Dynamical Evidence for a Black Hole in GX 339−4

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Abstract

We present outburst spectroscopy of GX 3394 that may reveal the motion of its elusive companion star.\nN iii lines exhibit sharp emission components moving over ?300 km s1 in a single night. The most plausible\ninterpretation of these components is that they are formed by irradiation of the companion star and the velocities\nindicate its orbital motion. We also detect motion of the wings of the He ii 4686 A° line and changes in its\nmorphology. No previously proposed period is consistent with periodic behavior of all of these measures. However,\nconsistent and sensible solutions are obtained for periods around 1.7 days. For the best period, 1.7557 days, we\nestimate a mass function of M,. Even allowing for aliases, the 95% confidence lower limit on the 5.80.5\nmass function is 2.0 M,. GX 3394 can therefore be added to the list of dynamical black hole candidates. This\nis supported by the small motion in the wings of the He ii line; if the compact object velocity is not larger than\nthe observed motion, then the mass ratio is , similar to other systems harboring black holes. Finally, q 0.08\nwe note that the sharp components are not always present but do seem to occur within a repeating phase range.\nThis appears to migrate between our epochs of observation and may indicate shielding of the companion star\nby a variable accretion geometry such as a warp.

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