The newly discovered Be/X-ray binary Swift J004516.6-734703 in the SMC: witnessing the emergence of a circumstellar disc

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a Be/X-ray binary in the SMC, witnessing the formation of a circumstellar disc triggered by tidal interaction, with multi-wavelength observations revealing its outburst and periodicities.

Contribution

It presents the first observation of disc formation in a Be/X-ray binary linked to a recent periastron passage, combining X-ray, UV, IR, and spectroscopic data.

Findings

Detection of a bright X-ray outburst in 2020 June.

Identification of a 426-day binary period.

Observation of a 146.6s pulsation period.

Abstract

We report on the discovery of Swift J004516.6-734703, a Be/X-ray binary system by the Swift SMC Survey, S-CUBED. Swift J004516.6-734703, or SXP 146.6, was found to be exhibiting a bright (~10^37 erg/s) X-ray outburst in 2020 June 18. The historical UV and IR light-curves from OGLE and Swift/UVOT showed that after a long period of steady brightness, it experienced a significant brightening beginning around 2019 March. This IR/UV rise is likely the signature of the formation of a circumstellar disc, confirmed by the presence of strong a H{\alpha} line in SALT spectroscopy, that was not previously present. Periodicity analysis of the OGLE data reveals a plausible 426 day binary period, and in the X-ray a pulsation period of 146.6s period is detected. The onset of X-ray emission from Swift J004516.6-734703 is likely the signature of a Type-I outburst from the first periastron passage of the neutron star companion through the newly formed circumstellar disc. We note that the formation of the circumstellar disc began at the predicted time of the previous periastron passage, suggesting its formation was spurred by tidal interaction with the neutron star.