Peculiar X-ray transient SRGA J043520.9+552226/AT2019wey discovered with SRG/ART-XC

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery and multiwavelength analysis of a peculiar X-ray transient, SRGA J043520.9+552226, associated with an optical transient, revealing it as a black hole in a low-mass X-ray binary system.

Contribution

It presents the first transient detected by ART-XC with a bright optical counterpart and combines multi-instrument data to characterize its nature.

Findings

Identified as a black hole in a low-mass X-ray binary.

First transient detected by ART-XC with a bright optical counterpart.

Multiwavelength data confirmed the source's nature.

Abstract

Context: During the ongoing all-sky survey, the Mikhail Pavlinsky ART-XC telescope on board the SRG observatory should discover new X-ray sources, many of which can be transient. Here we report on the discovery and multiwavelength follow-up of a peculiar X-ray source SRGA J043520.9+552226=SRGe J043523.3+552234 - the high-energy counterpart of the optical transient AT2019wey. Aims: Thanks to its sensitivity and the survey strategy, the Mikhail Pavlinsky ART-XC telescope uncovers poorly studied weak transient populations. Using a synergy with current public optical surveys, we are aiming at revealing the nature of these transients to study its parent populations. The SRGA J043520.9+552226 is the first transient detected by ART-XC which has a bright optical counterpart suitable for further studies. Methods: We have used available public X-ray and optical data and observations with SRG, INTEGRAL, NuSTAR, NICER and ground-based telescopes to investigate the source spectral energy distributions at different phases of the outburst. Results: Based on X-ray spectral and timing properties derived from space observations, optical spectroscopy and photometry obtained with the 2.5-m and RC600 CMO SAI MSU telescopes, we propose the source to be a black hole in a low-mass close X-ray binary system.