Ultraluminous X-ray Sources (ULXs) are point like X-ray sources situated external to the nucleus of their host galaxy, with inferred X-ray luminosities in excess of 10 {39} erg s {?1} . Although?rst observed? 30 years ago, these sources are yet to be fully understood. Some have suggested that these fascinating objects may contain intermediate mass black holes, whilst others have proposed they are stellar mass black holes residing in a new extreme accretion state. This thesis works towards the conclusion of this debate, by developing our understanding of these systems and their environments. This work begins with a photometric survey of the optical counterparts of ULXs. The main aim of this survey is to?nd plausible candidates to gain radial velocity measurements and therefore mass functions of these systems. However, the collation of this sample also provides the opportunity to classify the stellar objects held within these systems. From this work, we?nd seven good candidates for optical spectroscopic follow-up. Our results also show that many of our sample are consistent with OB type stars, while some contain later type bright giants/supergiants. Possibly our best chance to gain precise measurements of M_{BH}, and settling the debate over the nature of these systems, is by using radial velocity curves of their optical counterparts to calculate a mass function of ULXs. We are currently undertaking a programme to pursue mass function measurements for these systems. To date, we have received the pilot spectra of three optical counterparts. We discuss the progress of this programme to date and perform analysis on both the absorption/emission features and the continuum of these spectra. Initial analysis reveals the presence of the He ii 4686 A line in two of our pilot spectra. This line may be associated with the accretion disc of these systems, and could therefore be used in our pursuit of the mass function. We also?nd the presence of both low and high ionization lines, with some evidence for shock ionisation, and electron temperature of 7,000? 10,000 K. This Balmer decrement also indicates that the extinction can be highly variable across ULX?eld. This combination may suggest a?patchy? environment with separate shock and photoionisation emission regions. While the continuum emission of one of our sample can be explained by either the spectra of an OB star or of a standard accretion disc, the steep slopes of two of our sample indicates non-stellar origins that could represent the optical spectrum of a super-Eddington accretion disc. Finally, this work highlights the need for further observations of these sources in order to unlock their nature. We present results of X-ray spectral variability studies of the ULX population contained within NGC 4485 & 4490. We collate Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of the interacting galaxy pair, to analyse the emission from the six ULXs previously identified, and one additional source observed in the a recent exposure. This provides us with an opportunity to study variability on both short and longer time scales. The spectral variability is generally characterised by a hardening of the source spectra as their luminosities increase. The sources show a variety of long-term light curves; however, short-term (intra-observational) temporal variability is conspicuous by its absence. This survey also reveals the detection of a possible change in accretion state that could be used to gain crude mass estimates of the compact objects. Finally, we explore further the variability of these systems with the aid of two new proprietary observations. Finally, analysis of some of the best quality X-ray spectral data publicly available on these sources has provided the opportunity to explore the nature of these systems. We apply phenomenological models to characterise the spectra of these objects and more physically motivated models in order to explore the physical processes underlying these characteristics. Results show that the spectra of these sources are fundamentally different to that of Galactic X-ray binaries, whilst the application of physical models indicates a more extreme version of the highest known luminosity state, the very high state. We therefore speculate that in observing ULXs we are observing stellar mass black holes residing in a new?ultraluminous? state.

The use of x rays has moved in the forefront of science and technology in the second half of the 20th century. This progress has been greatly stimulated by the advent of synchrotron x-ray sources in the 1960s. The undulator-based synchrotron radiation sources which have appeared in the last decade of the 20th century gave a new impetus to such development. The brilliance of the x-ray sources has increased by 12 orders of magnitude in 40 years and this trend does not show any signs of stagnation. The future x-ray sources of the 21th century based on free-electron lasers driven by linear accelerators will provide sub-picosecond radiation pulses with by many orders of magnitude higher brilliance and full transverse coherence. The x-ray sources of the newest generation offer a possibility to realize more than ever before the great potential of x-ray optics and, as a consequence, to elaborate new sophisticated instrumentation with unprecedented resolution and eventually to move in new directions of research in x-ray technology, materials science, fundamental physics, life sciences, etc.

More than ten years ago, the discovery of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) has opened up an entirely new field in astrophysics. Many ideas were developed to explain the nature of these sources, like their emission mechanism, mass, and origin, without any strong conclusions. Their discovery boosted the fields of X-ray binaries, accretion physics, stellar evolution, cosmology, black hole formation and growth, due to the concept of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs). Since their discovery is related to the domain of X-ray astrophysics, there have been very few 1 studies made in other wavelengths. This thesis focuses on the multiwavelength nature of ultraluminous X-ray sources and intermediate-mass black holes from various aspects, which help to overcome some difficulties we face today. First, I investigated the accretion signatures of a putative intermediate-mass black hole in a particular globular cluster. To this purpose, 1 I characterized the nature of the innermost X-ray sources in the cluster. Then I calculated an upper limit on the mass of the black hole by studying | possible accretion efficiencies and rates based on the dedicated X-ray and radio observations. The accreting properties of the source was described with standard spherical accretion and in the context of inefficient accretion. Secondly, I attempted to dynamically measure the mass of the black hole in a particular ULX via optical spectroscopy. I discovered that a certain emission line has a broad component that markedly shifts in wavelength. I investigated the possibility whether this line originates in the accretion disk, and thus might trace the orbital motion of the binary System. I also characterized the parameters of the binary system, such as the mass function, possible orbital separation, the size of the line emitting region, and an upper limit on the mass of the black hole. Then I studied the environment of a number of ULXs that are associated with large- scale optical and radio nebulae. 1 use these nebulae as a calorimeters to infer the total intrinsic power of these ULXs, characterize the feedback on the environment, and com- pare to Galactic sources. I I also investigated the power mechanism of inflating a bubble by jets. Then I discuss the current status of radio observations on ULXs, including ongoing radio surveys. Finally, I studied HLX-1, which is likely the first bona fide IMBH. This involves radio observations and analysis of the radio data that led to a discovery of radio flares from this source during an X-ray state transition. From the strength of the flares, I provided additional constraints on the mass of the black hole and its accretion rate.

Thoroughly revised and expanded throughout, the new edition is a graduate-level text and reference book on gaseous nebulae, nova and supernova remnants. Much of the new data and new images are from the Hubble Space Telescope with two wholly new chapters being added along with other new features. The previous edition which was tried and tested for thirty years has now been succeeded by a revised, updated, larger edition, which will be valuable to anyone seriously interested in astrophysics.

This book is a comprehensive introduction to the data analysis of ultraluminous X-ray sources. This book will provide the readers with a familiar environment in data analysis methods and the different software used in high energy astrophysical data analysis.