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Initial measurements of black hole spin in GX 339-4 from Suzaku spectroscopy

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Miller, J. M., Reynolds, C. S., Fabian, A. C., 1948-, Cackett, E. M., Miniutti, G., Raymond, J., Steeghs, D. (Danny), 1972-, Reis, R. C. and Homan, J.. (2008) Initial measurements of black hole spin in GX 339-4 from Suzaku spectroscopy. Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol.679 (No.2). L113-L116. ISSN 2041-8205

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/589446

Abstract

We report on a deep Suzaku observation of the stellar-mass black hole GX 339-4 in outburst. A clear, strong, relativistically shaped iron emission line from the inner accretion disk is observed. The broadband disk reflection spectrum revealed is one of the most sensitive yet obtained from an accreting black hole. We fit the Suzaku spectra with a physically motivated disk reflection model, blurred by a new relativistic line function in which the black hole spin parameter is a variable. This procedure yielded a black hole spin parameter of a p. Joint modeling of these Suzaku spectra and prior XMM-Newton spectra obtained in two different 0.89 +/- 0.04 outburst phases yields a spin parameter of a = 0.93 +/- 0.01. The degree of consistency between these results suggests that disk reflection models allow for spin measurements that are not strongly biased by scattering effects. We suggest that the best value of the black hole spin parameter is a = 0.93 +/- 0.01 (statistical) +/- 0.04 (systematic). Although preliminary, these results represent the first direct measurement of nonzero spin in a stellar-mass black hole using relativistic line modeling.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Black holes (Astronomy)
Journal or Publication Title:	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Publisher:	IOP Publishing Ltd
ISSN:	2041-8205
Date:	1 June 2008
Volume:	Vol.679
Number:	No.2
Number of Pages:	4
Page Range:	L113-L116
Identification Number:	10.1086/589446
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Related URLs:	Other Repository
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/29857