State-dependent signatures of jets and winds in the optical and infrared spectrum of the black hole transient GX 339–4
State-dependent signatures of jets and winds in the optical and infrared spectrum of the black hole transient GX 339–4
GX 339a-4 is one of the prototypical black hole X-ray transients, exhibiting recurrent outbursts that allow detailed studies of black hole accretion and ejection phenomena. In this work we present four epochs of optical and near-infrared spectroscopy obtained with X-shooter at the Very Large Telescope. The dataset includes two hard state spectra, collected during the 2013 and 2015 outbursts, and two soft state spectra observed during the 2021 outburst. Strong Balmer, Paschen, He I and He II emission lines are consistently observed in all spectra, while Brackett transitions and the Bowen blend are only prominent in the soft state. Although P-Cygni profiles are not identified, the presence of wind signatures, such as extended emission wings, flat-top and asymmetric red-skewed profiles, is consistently observed through most emission lines, suggesting the presence of wind-type ejecta. These features are particularly evident in the hard state, but they are also observed in the soft state, especially in the near-infrared. This strengthens the case for state-independent winds in black hole transients and increases the evidence for wind signatures in low-to-intermediate orbital inclination systems. We also study the spectral energy distribution, which provides evidence for the presence of synchrotron emission during the hard state. The jet significantly affects the near-infrared continuum, greatly diluting the emission features produced in the accretion flow. The simultaneous identification of both jet and wind signatures during the hard state reinforces the idea of a complex outflow scenario, in which different types of ejecta coexist.
Accretion, Accretion disks, Outflows, Stars: black holes, Stars: individual: V821 Arae, Stars: winds, X-rays: binaries
Ambrifi, A.
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Mata sánchez, D.
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Muñoz-Darias, T.
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Sánchez-Sierras, J.
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Armas padilla, M.
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Baglio, M.C.
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Casares, J.
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Corral-Santana, J.M.
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Cúneo, V.A.
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Fender, R.P.
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Ponti, G.
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Russell, D.M.
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Shidatsu, M.
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Steeghs, D.
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Torres, M.A.P.
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Ueda, Y.
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Vincentelli, F.
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Ambrifi, A.
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Mata sánchez, D.
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Muñoz-Darias, T.
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Sánchez-Sierras, J.
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Armas padilla, M.
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Baglio, M.C.
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Casares, J.
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Corral-Santana, J.M.
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Cúneo, V.A.
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Fender, R.P.
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Ponti, G.
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Russell, D.M.
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Shidatsu, M.
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Steeghs, D.
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Torres, M.A.P.
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Ueda, Y.
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Vincentelli, F.
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Ambrifi, A., Mata sánchez, D., Muñoz-Darias, T., Sánchez-Sierras, J., Armas padilla, M., Baglio, M.C., Casares, J., Corral-Santana, J.M., Cúneo, V.A., Fender, R.P., Ponti, G., Russell, D.M., Shidatsu, M., Steeghs, D., Torres, M.A.P., Ueda, Y. and Vincentelli, F.
(2025)
State-dependent signatures of jets and winds in the optical and infrared spectrum of the black hole transient GX 339–4.
Astronomy & Astrophysics, 694, [A109].
(doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202451024).
Abstract
GX 339a-4 is one of the prototypical black hole X-ray transients, exhibiting recurrent outbursts that allow detailed studies of black hole accretion and ejection phenomena. In this work we present four epochs of optical and near-infrared spectroscopy obtained with X-shooter at the Very Large Telescope. The dataset includes two hard state spectra, collected during the 2013 and 2015 outbursts, and two soft state spectra observed during the 2021 outburst. Strong Balmer, Paschen, He I and He II emission lines are consistently observed in all spectra, while Brackett transitions and the Bowen blend are only prominent in the soft state. Although P-Cygni profiles are not identified, the presence of wind signatures, such as extended emission wings, flat-top and asymmetric red-skewed profiles, is consistently observed through most emission lines, suggesting the presence of wind-type ejecta. These features are particularly evident in the hard state, but they are also observed in the soft state, especially in the near-infrared. This strengthens the case for state-independent winds in black hole transients and increases the evidence for wind signatures in low-to-intermediate orbital inclination systems. We also study the spectral energy distribution, which provides evidence for the presence of synchrotron emission during the hard state. The jet significantly affects the near-infrared continuum, greatly diluting the emission features produced in the accretion flow. The simultaneous identification of both jet and wind signatures during the hard state reinforces the idea of a complex outflow scenario, in which different types of ejecta coexist.
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aa51024-24
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Accepted/In Press date: 19 December 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 February 2025
Keywords:
Accretion, Accretion disks, Outflows, Stars: black holes, Stars: individual: V821 Arae, Stars: winds, X-rays: binaries
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 499124
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/499124
ISSN: 0004-6361
PURE UUID: f7472a88-269f-4e99-b09e-2652d70fb844
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Date deposited: 10 Mar 2025 17:42
Last modified: 21 Aug 2025 03:47
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Contributors
Author:
A. Ambrifi
Author:
D. Mata sánchez
Author:
T. Muñoz-Darias
Author:
J. Sánchez-Sierras
Author:
M. Armas padilla
Author:
M.C. Baglio
Author:
J. Casares
Author:
J.M. Corral-Santana
Author:
V.A. Cúneo
Author:
R.P. Fender
Author:
G. Ponti
Author:
D.M. Russell
Author:
M. Shidatsu
Author:
D. Steeghs
Author:
M.A.P. Torres
Author:
Y. Ueda
Author:
F. Vincentelli
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