An X-ray emitting black hole in a globular cluster

Abstract

We present optical and X-ray data for the first object showing strong evidence for being a black hole in a globular cluster. We show the initial X-ray light curve and X-ray spectrum which led to the discovery that this is an extremely bright, highly variable source, and thus must be a black hole. We present the optical spectrum which unambiguously identifies the optical counterpart as a globular cluster, and which shows a strong, broad [O III] emission line, most likely coming from an outflow driven by the accreting source.

5 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the proceedings of IAUS 246, "Dynamical Evolution of Dense Stellar Systems", ed. Vesperini, Giersz and Sills