A SUPERSOFT VARIABLE LOW-LUMINOSITY X-RAY SOURCE IN THE GLOBULAR-CLUSTER M3

The globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272) was observed twice with the ROSAT high-resolution imager in order to study the low-luminosity X-ray source 1E 1339.8 + 2837. In 1992 January 1E 1339.8 + 2837 had an X-ray luminosity of 2 x 10(35) ergs s-1 (0.1-2.4 keV), over an order of magnitude brighter than it was when observed with the Einstein Observatory. The source was unresolved and very soft (kT congruent-to 20 eV); such supersoft outbursts would be difficult to detect in the vast majority of globular clusters which are more heavily absorbed than M3. In 1992 June the source was too faint to be detected (<2.8 x 10(33) ergs s-1). The soft outburst luminosity (L(bol) congruent-to 1.2 x 10(36) ergs s-1) and the blackbody radius (R congruent-to 7.7 x 10(8) cm) suggest that 1E 1339.8 + 2837 is a cataclysmic variable in which much of the luminosity is generated by steady nuclear burning of accreted material on the surface of the white dwarf primary.