The chandra local volume survey: The X-ray point-source population of NGC 404

B. Binder, B. F. Williams, M. Eracleous, T. J. Gaetz, A. K.H. Kong, E. D. Skillman, D. R. Weisz

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Abstract

We present a comprehensive X-ray point-source catalog of NGC 404 obtained as part of the Chandra Local Volume Survey. A new 97 ks Chandra ACIS-S observation of NGC 404 was combined with archival observations for a total exposure of ∼123 ks. Our survey yields 74 highly significant X-ray point sources and is sensitive to a limiting unabsorbed luminosity of ∼6 × 1035 erg s-1 in the 0.35-8 keV band. To constrain the nature of each X-ray source, cross-correlations with multi-wavelength data were generated. We searched overlapping Hubble Space Telescope observations for optical counterparts to our X-ray detections, but find only two X-ray sources with candidate optical counterparts. We find 21 likely low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), although this number is a lower limit due to the difficulties in separating LMXBs from background active galactic nuclei. The X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) in both the soft and hard energy bands are presented. The XLFs in the soft band (0.5-2 keV) and the hard band (2-8 keV) have a limiting luminosity at the 90% completeness limit of 1035 erg s-1 and 1036 erg s-1, respectively, significantly lower than previous X-ray studies of NGC 404. We find the XLFs to be consistent with those of other X-ray populations dominated by LMXBs. However, the number of luminous (>1037 erg s-1) X-ray sources per unit stellar mass in NGC 404 is lower than is observed for other galaxies. The relative lack of luminous XRBs may be due to a population of LMXBs with main-sequence companions formed during an epoch of elevated star formation ∼0.5 Gyr ago.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number128
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume763
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2013

Keywords

  • X-rays: galaxies
  • binaries: general
  • galaxies: individual (NGC 404)
  • surveys

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