Constraining the Jet Energetics of the Transient X-Ray Binaries MAXI J1348−630 and MAXI J1820+070 through Calorimetry

Abstract We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observations aimed at identifying potential jet–interstellar medium (ISM) interaction sites in the vicinity of the transient black hole X-ray binaries MAXI J1348−630 and MAXI J1820+070, both of which have recently undergone an outburst, and displayed powerful large-scale jets. Using this dataset, we construct molecular line emission maps. By analyzing the morphological, spectral, and kinematic properties of the detected emission, we identify a molecular structure that provides compelling evidence for a jet-driven cavity in the local environment of MAXI J1348−630 but find no significant emission in the local environment of MAXI J1820+070. We use the properties of the detected molecular emission surrounding MAXI J1348−630 to constrain the jet power, finding our results to be consistent with other independent studies of this source, and further validating the utility of astrochemistry for constraining jet energetics. Additionally, our findings provide the first assessment on the formation timescales for jet–ISM interaction regions in the transient black hole X-ray binary population.