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[165.04] Optical and Near-Infrared Light Curves of Black-Hole X-ray Binaries during Outbursts

M.M. Buxton, C.D. Bailyn (Yale University)

Since 1998 we have monitored approximately 10 low-mass X-ray binaries (most being black-hole candidates) at optical and infrared (OIR) wavelengths on a near-daily basis. Our data has been obtained using the ANDICAM camera, first on the CTIO 1.0m telescope under the YALO consortium, and more recently (since 2003) on the CTIO 1.3m telescope under the SMARTS consortium. We have accumulated a dataset that provides unprecedented sampling in the OIR during the various outburst states of these objects. Upon combining our results with those at other wavelengths, we are able to shed more light on the physical conditions present in the X-ray binary during the different outburst states. This talk will focus on our OIR light curves and the information we have gathered from them, in particular on the possible contribution of jet synchrotron radiation to the OIR.

This research has been made possible by the support from the National Science Foundation through grant AST 00-98421.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 5
© 2004. The American Astronomical Society.