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We present the results of deep radio observations with the Australia Telescope Compact Array ( ATCA) of the globular cluster NGC 6388. We show that there is no radio source detected (with an rms noise level of 27 μJy) at the cluster centre of gravity or at the locations of any of the Chandra X-ray sources in the cluster. Based on the fundamental plane of accreting black holes which is a relationship between X-ray luminosity, radio luminosity and black hole mass, we place an upper limit of ∼1500 M on the mass of the putative intermediate-mass black hole located at the centre of NGC 6388. We discuss the uncertainties of this upper limit and the previously suggested black hole mass of based on surface density profile analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great success of the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) has shown that X-ray timing is an excellent tool for the study of strong gravitational fields and the measurement of fundamental physical properties of black holes and neutron stars. Here, we describe a next-generation X-ray timing mission, the Relativistic Astrophysics Explorer (RAE), designed to fit within the envelope of a medium-sized mission. The instruments will be a narrow-field X-ray detector array with an area of 6 m2 equal to 10 times that of RXTE and a wide-field X-ray monitor. We describe the science made possible with this mission, the design of the instruments, and results on prototype large-area X-ray detectors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We examine the spatial offsets between X-ray point sources and star clusters in three starburst galaxies. We find that the X-ray sources are preferentially located near the star clusters. Because the star clusters are very good tracers of the star formation activity in the galaxies, this indicates that the X-ray sources are young objects associated with current star formation. We find significant displacements of the X-ray sources from the clusters. These displacements are likely due to motion of the X-ray sources and indicates that they are X-ray binaries. We find that brighter X-ray sources preferentially occur closer to clusters. The absence of very bright sources at large displacements from clusters may help constrain models of the sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on observations of the X-ray pulsar IGR J16320−4751 (also known as AX J1631.9−4752) performed simultaneously with International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory ( INTEGRAL) and XMM–Newton. We refine the source position and identify the most likely infrared counterpart. Our simultaneous coverage allows us to confirm the presence of X-ray pulsations at ∼1300 s, that we detect above 20 keV with INTEGRAL for the first time. The pulse fraction is consistent with being constant with energy, which is compatible with a model of polar accretion by a pulsar. We study the spectral properties of IGR J16320−4751 during two major periods occurring during the simultaneous coverage with both satellites, namely a flare and a non-flare period. We detect the presence of a narrow 6.4 keV iron line in both periods. The presence of such a feature is typical of supergiant wind accretors such as Vela X-1 or GX 301−2. We inspect the spectral variations with respect to the pulse phase during the non-flare period, and show that the pulse is solely due to variations of the X-ray flux emitted by the source and not due to variations of the spectral parameters. Our results are therefore compatible with the source being a pulsar in a High Mass X-ray Binary. We detect a soft excess appearing in the spectra as a blackbody with a temperature of ∼0.07 keV. We discuss the origin of the X-ray emission in IGR J16320−4751: while the hard X-rays are likely the result of Compton emission produced in the close vicinity of the pulsar, based on energy argument we suggest that the soft excess is likely the emission by a collisionally energized cloud in which the compact object is embedded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have discovered large-scale moving X-ray and radio jets from the microquasar XTE J1550−564. Using X-ray and radio observations performed between 2000 and 2002, we showed that plasma ejected from XTE J1550−564 has been able to travel at relativistic velocities during many years, with evidence for gradual deceleration. The broadband spectrum of the jets is consistent with synchrotron emission from high energy particles accelerated in shocks. Full details can be found in Corbel et al. [Science 298 (2002a) 196], Karret et al. [ApJ 582 (2003) 933] and Tomsick et al. [ApJ (2003) 945]. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have detected, at x-ray and radio wavelengths, large-scale moving jets from the microquasar XTE J1550-564. Plasma ejected from near the black hole traveled at relativistic velocities for at least 4 years. We present direct evidence for gradual deceleration in a relativistic jet. The broadband spectrum of the jets is consistent with synchrotron emission from high-energy (up to 10 tera-electron volts) particles that were accelerated in the shock waves formed within the relativistic ejecta or by the interaction of the jets with the interstellar medium. XTE J1550-564 offers a rare opportunity to study the dynamical evolution of relativistic jets on time scales inaccessible for active galactic nuclei jets, with implications for our understanding of relativistic jets from Galactic x-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]