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"Low Mass X-ray Binary Populations in Elliptical Galaxies"

Dr. Nicky Brassington
University of Crete, Greece
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When: Wednesday, 1st of December of 2010 at 2:00 pm
Where: 2nd Floor Seminar Room

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Abstract:  

Low mass X-ray binaries provide unique information on the formation and
evolution of binary stars in elliptical galaxies. Here, I present the results 
of deep Chandra monitoring observations of the two nearby elliptical galaxies 
NGC 3379 and NGC 4278, which allow us to probe the LMXB populations to 
luminosities reaching to <10E36 erg/s. These observations reveal 98 sources in 
NGC 3379, and 180 in NGC 4278. From these sources we have characterized the 
properties of the LMXB populations (spatial distribution, spectra and X-ray 
colors, time variability and the X-ray luminosity function) and have used HST 
observations to identify GC correlations. Here I will discuss the properties of 
these populations from the two galaxies, highlighting their differences, which 
may be related to the different GC specific frequencies in these optically similar 
galaxies. In this discussion I will focus on the spectral properties and transient 
behaviour that has been observed in both populations, providing important 
information that can constrain the nature of these LMXBs. I will also discuss the 
LMXB-GC connection which furthers our understanding of the relation of LMXBs to the 
underlying stellar population.