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Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam Survey of Cygnus OB2 Complex – I. Introduction, photometry, and source catalogue

ABSTRACT Low-mass star formation inside massive clusters is crucial to understand the effect of cluster environment on processes like circumstellar disc evolution, planet, and brown dwarf formation. The young massive association of Cygnus OB2, with a strong feedback from massive stars, is an ideal target to study the effect of extreme environmental conditions on its extensive low-mass population. We aim to perform deep multiwavelength studies to understand the role of stellar feedback on the IMF, brown dwarf fraction and circumstellar disc properties in the region. We introduce here, the deepest and widest optical photometry of 1.5○ diameter region centred at Cygnus OB2 in r2, i2, z, and Y-filters, using Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC). This work presents the data reduction, source catalogue generation, data quality checks, and preliminary results about the pre-main sequence sources. We obtain 713 529 sources in total, with detection down to ∼28, 27, 25.5, and 24.5 mag in r2, i2, z, and Y-band, respectively, which is ∼3 – 5 mag deeper than the existing Pan-STARRS and GTC/OSIRIS photometry. We confirm the presence of a distinct pre-main sequence branch by statistical field subtraction of the central 18 arcmin region. We find the median age of the region as ∼5 ± 2 Myr with an average disc fraction of ∼9 per cent. At this age, combined with A $_V\, \sim$ 6 – 8 mag, we detect sources down to a mass range of ∼0.01–0.17 M⊙. The deep HSC catalogue will serve as the groundwork for further studies on this prominent active young cluster.

Gupta, Saumya (ORCID:0000000161843958)↗

What is special about Cygnus X-1?

The X-ray evidence from several experiments is reviewed, with special emphasis on those characteristics which appear to distinguish Cygnus X-1 from other compact X-ray emitting objects. Data are examined within the context of a model in which millisecond bursts are superposed upon shot-noise fluctuations arising from events of durations on the order of a second. Possible spectral-temporal correlations are investigated which provide additional evidence that Cygnus X-1 is very likely a black hole.

Boldt, E. A.↗

What is special about Cygnus X-1 - Black holes in theory and observation: X-ray observations

Of the eight X-ray sources now known which may be associated with binary stellar systems, Cygnus X-1 is the most likely candidate for being a black hole. The X-ray evidence from several experiments is reviewed, with special emphasis on those characteristics which appear to distinguish Cygnus X-1 from other compact X-ray emitting objects. Data are examined within the context of a model in which millisecond bursts (Rothschild et al., 1974) are superposed on shot-noise fluctuations (Terrell, 1972) arising from 'events' of durations on the order of a second. Possible spectral-temporal correlations are investigated which indicate new measurements that need to be made in future experiments.

Boldt, E.↗

Observation of gamma rays with a 4.8 hour periodicity from Cygnus X-3

Energetic (exceeding 35 MeV) gamma-rays have been observed from the direction of Cygnus X-3 with the SAS-2 gamma-ray telescope. The statistical significance of the excess above the galactic and diffuse radiation is approximately 4.5 sigma. In addition, the gamma-ray flux is modulated at the 4.8-hr period observed in the X-ray and infrared regions, and within the statistical error is in phase with this emission. The flux above 100 MeV has an average value of about 4.4 millionths photon/sq cm per sec. If the distance to Cygnus X-3 is 10 kpc, this flux implies a luminosity of more than 10 to the 37th power erg/s if the radiation is isotropic and about 10 to the 36th power erg/s if the radiation is restricted to a cone of 1 steradian, as it might be in a pulsar. Upper limits are presented for the gamma-ray flux from other known or suspected periodic X-ray sources.

Lamb, R. C.↗

Observational constraints on the models for Cygnus X-3

Observations of Cygnus X-3 made by the ANS and Uhuru satellites have shown significant X-ray flux variability on a time scale of hours. No spectral change was observed associated with these fluctuations. Significant intensity and spectral changes were found on a time scale of months with an inverse correlation between the source intensity and the temperature, and possibly the low-energy cutoff. The spectrum studies have confirmed the existence of an excess above the fitted continuum which can be interpreted as line emission of Fe XXIV and/or Fe XXV at about 6.7 keV. Phenomenological models for Cygnus X-3 are discussed; the observational data are best interpreted by assuming that a scattering and absorbing shell is symmetrically placed around the X-ray source.

Parsignault, D. R.↗

The central, compact source in the Cygnus A galaxy

Single, optically thin, component models as well as double, optically thick at low frequencies, component models have been examined in trying to explain the central source in the nucleus of Cygnus A. In the course of exploring those models, it is found that this compact radio source may be quite similar to other compact and variable sources in Seyfert galaxies and quasars. Double component models generally do better because they fit the X-rays, and there is a good chance that the X-rays arise in the central source; these models can naturally explain variability which may already have been detected in X-rays. The IR is most likely due to emission by cold dust in the nucleus of Cygnus A. Optical emission is, very likely, primarily thermal, except perhaps at UV wavelengths. A number of observations are suggested to check the predictions of this work.

Kafatos, M.↗

The period derivative of Cygnus X-3

X-rays from Cygnus X-3 have been observed during early 1978 with the detectors of the SAS 3 satellite. These observations, in conjunction with earlier Uhuru and ANS data, indicate that the 4.8 hr period of Cygnus X-3 is increasing at a rate of (5.1 + or - 1.3) times to the -6th per year. The sign and magnitude for this change are incompatible with a rotation model for the period and are in reasonable agreement with model predictions for orbital changes associated with mass loss and transfer in a binary system.

Lamb, R. C.↗

Observations of Cygnus X-3 with the Einstein /HEAO 2/ X-ray Observatory The period derivative and the asymmetric X-ray light curve

Cygnus X-3 was observed by the Monitor Proportional Counter on the Einstein (HEAO 2) X-ray Observatory for 2.4 days in 1978 December. The analysis of the data from these observations is used in conjunction with a self-consistent re-examination of previous results from the Uhuru, ANS, COS B, and SAS 3 satellites to investigate earlier reports that the 4.8 hour period of Cygnus X-3 is increasing. It is found that there is indeed a period derivative, P = (1.78 plus or minus 0.40) x 10 to the -9th s/s, which confirms the principal conclusion of previous authors. The possibility that the X-ray source is in an elliptical orbit and that some, or all, of the observed period derivative may be due to apsidal motion is discussed. The elliptic orbit hypothesis explains the observed asymmetry in the average X-ray light curve and leads to the conclusion that the most likely companion to the X-ray source is a helium star, possibly with a light hydrogen envelope

Elsner, R. F.↗

On the phase-locked polarization variations in Cygnus X-1

The paper presents data on the accumulated V-band orbital phase curves of polarization in Cygnus X-1 which disagree with the analysis of Simmons, Aspin, and Brown (1980). No curves which conform to the canonical model were observed, and a noncanonical structure is indicated by F tests on third, fourth, and fifth harmonics, which have a probability of 0.85 as a group. The fifth harmonic has a probability of 0.99; in contrast, the fundamental harmonic has a probability of only 0.6, which is below the detection threshold. Therefore, major conclusions of Simmons et al based on a nonsymmetrical canonical model assuming that fundamental harmonics are present, but harmonics with n greater than 2 are absent, are unacceptable. Analysis of the author's data by Simmons et al is criticized on the grounds that he did not take into account the cumulative aspects of the data and did not recognize the need to average out the random noise generated by Cygnus X-1 over many orbital cycles.

Kemp, J. C.↗

The Cygnus 'superbubble' - A supernova explosion in a tenuous intercloud medium

Cash et al. (1980) observed an incomplete X-ray shell in the Cygnus region with a temperature of 2 x 10 to the 6th K and a density of 0.02 per cu cm. This feature closely resembles Loop I, a nearby supernova remnant expanding in a tenuous (less than 0.01 per cu cm) medium. A similar origin - remnant expansion in a tenuous intercloud medium with the bulk of the interstellar gas concentrated in clouds - is suggested for the Cygnus X-ray feature. This model greatly reduces the required initial thermal energy. Remnant shock interaction with ambient interstellar clouds produces the observed H-alpha filaments.

Higdon, J. C.↗

Observation of an excess of cosmic ray muons of energies 2 TeV from the direction of Cygnus X-3

A high flux of muons from the Cygnus X-3 direction has been observed in NUSEX experiment at depths greater than 4600 hg/sq cm s.r. The excess muons show the 4.8 hour modulation in arrival time typical of this source. A study of this modulation was done in order to find the best value of the period and of the period derivative. The muon flux underground from NUSEX and SOUDAN (1800 hg/sq cm) experiments are used to determine the energy spectrum at sea level. The shape and the absolute intensities are found similar to those attributed to gamma rays responsible for production of air showers detected in direction of Cygnus X-3 in the energy range 10 to the 12th power to 10 to the 15th power eV.

Battistoni, G.↗

Einstein observations of selected regions of the Cygnus Loop

The imaging proportional counter on the Einstein X-ray Observatory is used to obtain high quality soft X-ray maps of two 40 x 40 arcmin regions of the Cygnus Loop. One region covers the western shock front; the other is centered on the southern diffuse extension. After careful correction for background and detector gain variations these two regions were subdivided for X-ray spectral analysis. In both cases the spectra of the brightest X-ray emitting areas are characterized by temperatures of about 2 million K, whereas the spectra of the fainter diffuse regions are indicative of higher temperatures (T greater than about 4 million K) and suggest the presence of a second, hard component. These results, together with the correlation of the X-ray spatial distribution with the optical and radio maps, are discussed in terms of current models of supernova remnant evolution. The evidence suggests that the Cygnus Loop is the result of a Type II supernova of a star of initial mass of less than about 20 solar masses.

Charles, P. A.↗

The X-ray halo of Cygnus X-1

Four Einstein HRI images of Cygnus X-1 were examined for the presence of a halo due to scattering of X-rays by interstellar grains. The analysis technique exploits the intrinsic aperiodic variability of the source to map the point response function of the optics. A residual, nonvariable component to the surface brightness distribution (comprising approximately more than 12 percent of the source flux) is interpreted as a scattered halo. The halo flux does not reflect the short term time variability of the central source as it is smoothed by differential time delays of order days. The Cygnus X-1 halo is consistent with those of other sources derived in previous studies using different techniques. Comparison is made with a scattering model, and the sensitivity of the halo flux to maximal grain size is demonstrated.

Bode, M. F.↗

Evidence from the Soudan 1 experiment for underground muons associated with Cygnus X-3

The Soudan 1 experiment has yielded evidence for an average underground muon flux of approximately 7 x 10 to the minus 11th power/sq cm/s which points back to the X-ray binary Cygnus X-3, and which exhibits the 4.8 h periodicity observed for other radiation from this source. Underground muon events which seem to be associated with Cygnus X-3 also show evidence for longer time variability of the flux. Such underground muons cannot be explained by any conventional models of the propagation and interaction of cosmic rays.

Ayres, D. S. E.↗

Search for a periodic signal from Cygnus X-3 usingmuons observed underground in the Frejus detector (4800 mwe)

Periodic signals from Cygnus X-3 in the ultra high energy range were recently reported by air shower arrays and attributed to gamma rays. Although gamma rays are expected to produce muon-poor showers, the preceding observations have stimulated similar studies based on underground muons. Two groups have claimed a significant underground signal coming from Cygnus X-3. The results are, however, extremely difficult to explain in the present framework of particle physics, and clearly need confirmation. The preliminary results obtained from the Frejus underground detector during its first 16 months of operation (March 1984 to June 1985) are presented.

Bareyre, P.↗

Spectral variability of Cygnus X-2 - Structure in the circumsource material

Cygnus X-2 was observed during 13 separate pointings in the course of 1 yr by the Einstein monitor proportional counter. During one of these pointings the objective grating spectrometer was also used. It is found that the data from these observations are well fitted by single-component thermal bremsstrahlung models with temperatures ranging from 4-12 keV; however, two-component models, where one component is a blackbody, are not excluded. The X-ray light curve appears to be correlated with the 9.843 day optical period, possibly implying a partial eclipse of the X-ray source. During the high states there are irregular dips of up to 30 percent in intensity that last for 300-700 s. The high spectra resolution grating data were taken during one of the high states when these dips occurred, and it is possible to distinguish variable variable emission and absorption features due to Fe, O, and Ne. The picture of Cygnus X-2 is consistent with an intrinsic thermal source surrounded by a hot accretion disk corona. This model can be used to explain the high and low X-ray states, the variability within the states, and the intensity dips which occur in the high states.

Vrtilek, S. D.↗

X-ray observations of the Ophiuchus, PKS 0745-191 and Cygnus-A clusters of galaxies

Observations are reported of the X-ray emission from three bright clusters of galaxies at low Galactic latitudes: the Ophiuchus, PKS 0745-191, and Cygnus-A clusters. Temperatures and iron abundances are determined from Exosat spectral data. Images of the Ophiuchus cluster show it to have a high central density and a cooling flow. Measurements of a high gas density around PKS 0745-191 and are confirmed, and it is shown that the X-ray emission is centered on the radio galaxy. The PKS 0745-191 cluster is the most distant object for which an abundance has been measured from X-ray spectra. The spectrum of Cygnus-A contains a highly absorbed power-law component that is identified with the nucleus of the radio source.

Arnaud, K. A.↗