Jeffrey E. McClintock
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Jeffrey E. McClintock has a total of 99 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Ronald A. Remillard
MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics & Space Research MIT 70 Vassar Street 02139 Cambridge MA USA
27 shared publications - Charles D. Bailyn
Department of Astronomy, Yale University, P.O. Box 208101, New Haven, CT 06520
14 shared publications - Jerome A. Orosz
Astronomical Institute, Utrecht University, Postbus 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, Netherlands
8 shared publications - Ramesh Narayan
Center for Astrophysics ∣ Harvard & Smithsonian, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
8 shared publications - James F. Steiner
Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
7 shared publications - Jerome A. Orosz
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802-6305
7 shared publications
Latest Publications
- Open Access
An Empirical Method for Improving the Quality of RXTE HEXTE Spectra
We have developed a correction tool to improve the quality of RXTE HEXTE spectra by employing the same method we used earlier to improve the quality of RXTE PCA spectra. We fit all of the hundreds of HEXTE spectra of the Crab individually to a simple power-law model, some 37 million counts in total for Cluster A and 39 million counts for Cluster B, and we create for each cluster a combined spectrum of residuals. We find that the residual spectrum of Cluster A is free of instrumental artifacts while that of Cluster B contains significant features with amplitudes ~1%; the most prominent is in the energy range 30-50 keV, which coincides with the iodine K edge. Starting with the residual spectrum for Cluster B, via an iterative procedure we created the calibration tool hexBcorr for correcting any Cluster B spectrum of interest. We demonstrate the efficacy of the tool by applying it to Cluster B spectra of two bright black holes, which contain several million counts apiece. For these spectra, application of the tool significantly improves the goodness of fit, while affecting only slightly the broadband fit parameters. The tool may be important for the study of spectral features, such as cyclotron lines, a topic that is beyond the scope of this paper.
Open AccessAn Empirical Method for Improving the Quality of RXTE HEXTE Spectra
We have developed a correction tool to improve the quality of RXTE HEXTE spectra by employing the same method we used earlier to improve the quality of RXTE PCA spectra. We fit all of the hundreds of HEXTE spectra of the Crab individually to a simple power-law model, some 37 million counts in total for Cluster A and 39 million counts for Cluster B, and we create for each cluster a combined spectrum of residuals. We find that the residual spectrum of Cluster A is free of instrumental artifacts while that of Cluster B contains significant features with amplitudes ~1%; the most prominent is in the energy range 30-50 keV, which coincides with the iodine K edge. Starting with the residual spectrum for Cluster B, via an iterative procedure we created the calibration tool hexBcorr for correcting any Cluster B spectrum of interest. We demonstrate the efficacy of the tool by applying it to Cluster B spectra of two bright black holes, which contain several million counts apiece. For these spectra, application of the tool significantly improves the goodness of fit, while affecting only slightly the broadband fit parameters. The tool may be important for the study of spectral features, such as cyclotron lines, a topic that is beyond the scope of this paper.
- Open Access
X-ray Reflection Spectroscopy of the Black Hole GX 339-4: Exploring the Hard State with Unprecedented Sensitivity
We analyze {\it simultaneously} six composite {\it RXTE} spectra of GX 339--4 in the hard state comprising 77 million counts collected over 196 ks. The source spectra are ordered by luminosity and spanthe range 1.6\% to 17\% of the Eddington luminosity. Crucially, using our new tool {\tt pcacorr}, we re-calibrate the data to a precision of 0.1\%, an order of magnitude improvement over all earlier work. Using our advanced reflection model {\tt relxill}, we target the strong features in the component of emission reflected from the disk, namely, the relativistically-broadened Fe K emission line, the Fe K edge and the Compton hump. We report results for two joint fits to the six spectra: For the first fit, we fix the spin parameter to its maximal value ($a_*=0.998$) and allow the inner disk radius $R_{\rm in}$ to vary. Results include (i) precise measurements of $R_{\rm in}$, with evidence that the disk becomes slightly truncated at a few percent of Eddington; and (ii) an order-of-magnitude swing with luminosity in the high energy cutoff, which reaches $>890$ keV at our lowest luminosity. For the second fit, we make the standard assumption in estimating spin that the inner edge of the accretion disk is located at the innermost stable circular orbit ($R_\mathrm{in} = R_\mathrm{ISCO}$) and find $a_* = 0.95^{+0.03}_{-0.05}$ (90\% confidence, statistical). For both fits, and at the same level of statistical confidence, we estimate that the disk inclination is $i = 48\pm 1$ deg and that the Fe abundance is super-solar, $A_\mathrm{Fe} = 5\pm1$.Open AccessX-ray Reflection Spectroscopy of the Black Hole GX 339-4: Exploring the Hard State with Unprecedented Sensitivity
We analyze {\it simultaneously} six composite {\it RXTE} spectra of GX 339--4 in the hard state comprising 77 million counts collected over 196 ks. The source spectra are ordered by luminosity and spanthe range 1.6\% to 17\% of the Eddington luminosity. Crucially, using our new tool {\tt pcacorr}, we re-calibrate the data to a precision of 0.1\%, an order of magnitude improvement over all earlier work. Using our advanced reflection model {\tt relxill}, we target the strong features in the component of emission reflected from the disk, namely, the relativistically-broadened Fe K emission line, the Fe K edge and the Compton hump. We report results for two joint fits to the six spectra: For the first fit, we fix the spin parameter to its maximal value ($a_*=0.998$) and allow the inner disk radius $R_{\rm in}$ to vary. Results include (i) precise measurements of $R_{\rm in}$, with evidence that the disk becomes slightly truncated at a few percent of Eddington; and (ii) an order-of-magnitude swing with luminosity in the high energy cutoff, which reaches $>890$ keV at our lowest luminosity. For the second fit, we make the standard assumption in estimating spin that the inner edge of the accretion disk is located at the innermost stable circular orbit ($R_\mathrm{in} = R_\mathrm{ISCO}$) and find $a_* = 0.95^{+0.03}_{-0.05}$ (90\% confidence, statistical). For both fits, and at the same level of statistical confidence, we estimate that the disk inclination is $i = 48\pm 1$ deg and that the Fe abundance is super-solar, $A_\mathrm{Fe} = 5\pm1$. - Open Access
On Estimating the High-Energy Cutoff in the X-ray Spectra of Black Holes via Reflection Spectroscopy
The fundamental parameters describing the coronal spectrum of an accreting black hole are the slope $\Gamma$ of the power-law continuum and the energy $E_{cut}$ at which it rolls over. Remarkably, this parameter can be accurately measured for values as high as 1 MeV by modeling the spectrum of X-rays reflected from a black hole accretion disk at energies below 100 keV. This is possible because the details in the reflection spectrum, rich in fluorescent lines and other atomic features, are very sensitive to the spectral shape of the hardest coronal radiation illuminating the disk. We show that fitting simultaneous NuSTAR (3-79 keV) and low-energy (e.g., Suzaku) data with the most recent version of our reflection model RELXILL, one can obtain reasonable constraints on $E_{cut}$ at energies from tens of keV up to 1 MeV, for a source as faint as 1 mCrab in a 100 ks observation.Open AccessOn Estimating the High-Energy Cutoff in the X-ray Spectra of Black Holes via Reflection Spectroscopy
The fundamental parameters describing the coronal spectrum of an accreting black hole are the slope $\Gamma$ of the power-law continuum and the energy $E_{cut}$ at which it rolls over. Remarkably, this parameter can be accurately measured for values as high as 1 MeV by modeling the spectrum of X-rays reflected from a black hole accretion disk at energies below 100 keV. This is possible because the details in the reflection spectrum, rich in fluorescent lines and other atomic features, are very sensitive to the spectral shape of the hardest coronal radiation illuminating the disk. We show that fitting simultaneous NuSTAR (3-79 keV) and low-energy (e.g., Suzaku) data with the most recent version of our reflection model RELXILL, one can obtain reasonable constraints on $E_{cut}$ at energies from tens of keV up to 1 MeV, for a source as faint as 1 mCrab in a 100 ks observation. - 6 October 2014
- Published by American Astronomical Society in The Astrophysical Journal
- Vol. 794 (2) , 154
THE MASS OF THE BLACK HOLE IN LMC X-3
We analyze a large set of new and archival photometric and spectroscopic observations of LMC X-3 to arrive at a self-consistent dynamical model for the system. Using echelle spectra obtained with the Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle instrument on the 6.5?m Magellan Clay telescope and the UVES instrument on the second 8.2?m Very Large Telescope, we find a velocity semiamplitude for the secondary star of K 2 = 241.1 ? 6.2 km s?1, where the uncertainty includes an estimate of the systematic error caused by X-ray heating. Using the spectra, we also find a projected rotational velocity of V rotsin i = 118.5 ? 6.6 km s?1. From an analysis of archival B and V light curves as well as new B and V light curves from the SMARTS 1.3?m telescope, we find an inclination of i = 69.?84 ? 0.?37 for models that do not include X-ray heating and an inclination of i = 69.?24 ? 0.?72 for models that incorporate X-ray heating. Adopting the latter inclination measurement, we find masses of 3.63 ? 0.57 M ? and 6.98 ? 0.56 M ? for the companion star and the black hole, respectively. We briefly compare our results with earlier work and discuss some of their implications.
- 6 October 2014
- Published by American Astronomical Society in The Astrophysical Journal
- Vol. 794 (2) , 154
THE MASS OF THE BLACK HOLE IN LMC X-3
We analyze a large set of new and archival photometric and spectroscopic observations of LMC X-3 to arrive at a self-consistent dynamical model for the system. Using echelle spectra obtained with the Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle instrument on the 6.5?m Magellan Clay telescope and the UVES instrument on the second 8.2?m Very Large Telescope, we find a velocity semiamplitude for the secondary star of K 2 = 241.1 ? 6.2 km s?1, where the uncertainty includes an estimate of the systematic error caused by X-ray heating. Using the spectra, we also find a projected rotational velocity of V rotsin i = 118.5 ? 6.6 km s?1. From an analysis of archival B and V light curves as well as new B and V light curves from the SMARTS 1.3?m telescope, we find an inclination of i = 69.?84 ? 0.?37 for models that do not include X-ray heating and an inclination of i = 69.?24 ? 0.?72 for models that incorporate X-ray heating. Adopting the latter inclination measurement, we find masses of 3.63 ? 0.57 M ? and 6.98 ? 0.56 M ? for the companion star and the black hole, respectively. We briefly compare our results with earlier work and discuss some of their implications.
- Open Access
The Mass of the Black Hole in LMC X-3
We analyze a large set of new and archival photometric and spectroscopic observations of LMC X-3 to arrive at a self-consistent dynamical model for the system. Using echelle spectra obtained with the MIKE instrument on the 6.5m Magellan Clay telescope and the UVES instrument on the second 8.2m Very Large Telescope we find a velocity semiamplitude for the secondary star of $K_2=241.1\pm 6.2$ km s$^{-1}$, where the uncertainty includes an estimate of the systematic error caused by X-ray heating. Using the spectra, we also find a projected rotational velocity of $V_{\rm rot}\sin i=118.5\pm 6.6$ km s$^{-1}$. From an analysis of archival $B$ and $V$ light curves as well as new $B$ and $V$ light curves from the SMARTS 1.3m telescope, we find an inclination of $i=69.84\pm 0.37^{\circ}$ for models that do not include X-ray heating and an inclination of $i=69.24\pm 0.72^{\circ}$ for models that incorporate X-ray heating. Adopting the latter inclination measurement, we find masses of $3.63\pm 0.57\,M_{\odot}$ and $6.98\pm 0.56\,M_{\odot}$ for the companion star and the black hole, respectively. We briefly compare our results with earlier work and discuss some of their implications.Open AccessThe Mass of the Black Hole in LMC X-3
We analyze a large set of new and archival photometric and spectroscopic observations of LMC X-3 to arrive at a self-consistent dynamical model for the system. Using echelle spectra obtained with the MIKE instrument on the 6.5m Magellan Clay telescope and the UVES instrument on the second 8.2m Very Large Telescope we find a velocity semiamplitude for the secondary star of $K_2=241.1\pm 6.2$ km s$^{-1}$, where the uncertainty includes an estimate of the systematic error caused by X-ray heating. Using the spectra, we also find a projected rotational velocity of $V_{\rm rot}\sin i=118.5\pm 6.6$ km s$^{-1}$. From an analysis of archival $B$ and $V$ light curves as well as new $B$ and $V$ light curves from the SMARTS 1.3m telescope, we find an inclination of $i=69.84\pm 0.37^{\circ}$ for models that do not include X-ray heating and an inclination of $i=69.24\pm 0.72^{\circ}$ for models that incorporate X-ray heating. Adopting the latter inclination measurement, we find masses of $3.63\pm 0.57\,M_{\odot}$ and $6.98\pm 0.56\,M_{\odot}$ for the companion star and the black hole, respectively. We briefly compare our results with earlier work and discuss some of their implications. - Open Access
An Empirical Method for Improving the Quality of RXTE PCA Spectra
We fitted all of the several hundred {\it RXTE} PCA spectra of the Crab individually to a simple power-law model; the total number of counts in the composite spectrum is $>10^9$. We then used the spectrum of residuals to derive a calibration tool, called {\tt pcacorr}, that we apply to large samples of spectra for GX~339--4, H1743--322, and XTE J1550--564. Application of the tool improved the quality of all the fits, and the improvement is dramatic for spectra with $\gtrsim10^7$ counts. The Crab residual spectrum is somewhat different for each of the five PCA detectors, but it was relatively stable over the course of the mission. We recommend that {\tt pcacorr} be routinely applied to spectra with $\gtrsim10^6$ counts and that one include a systematic error of 0.1\%, rather than the 0.5--1\% value that has customarily been used. We expect that application of the tool will result in an increase in sensitivity of the PCA to faint spectral features by up to an order of magnitude.Open AccessAn Empirical Method for Improving the Quality of RXTE PCA Spectra
We fitted all of the several hundred {\it RXTE} PCA spectra of the Crab individually to a simple power-law model; the total number of counts in the composite spectrum is $>10^9$. We then used the spectrum of residuals to derive a calibration tool, called {\tt pcacorr}, that we apply to large samples of spectra for GX~339--4, H1743--322, and XTE J1550--564. Application of the tool improved the quality of all the fits, and the improvement is dramatic for spectra with $\gtrsim10^7$ counts. The Crab residual spectrum is somewhat different for each of the five PCA detectors, but it was relatively stable over the course of the mission. We recommend that {\tt pcacorr} be routinely applied to spectra with $\gtrsim10^6$ counts and that one include a systematic error of 0.1\%, rather than the 0.5--1\% value that has customarily been used. We expect that application of the tool will result in an increase in sensitivity of the PCA to faint spectral features by up to an order of magnitude. - 11 July 2014
- Published by American Astronomical Society in The Astrophysical Journal
- Vol. 790 (2)
UNDERSTANDING COMPACT OBJECT FORMATION AND NATAL KICKS. IV. THE CASE OF IC 10 X-1
- 11 July 2014
- Published by American Astronomical Society in The Astrophysical Journal
- Vol. 790 (2)
UNDERSTANDING COMPACT OBJECT FORMATION AND NATAL KICKS. IV. THE CASE OF IC 10 X-1
- Open Access
Understanding Compact Object Formation and Natal Kicks. IV. The case of IC 10 X-1
The extragalactic X-ray binary IC 10 X-1 has attracted attention as it is possibly the host of the most massive stellar-mass black-hole (BH) known to date. Here we consider all available observational constraints and construct its evolutionary history up to the instant just before the formation of the BH. Our analysis accounts for the simplest possible history that includes three evolutionary phases: binary orbital dynamics at core collapse, common envelope (CE) evolution, and evolution of the BH--helium star binary progenitor of the observed system. We derive the complete set of constraints on the progenitor system at various evolutionary stages. Specifically: right before the core collapse event, we find the mass of the BH immediate progenitor to be > 31 Msun (at 95% of confidence, same hereafter). The magnitude of the natal kick imparted to the BH is constrained to be < 130 km/s. Furthermore, we find that the "enthalpy" formalism recently suggested by Ivanova & Chaichenets is able to explain the existence of IC 10 X-1 without the need of invoking unreasonably high CE efficiencies. With this physically motivated formalism, we find that the CE efficiency required to explain the system is in the range of 0.6--1.
Open AccessUnderstanding Compact Object Formation and Natal Kicks. IV. The case of IC 10 X-1
The extragalactic X-ray binary IC 10 X-1 has attracted attention as it is possibly the host of the most massive stellar-mass black-hole (BH) known to date. Here we consider all available observational constraints and construct its evolutionary history up to the instant just before the formation of the BH. Our analysis accounts for the simplest possible history that includes three evolutionary phases: binary orbital dynamics at core collapse, common envelope (CE) evolution, and evolution of the BH--helium star binary progenitor of the observed system. We derive the complete set of constraints on the progenitor system at various evolutionary stages. Specifically: right before the core collapse event, we find the mass of the BH immediate progenitor to be > 31 Msun (at 95% of confidence, same hereafter). The magnitude of the natal kick imparted to the BH is constrained to be < 130 km/s. Furthermore, we find that the "enthalpy" formalism recently suggested by Ivanova & Chaichenets is able to explain the existence of IC 10 X-1 without the need of invoking unreasonably high CE efficiencies. With this physically motivated formalism, we find that the CE efficiency required to explain the system is in the range of 0.6--1.
- Top Cited Papers
- 30 January 2014
- Published by American Astronomical Society in The Astrophysical Journal
- Vol. 782 (2) , 76
IMPROVED REFLECTION MODELS OF BLACK HOLE ACCRETION DISKS: TREATING THE ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION OF X-RAYS
- 30 January 2014
- Published by American Astronomical Society in The Astrophysical Journal
- Vol. 782 (2) , 76
Top Cited PapersIMPROVED REFLECTION MODELS OF BLACK HOLE ACCRETION DISKS: TREATING THE ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION OF X-RAYS
- Top Cited Papers
- 9 July 2013
- Published by Springer Nature in Space Science Reviews
- Vol. 183 (1-4) , 295-322
Black Hole Spin via Continuum Fitting and the Role of Spin in Powering Transient Jets
- 9 July 2013
- Published by Springer Nature in Space Science Reviews
- Vol. 183 (1-4) , 295-322
Top Cited PapersBlack Hole Spin via Continuum Fitting and the Role of Spin in Powering Transient Jets