Calibrating X-Ray Binary Luminosity Functions via Optical Reconnaissance. I. The Case of M83

Building on recent work by Chandar et al., we construct X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) for different classes of X-ray binary (XRB) donors in the nearby star-forming galaxy M83 through a novel methodology. Rather than classifying low- versus high-mass XRBs based on the scaling of the number of X-ray sources with stellar mass and star formation rate, respectively, we utilize multiband Hubble Space Telescope imaging data to classify each Chandra-detected compact X-ray source as a low-mass (i.e., donor mass less than or similar to 3 M-circle dot), high-mass (donor mass greater than or similar to 8M(circle dot)), or intermediate-mass XRB based on either the location of its candidate counterpart on optical color-magnitude diagrams or the age of its host star cluster. In addition to the standard (single and/or truncated) power-law functional shape, we approximate the resulting XLFs with a Schechter function. We identify a marginally significant (at the 1 sigma-to-2 sigma level) exponential downturn for the high-mass XRB XLF, at l similar or equal to 38.48-0.33+0.52 (in log CGS units). In contrast, the low- and intermediate-mass XRB XLFs, as well as the total XLF of M83, are formally consistent with sampling statistics from a single power law. Our method suggests a non-negligible contribution from low- and possibly intermediate-mass XRBs to the total XRB XLF of M83, i.e., between 20% and 50%, in broad agreement with X-ray-based XLFs. More generally, we caution against considerable contamination from X-ray emitting supernova remnants to the published, X-ray-based XLFs of M83, and possibly all actively star-forming galaxies.

Automated summary

Building on previous research, this study constructs X-ray luminosity functions for different classes of X-ray binary donors in the nearby star-forming galaxy M83. The analysis reveals an exponential downturn in the high-mass XRB XLF, while the low and intermediate-mass XRB XLFs are consistent with the total XLF. This suggests a significant contribution from low and possibly intermediate-mass XRBs to the total XRB XLF of M83.