Title: Known Black Hole Candidates in Outburst

Title: Known Black Hole Candidates in Outburst

Proposal ID: 0120014
Subject category: Compact Object
Principal investigator: Parmar
Institute: ESTEC

Abstract

In the 30 years of satellite observations at least six black hole X-ray transients have been seen to undergo recurrent outbursts. The typical timescale is probably between 10-50 years, although one system shows regular outbursts every ~1.6 years. We wish to study outbursts from any known BHC transient using INTEGRAL to complement already approved XMM-Newton observations. The high X-ray sensitivity of XMM-Newton, combined with the high-energy coverage of INTEGRAL will allow the complex ultra-soft (at low energies), ultra-hard (at high energies) spectra of the majority of these systems to be simultaneously studied with unprecedented precision. Observations with SPI will allow the properties of any high-energy line features similar to that seen from Nova Muscae to be determined with unprecedented precision. JEM-X data will also be important for helping to understand the X-ray continua, since many outbursts are too bright for the CCD cameras on XMM-Newton to operate without significant pile-up.