Function Of Mass Accretion Rate Research Articles

NuSTAR observation of GRO J1744–28 at low mass accretion rate

Context. Neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries are important systems for studying the physics of accretion onto compact objects. The system GRO J1744–28 is particularly interesting as it usually shows clear pulsations as well as X-ray bursts. Additionally, there are claims for a magnetic field of 5 × 1011 G through the detection of a cyclotron resonant scattering feature (CRSF). Aims. We present the spectral analysis of GRO J1744–28 using ∼29 ks of NuSTAR data taken in 2017 February at a low luminosity of 3.2 × 1036 erg s−1 (3−50 keV). Our goal is to study the variability of the source spectrum with pulse phase and to search for the claimed CRSF. Methods. The continuum spectrum was modeled with an absorbed power law with exponential cutoff, and an additional iron line component. We found no obvious indications for a CRSF, and therefore performed a detailed cyclotron line search using statistical methods. We performed this search on pulse phase-averaged spectra and on phase-resolved spectra. Results. GRO J1744–28 was observed in a low-luminosity state. The previously detected Type II X-ray bursts are absent. Clear pulsations at a period of 2.141124(9) Hz are detected. The pulse profile shows an indication of a secondary peak that was not seen at higher flux. The upper limit for the strength of a CRSF in the 3−20 keV band is 0.07 keV (90% CL), lower than the strength of the line found at higher luminosity. Conclusions. The detection of pulsations shows that the source did not enter the “propeller” regime, even though the source flux of 4.15 × 10−10 erg cm−2 s−1 was almost one order of magnitude below the threshold for the propeller regime claimed in previous studies on this source. The transition into the propeller regime in GRO J1744–28 must therefore be below a luminosity of 3.2 × 1036 erg s−1 (3−50 keV), which implies a surface magnetic field ≲2.9 × 1011 G and mass accretion rate ≲1.7 × 1016 g s−1. A change of the CRSF depth as function of luminosity is not unexpected and has been observed in other sources. This result possibly implies a change in emission geometry as function of mass accretion rate to reduce the depth of the line below our detection limit.

Discovery of an Accretion-rate Independent Absolute RMS Amplitude of Millihertz Quasi-periodic Oscillations in 4U 1636-53

Abstract We investigate the frequency and amplitude of the millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (mHz QPOs) in the neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636–53 using Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations. We find that no mHz QPOs appear when the source is in the hard spectral state. We also find that there is no significant correlation between the frequency and the fractional RMS amplitude of the mHz QPOs. Notwithstanding, for the first time, we find that the absolute rms amplitude of the mHz QPOs is insensitive to the parameter S a , which measures the position of the source in the color–color diagram and is usually assumed to be an increasing function of mass accretion rate. This finding indicates that the transition from marginally stable burning to stable burning or unstable burning could happen very rapidly since, before the transition, the mHz QPOs do not gradually decay as the rate further changes.

Decade long RXTE monitoring observations of Be/X-ray binary pulsar EXO 2030+375

We present a comprehensive timing and spectral studies of Be/X-ray binary pulsar EXO 2030+375 using extensive Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations from 1995 till 2011, covering numerous Type I and 2006 Type II outbursts. Pulse profiles of the pulsar were found to be strongly luminosity dependent. At low luminosity, the pulse profile consisted of a main peak and a minor peak that evolved into a broad structure at high luminosity with a significant phase shift. A narrow and sharp absorption dip, also dependent on energy and luminosity, was detected in the pulse profile. Comparison of pulse profiles showed that the features at a particular luminosity are independent of type of X-ray outbursts. This indicates that the emission geometry is solely a function of mass accretion rate. The broadband energy spectrum was described with a partial covering high energy cutoff model as well as a physical model based on thermal and bulk Comptonization in accretion column. We did not find any signature of cyclotron resonance scattering feature in the spectra obtained from all the observations. A detailed analysis of spectral parameters showed that, depending on source luminosity, the power-law photon index was distributed in three distinct regions. It suggests the phases of spectral transition from sub-critical to super-critical regimes in the pulsar as proposed theoretically. A region with constant photon index was also observed in ~(2-4) x 10^37 erg/s range, indicating critical luminosity regime in EXO 2030+375.

CONSTRAINING THE MAGNETIC FIELD IN THE ACCRETION FLOW OF LOW-LUMINOSITY ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

Observations show that the accretion flows in low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs) probably have a two-component structure with an inner hot, optically thin, advection dominated accretion flow (ADAF) and an outer truncated cool, optically thick accretion disk. As shown by Taam et al. (2012), within the framework of the disk evaporation model, the truncation radius as a function of mass accretion rate is strongly affected by including the magnetic field. We define the parameter <TEX>${\beta}$</TEX> as <TEX>$p_m=B^2/8{\pi}=(1-{\beta})p_{tot}$</TEX>, (where <TEX>$p_{tot}=p_{gas}+p_m$</TEX>, <TEX>$p_{gas}$</TEX> is gas pressure and <TEX>$p_m$</TEX> is magnetic pressure) to describe the strength of the magnetic field in accretion flows. It is found that an increase of the magnetic field (decreasing the value of <TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>) results in a smaller truncation radius for the accretion disk. We calculate the emergent spectrum of an inner ADAF + an outer truncated accretion disk around a supermassive black hole by considering the effects of the magnetic field on the truncation radius of the accretion disk. By comparing with observations, we found that a weaker magnetic field (corresponding to a bigger value of <TEX>${\beta}$</TEX>) is required to match the observed correlation between <TEX>$L_{2-10keV}/L_{Edd}$</TEX> and the bolometric correction <TEX>$k_{2-10keV}$</TEX>, which is consistent with the physics of the accretion flow with a low mass accretion rate around a black hole.

CRITICAL SURFACE FOR EXPLOSIONS OF ROTATIONAL CORE-COLLAPSE SUPERNOVAE

The effect of rotation on the explosion of core-collapse supernovae is investigated systematically in three-dimensional simulations. In order to obtain the critical conditions for explosion as a function of mass accretion rate, neutrino luminosity, and specific angular momentum, rigidly rotating matter was injected from the outer boundary with an angular momentum, which is increased every 500 ms. It is found that there is a critical value of the specific angular momentum, above which the standing shock wave revives, for a given combination of mass accretion rate and neutrino luminosity, i.e. an explosion can occur by rotation even if the neutrino luminosity is lower than the critical value for a given mass accretion rate in non-rotational models. The coupling of rotation and hydrodynamical instabilities plays an important role to characterize the dynamics of shock revival for the range of specific angular momentum that are supposed to be realistic. Contrary to expectations from past studies, the most rapidly expanding direction of the shock wave is not aligned with the rotation axis. Being perpendicular to the rotation axis on average, it can be oriented in various directions. Its dispersion is small when the spiral mode of the standing accretion shock instability (SASI) governs the dynamics, while it is large when neutrino-driven convection is dominant. As a result of the comparison between 2D and 3D rotational models, it is found that m=!0 modes of neutrino-driven convection or SASI are important for shock revival around the critical surface.

THE DISK EVAPORATION MODEL FOR THE SPECTRAL FEATURES OF LOW-LUMINOSITY ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

Observations show that the accretion flows in low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs) probably have a two-component structure with an inner ADAF and an outer truncated accretion disk. As shown by Taam et al. (2012), the truncation radius as a function of mass accretion rate is strongly affected by including the magnetic field within the framework of disk evaporation model, i.e., an increase of the magnetic field results in a smaller truncation radius of the accretion disk. In this work, we calculate the emergent spectrum of an inner ADAF + an outer truncated accretion disk around a supermassive black hole based on the prediction by Taam et al. (2012). It is found that an increase of the magnetic field from $\beta=0.8$ to $\beta=0.5$ (with magnetic pressure $p_{\rm m}=B^2/{8\pi}=(1-\beta)p_{\rm tot}$, $p_{\rm tot}=p_{\rm gas}+p_{\rm m}$) results in an increase of $\sim 8.7$ times of the luminosity from the truncated accretion disk. We found that the equipartition of gas pressure to magnetic pressure, i.e., $\beta=0.5$, failed to explain the observed anti-correlation between $L_{\rm 2-10 keV}/L_{\rm Edd}$ and the bolometric correction $\kappa_{\rm 2-10 keV}$ (with $\kappa_{\rm 2-10 keV} = L_{\rm bol}/L_{\rm 2-10 keV}$). The emergent spectra for larger value $\beta=0.8$ or $\beta=0.95$ can well explain the observed $L_{\rm 2-10 keV}/L_{\rm Edd}$-$\kappa_{\rm 2-10 keV}$ correlation. We argue that in the disk evaporation model, the electrons in the corona are assumed to be heated only by a transfer of energy from the ions to electrons via Coulomb collisions, which is reasonable for the accretion with a lower mass accretion rate. Coulomb heating is the dominated heating mechanism for the electrons only if the magnetic field is strongly sub-equipartition, which is roughly consistent with observations.

Jets and the accretion flow in low-luminosity black holes

The X-ray spectra of black hole binaries in the low/hard state first harden as the flux decreases, then soften. This change in behaviour has been variously attributed to either the X-rays switching from being produced in the flow to being dominated by the jet, or to the flow switching seed photons from the disc to self generated seed photons from cyclo-synchrotron. Here we build a simple truncated disc, hot inner flow, plus standard conical synchrotron jet model to explore what this predicts for the X-ray emission mechanism as a function of mass accretion rate. We find that the change in X-ray spectral index can be quantitatively (not just qualitatively) explained by the seed photon switch in the hot flow i.e. this supports models where the X-rays are always produced by the hot flow. By contrast, standard conical jet models are as radiatively inefficient as the hot flow so there is no transition in X-ray production mechanism with $\dot{m}$. Including the effects of electron cooling allows the jet X-rays to drop more slowly with accretion rate and hence overtake the X-rays from the hot flow, however this produces a corresponding change in the radio-X-ray correlation, which is not observed. We argue that the unbroken radio-X-ray correlation down to quiescence rules out the jet transition model as an explanation for the trend in X-ray spectral index. Our favoured model is then a truncated disc with an inner, hot, radiatively inefficient flow which always dominates the hard X-rays, coupled to a conical synchrotron jet which produces the radio emission. However, even this has issues at low $\dot{m}$ as the low optical depth and high temperature of the flow means that the Compton spectrum is not well approximated by a power law. This shows the need for a more sophisticated model for the electron distribution in the hot flow.

EVIDENCE FOR RAPIDLY ROTATING BLACK HOLES IN FANAROFF-RILEY I RADIO GALAXIES

We investigate the correlation between 151 MHz radio luminosity, L_151MHz, and jet power, P_jet, for a sample of low-power radio galaxies, of which the jet power is estimated from X-ray cavities. The jet power for a sample of FR I radio galaxies is estimated with the derived empirical correlation. We find that P_jet/L_Edd is positively correlated with Lx(2-10 keV)/L_Edd for FR Is, where L_Edd is the Eddington luminosity and Lx(2-10 keV) is 2-10 keV X-ray luminosity. We calculate the jet power of a hybrid model, as a variant of Blandford-Znajek model proposed by Meier, based on the global solution of the advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) surrounding a Kerr black hole (BH). Our model calculations suggest that the maximal jet power is a function of mass accretion rate and the black hole spin parameter j. The hard X-ray emission is believed to be mainly from the ADAFs in FR Is, and the mass accretion rate is therefore constrained with the X-ray emission in our ADAF model calculations. We find that the dimensionless angular momentum of BH j>~0.9 is required in order to reproduce the observed relation of P_jet/L_Edd-Lx(2-10 keV)/L_Edd for FR Is. Our conclusion will be strengthened if part of the X-ray emission is contributed by the jets. Our results suggest that BHs in FR I radio galaxies are rapidly spinning, which are almost not affected by the uncertainty of the black hole mass estimates.

SPECTRAL INDEX AS A FUNCTION OF MASS ACCRETION RATE IN BLACK HOLE SOURCES: MONTE CARLO SIMULATIONS AND AN ANALYTICAL DESCRIPTION

In this Paper, we present theoretical arguments that the observationally established index saturation effect vs mass accretion rate is a signature of the bulk (converging) flow onto the black hole. We demonstrate that the index saturation value depends on the plasma temperature of converging flow. We self-consistently calculate the Compton cloud (CC) plasma temperature as a function of mass accretion rate using the energy balance between energy dissipation and Compton cooling. We explain the observable phenomenon, index- mdot correlations using a Monte-Carlo simulation of radiative processes in the innermost part (CC) of a BH source and we account for the Comptonization processes in the presence of thermal and bulk motions, as basic types of plasma motion. We show that, when mdot increases, BH sources evolve to high and very soft states (HSS and VSS, respectively), in which the strong blackbody-like and steep power-law components are formed in the resulting X-ray spectrum. The simultaneous detections of these two components strongly depends on sensitivity of high energy instruments, given that the relative contribution of the hard power-law tail in the resulting VSS spectrum can be very low, which is why, to date {\it RXTE} observations of the VSS X-ray spectrum has been characterized by the presence of the strong BB-like component only. We also predict specific patterns for high-energy efold (cutoff) energy (E_{fold}) evolution with mdot for thermal and dynamical (bulk) Comptonization cases. For the former case, E_{fold} monotonically decreases with mdot, in the latter case, the E_{fold}-decrease is followed by its increase at high values of mdot. The observational evolution of E_{fold} vs mdot can be one more test for the presence of a converging flow effect in the formation of the resulting spectra in the close vicinity of BHs.

Analysing the atolls: X-ray spectral transitions of accreting neutron stars

Неге we investigate disc accreting neutron stars with low magnetic fields (atoll sources) by systematically analysing all the available X-ray spectra of these sources from the Rossi X- ray Timing Explorer database, provided by the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center. From these we show that all atoll sources show broadly similar spectral evolution as a function of mass accretion rate with hard spectra at low luminosities switching to soft spectra at high luminosities. This is similar to the well known hard/soft spectral dichotomy in black holes. However, we also show that there are subtle but significant differences in the hard/soft transitions for individual atoll sources. There are two different types of hard/soft transition, those where the spectrum softens at all energies, leading to a diagonal track on a colour-colour diagram, and those where only the higher energy spectrum softens, giving a vertical track. The luminosity at which the transition occurs is correlated with this spectral behaviour, with the vertical transition at L/L(_Edd) ~ 0.02 while the diagonal one is at ~ 0.1. Superimposed on this is the well known hysteresis effect, but we show that classic, large scale hysteresis occurs only in the outbursting sources, indicating that its origin is in the dramatic rate of change of mass accretion rate during the disc instability. We show that the long term mass accretion rate correlates with the transition behaviour, and speculate that this is due to the magnetic field being able to emerge from the neutron star surface for low average mass accretion rates. While this is not strong enough to collimate the flow except in the millisecond pulsars, its presence may affect the inner accretion flow through changing the jet properties.

Spectral Transitions in X-Ray Binaries

We systematically analyzed about a terabyte of data from Galactic binary systems to characterize how these spectra change as a function of mass accretion rate. With this volume of data we are able to identify the differences in behaviour of black holes and neutron stars, implying that black holes really do have an event horizon. The spectral evolution seen as a function of L/L_Edd can be linked to current state-of-the-art numerical simulations of accretion flows, and we develop qualitative and quantitative models of the spectral changes in all types of binary systems. The key ingredient of this picture is that the major hard-soft spectral transition is driven by a changing inner radius of the accretion disc. This also qualitatively explains the changes seen in the variability power spectra of these objects. This lays the foundation for a self-consistent, theoretically motivated framework in which to explain both the spectral and timing properties of accreting compact objects.

Burst-properties as a function of mass accretion rate in GX 3+1

GX 3+1 is a low-mass X-ray binary that is persistently bright since its discovery in 1964. It was found to be an X-ray burster twenty years ago proving that the compact object in this system is a neutron star. The burst rate is so low that only 18 bursts were reported prior to 1996. The Wide Field Cameras on BeppoSAX have, through a dedicated monitoring program on the Galactic center region, increased the number of X-ray bursts from GX 3+1 by 61. Since GX 3+1 exhibits a slow (order of years) modulation in the persistent flux of about 50%, these observations opens up the unique possibility to study burst properties as a function of mass accretion rate for very low burst rates. This is the first time that bursts are detected from GX 3+1 in the high state. From the analysis we learn that all bursts are short with e-folding decay times smaller than 10 s. Therefore, all bursts are due to unstable helium burning. Furthermore, the burst rate drops sixfold in a fairly narrow range of 2-20 keV flux; we discuss possible origins for this.