Determining the Distance of Cyg X-3 with its X-Ray Dust Scattering Halo

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 695; no. 2; pp. 1111 - 1120
• Main Authors: Ling, Zhixing, Zhang, Shuang Nan, Tang, Shichao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 20.04.2009; IOP
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; X-ray scattering; extinction; X-rays: binaries; scattering; X-ray binary stars; Binary X ray source; Cosmic x-ray sources; X-rays: ISM; dust
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/695/2/1111

Using a cross-correlation method, we study the X-ray halo of Cyg X-3. Two components of dust distributions are needed to explain the time lags derived by the cross-correlation method. Assuming the distance as 1.7 kpc for Cyg OB2 association (a richest OB association in the local Galaxy) and another uniform dust distribution, we get a distance of 7.2+0.3 -0.5 kpc (68% confidence level) for Cyg X-3. When using the distance estimation of Cygnus OB2 as 1.38 or 1.82 kpc, the inferred distance for Cyg X-3 is 3.4+0.2 -0.2 or 9.3+0.6 -0.4 kpc, respectively. The distance estimation uncertainty of Cyg X-3 is mainly related to the distance of the Cyg OB2, which may be improved in the future with high-precision astrometric measurements. The advantage of this method is that the result depends weakly on the photon energy, dust grain radius, scattering cross-section, and so on.