A Multiwavelength View of <i>ρ</i> Oph. I. Resolving the X-Ray Source between A and B
Abstract We present a multiwavelength analysis of the central stellar pair of ρ Oph components A and B. Using recent high-resolution Chandra X-ray Observatory observations, we demonstrate with high confidence that the dominant X-ray source is ρ Oph B, while ρ Oph A is comparatively X-ray faint. This result contrasts with earlier XMM-Newton observations, which, due to limited spatial resolutions, attributed the X-ray emission to ρ Oph A. An analysis of ρ Oph B’s X-ray light curves and spectra reveals properties more consistent with a cool star than a hot star. We therefore propose that ρ Oph B is an Algol-like binary system, consisting of a B-type primary and an active, X-ray-emitting GK-type companion.
Authors
- Walter W. Golay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7946-1034)
- Pragati Pradhan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1131-3059)
- Sean J. Gunderson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2602-6703)
- John M. Cannon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1821-7019)
- C. R. Canizares (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5769-8441)
- A. J. Riggs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8795-3459)
- Richard Ignace (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7204-5502)
- J. Wetzel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4687-7302)
- A. Moreno (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9304-0742)
- Nathalie C. Haurberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5247-1371)
- Jackson Codd (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3534-7691)
- David P. Huenemoerder (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3860-6230)
- Philip E. Griffin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7742-5376)
- J. Alex Fluegel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7931-8676)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Published
- 2025-12-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae0d7e
- Primary Topic
- Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00