Analysis of High-precision TESS Photometry of the Black Hole X-Ray Binary Cygnus X-1: Evidence of Intrinsic Variability of the Luminous Blue Supergiant Component

Abstract We report on Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) high-precision photometry of the iconic non-eclipsing 5.60 days (O9.7Iab+black hole) binary Cygnus X-1. Previous ground-based photometry reveals low-amplitude (∼0.04 mag) ellipsoidal light-variations that arise from the tidal (and rotational) distortion of the O9.7Iab companion. Additional small light-variations have also been reported by many observers. Short-cadence TESS photometry was conducted over ∼27 days during 2019 July–August. The photometry shows the expected ∼5.60 days binary ellipsoidal variations, but in addition ∼0.01–0.03 mag complex quasi-periodic brightness variations. The observations were analyzed to investigate the underlying extra-binary variability. We also determined a new time of minimum light and calculated an updated period and light elements. The quasi-periodic, (non-binary) light-variations likely arise from the complex pulsations of the blue supergiant.