AstroSat and MAXI view of Cygnus X-1: Signature of an ‘extreme’ soft nature

Abstract

ABSTRACT We present a detailed spectral and timing analysis of Cygnus X-1 with multi-epoch observations, during 2016–2019, by SXT and LAXPC onboard AstroSat. We model the spectra in broad energy range of $0.5\!-\!70.0\, \rm {keV}$ to study the evolution of spectral properties while Cygnus X-1 transited from hard state to an extreme soft state via intermediate states in 2017. Simultaneous timing features are also examined by modelling the power density spectra in $3.0\!-\!50.0\, \rm {keV}$. We find that during high-soft state (HSS) observations, made by AstroSat on 2017 October 24 (MJD 58050), the energy spectrum of the source exhibits an inner disc temperature ($kT\rm _{in}$) of $0.46 \pm 0.01\, \rm {keV}$, a very steep photon index (Γ) of 3.15 ± 0.03 along with a fractional disc flux contribution of ∼45 per cent. The power density spectrum in the range of $0.006\!-\!50.0\, \rm {Hz}$ is also very steep with a power-law index of 1.12 ± 0.04 along with a high root mean square value of ∼25 per cent. Comparing the spectral softness of HSS with those of previously reported, we confirm that AstroSat observed Cygnus X-1 in the ‘softest’ state. The lowest MAXI spectral hardness ratio of ∼0.229 corroborates the softest nature of the source. Moreover, we estimate the spin of the black hole by continuum-fitting method, which indicates that Cygnus X-1 is a maximally rotating ‘hole’. Further, Monte Carlo simulations are performed to estimate the uncertainty in spin parameter, which is constrained as a* > 0.9981 with 3σ confidence interval. Finally, we discuss the implications of our findings.