

We observed the Fermi-discovered gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856 at 20 epochs over 50 days using the CHIRON spectrograph, obtaining spectra at R~25,000 covering 4090-8908A. The average spectrum confirms an O6 V((f)) spectral type and extinction E(B-V) = 1.35+/-0.04. Variable absorption line equivalent widths suggest substantial contamination by wind line features. The limited S/N ratio hindered accurate continuum definition and prevented measurement of a high quality radial velocity curve. Nevertheless, the best data indicate a radial velocity amplitude <40 km/s for the He II lines and substantially lower for H I. We argue that this indicates a most likely compact object mass <2.2Msun. While black hole solutions are not excluded, a neutron star source of the gamma-ray emission seems preferred.