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Probing the outer edge of an accretion disk : a Her X-1 turn-on observed with RXTE

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Kuster, M. (Markus), Wilms, J. (Joern), Staubert, R., Heindl, W. A., Rothschild, Richard E., 1943-, Shakura, N. I. and Postnov, K. A.. (2005) Probing the outer edge of an accretion disk : a Her X-1 turn-on observed with RXTE. Astronomy & Astrophysics, Vol.443 (No.3). pp. 753-767. ISSN 0004-6361

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Abstract

We present the analysis of Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observations of the turn-on phase of a 35 day cycle of the X-ray binary Her X-1. During the early phases of the turn-on, the energy spectrum is composed of X-rays scattered into the line of sight plus heavily absorbed X-rays. The energy spectra in the 3–17 keV range can be described by a partial covering model, where one of the components is influenced by photoelectric absorption and Thomson scattering in cold material plus an iron emission line at 6.5 keV. In this paper we show the evolution of spectral parameters as well as the evolution of the pulse profile during the turn-on. We describe this evolution using Monte Carlo simulations which self-consistently describe the evolution of the X-ray pulse profile and of the energy spectrum.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Double stars, X-ray sources, Galactic -- Accretion, Pulsars, Accretion (Astrophysics)
Journal or Publication Title: Astronomy & Astrophysics
Publisher: EDP Sciences
ISSN: 0004-6361
Official Date: December 2005
Volume: Vol.443
Number: No.3
Page Range: pp. 753-767
Identification Number: 10.1051/0004-6361:20042355
Status: Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version: Open Access
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (U.S.) (NSF)
Grant number: 50 OX0002 (DLR), 50 OR0302 (DLR), Sta 173/31-1 (DFG), PST.CL975254 (NATO), NAS5-30720 (NASA), NSF_INT- 9815741 (NSF), NSF_INT-0003773 (NSF)
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URI: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3577

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