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A long, hard look at the low/hard state in accreting black holes

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Miller, J. M., Homan, J., Steeghs, D., Rupen, M., Hunstead, R. W., Wijnands, R., Charles, P. A. and Fabian, A. C.. (2006) A long, hard look at the low/hard state in accreting black holes. The Astrophysical Journal, Vol.653 (No.1). pp. 525-535. ISSN 0004-637X

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/508644

Abstract

We present the first results of coordinated multiwavelength observations of the Galactic black hole GX 339-4 in a canonical low/hard state, obtained during its 2004 outburst. XMM-Newton observed the source for two revolutions, or approximately 280 ks; RXTE monitored the source throughout this long stare. The resulting data offer the best view yet obtained of the inner accretion flow geometry in the low/hard state, which is thought to be analogous to the geometry in low-luminosity active galactic nuclei. The XMM-Newton spectra clearly reveal the presence of a cool accretion disk component and a relativistic Fe K emission line. The results of fits made to both components strongly suggest that a standard thin disk remains at or near to the innermost stable circular orbit, at least in bright phases of the low/hard state. These findings indicate that potential links between the inner disk radius and the onset of a steady compact jet, and the paradigm of a radially recessed disk in the low/hard state, do not hold universally. The results of our observations can best be explained if a standard thin accretion disk fuels a corona that is closely related to, or consistent with, the base of a compact jet. In a brief examination of archival data, we show that Cygnus X-1 supports this picture of the low/hard state. We discuss our results within the context of disk-jet connections and prevailing models for accretion onto black holes.

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:

The Astrophysical Journal

Publisher:

Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd.

ISSN:

0004-637X

Official Date:

2006

Dates:

Date	Event
2006	Published

Volume:

Vol.653

Number:

No.1

Page Range:

pp. 525-535

Identification Number:

10.1086/508644

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Publication Status:

Published

Access rights to Published version:

Restricted or Subscription Access

Funder:

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, European Space Agency (ESA), Australia

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