An international group of astronomers has discovered a new Be/X-ray binary system. This is reported in a paper published on the arXiv preprint server.
X-ray double systems consist of a normal star or white dwarf transferring mass to a compact neutron star or black hole. Depending on the mass of the companion star, astronomers divide them into low-mass X-ray double systems (LMXB) and high-mass X-ray double systems (HMXB). Be/X-ray systems are the largest subgroup of HMXBs, consisting of Be-stars and neutron stars, including pulsars.
4XMM J182531.5-144036 was originally detected in April 2008 by the XMM-Newton satellite as a source of hard X-ray emission. In the new paper, the researchers analysed additional data and showed that the position of the source corresponds to that of an object emitting excess radiation in the near-infrared. This object also exhibits a strong hydrogen emission line.
