Accretion flow dynamics and characteristics of MAXI J153–571-spectral analysis using combination of XSPEC and TCAF models

Abstract

MAXI J153–571 accretion flow consists of Keplerian (optically thick) and sub-Keplerian (optically thin) flow, and their mass accretion rates seem to regulate other accretion flow characteristics. Hard X-rays are produced when the Keplerian seed soft photons are thermally or inverse comptonized in the Compton cloud/post-shock region by hot electrons. The variations/fluctuations of components of the accretion flow during the hard states create propagating Quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) when their timescales are roughly matched and resonance phenomena occur. The QPO and its frequency are timing properties and the accretion flow spectra-temporal characteristics can be determined via spectral analysis. In this study, we looked into the accretion flow characteristics of MAXI J153–571 during the hard-intermediate state. Spectral analysis of MAXI J153–571 observed by MAXI/GSC, Swift/BAT, and NuSTAR on the same or close-in epochs was carried out. XSPEC and TCAF models were used in fitting/modeling the data. A robust and statistically acceptable fit spectra with a reduced Chi-squared value of ∼ 0.84 – 1.20 and best-fit photon index of 2.0–2.29 was obtained. The track of the accretion flow characteristics was obtained using models’–fitted parameters and MATLAB written codes of physical equations. Some accretion flow characteristics are positively correlated while others are anti-correlated at different phases and their correlation are statistically significant. The correlation of accretion flow characteristics with one another suggests that saturation effects, variation/fluctuations in the accretion flow, and intermittent/flickering behavior of MAXI J153–571 are tied to the variations/fluctuations of the intrinsic properties; mass accretion rates. Moreover, a resonance condition of 0.70 to 0.83 indicates that the cooling and infall timescales are roughly matched and affirms the presence of QPO in the accretion flow. This suggests that the origin of the photon index–QPO frequency (Γ–vQPO) relation is strongly linked to the variation/fluctuations in mass accretion flow rates. Hence, the accretion flow is dynamic, and independent variations/fluctuations of mass accretion rates could regulate the variation/fluctuations of other accretion flow parameters and perhaps, spectral evolution.