A Cooler Look at the Environment of Cygnus X-1: Searching for Dynamical Interactions within Cold Molecular Gas

Abstract

We present IRAM 30 m observations aimed at identifying potential outflow─interstellar medium interaction sites in the vicinity of the black hole X-ray binary Cygnus X-1, which displays persistent relativistic jets and a prominent stellar wind. Using this data set, we construct molecular line emission maps, identifying a never-before-seen molecular structure potentially linked to X-ray-binary-driven feedback. This structure, surrounding the source, exhibits properties consistent with an interaction powered primarily by the stellar wind of the massive stellar companion and further sculpted by the relativistic jets. Our results indicate that multiple outflow mechanisms (stellar winds and relativistic jets) may simultaneously be shaping the interstellar medium around Cygnus X-1 and that molecular line imaging can help to disentangle complex feedback processes in environments where multiple outflows take place.