Optical counterparts of two candidate ultraluminous X-ray sources in NGC 4536

Abstract

ABSTRACTArchival XMM–Newton, Chandra, and Hubble Space Telescope(HST) data have been used to study the X-ray and optical properties of two candidate ultraluminous X-ray sources in NGC 4536. In order to search for potential optical counterparts, relative astrometry between Chandra and HST was improved, and as a result, optical counterparts were detected for both X-ray sources. To complement our findings (based on the archival data), ground-based optical spectra of the counterparts were obtained with the 6-m BTA (Big Telescope Alt-azimuth) Telescope located at the Special Astrophysical Observatory. The calculated redshift (z = 0.4391 ± 0.0010) for one of the sources (X-3) indicates that the source is, in fact, a background active galactic nucleus. Two possible optical counterparts (s1 and s2) were found for X-2. Whether s1 is point-like or an extended source is unclear: If it is point-like and the emission is dominated by the donor, its spectral type indicates O–B star. The second source (s2) is point-like and is consistent with the colours and absolute magnitudes of a red supergiant.