Kα Fluorescence Line Research Articles

Chandra’s Insights into SN 2023ixf

We report Chandra-ACIS observations of supernova (SN) 2023ixf in M101 on day 13 and 86 since the explosion. The X-rays in both epochs are characterized by high-temperature plasma from the forward shocked region as a result of circumstellar interaction. We are able to constrain the absorption column density at both Chandra epochs, which is much larger than that due to the Galactic and host absorption column, and we attribute it to absorption by the circumstellar matter in the immediate vicinity of SN 2023ixf. Combining our column density measurements with the published measurement on day 4, we show that the column density declines as t −2 between day 4 to day 13 and then evolves as t −1. The unabsorbed 0.3–10 keV luminosity evolves as t −1 during the Chandra epochs. On the Chandra first epoch observation, when the SN was 13 days old, we detect the Fe Kα fluorescent line at 6.4 keV indicating presence of cold material in the vicinity of the supernova. The line is absent on day 86, consistent with the decreased column density by a factor of 7 between the two epochs. Our analysis indicates that during 10–1.5 yr before explosion, the progenitor was evolving with a constant mass-loss rate of 5.6 × 10−4 M ⊙ yr−1.

Incorporation of realistic intrinsic profiles for the Fe Kα and Fe Kβ emission lines in X-ray reprocessor models

ABSTRACT The Fe Kα fluorescent emission line from neutral matter is widely used as a diagnostic tool in X-ray spectroscopy for many astrophysical X-ray sources. The line properties can potentially be used to constrain the geometry, column density, and kinematics of the material in which the line is formed. The intrinsic width and the shape of the intrinsic line profile has been neglected thus far, because it is much smaller than the instrumental broadening in all space-based X-ray detectors before Hitomi. However, the instrumental broadening of X-ray microcalorimeters is comparable to the intrinsic line width. We have performed new calculations based on Monte Carlo simulations of the MYTORUS X-ray reprocessor spectral-fitting model that utilize parametrizations of historical high-precision laboratory measurements of the intrinsic profiles of the Fe Kα and Fe Kβ lines. A publicly available table is provided that can seamlessly replace the existing Fe Kα and Fe Kβ line spectrum in the MYTORUS model. The new table can also be used in a standalone mode (without the MYTORUS model) in order to derive empirical velocity widths, if the line-emitting matter is Compton thin. Neglecting to account for the intrinsic profiles of the Fe Kα and Fe Kβ lines can result in a significant overestimate of the velocity broadening, if the true velocity broadening is less than ${\sim} 2000 \ \rm km \ s^{-1}$. Residual artefacts may also appear in observed line profiles in data with a high signal-to-noise ratio.

Towards in-situ fumes composition monitoring during an additive manufacturing process using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

We present an in-situ energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence measurement of the content of Chromium and Nickel in the fumes produced by selective laser melting on an Inconel 625 powder. Significant variations of the intensities of the Chromium and Nickel Kα fluorescence lines were evidenced as a function of the laser power, lasing velocity and chamber atmosphere. Calibration has been carried out using Monte–Carlo particle transport simulations allowed to obtain a quantitative estimate of the Chromium and Nickel mass fraction in the fumes. The experimental data has been compared to the predictions of an analytical physico-chemical model with consistent results. This approach thus also allows to provide information on the temperature of the metallic bath.

A NICER Viewing Angle on the Accretion Stream of Vela X-1

Vela X-1 is the archetypal eclipsing high-mass X-ray binary, composed of a neutron star (NS) accreting the B-star wind. It was observed by nearly all X-ray observatories, often multiple times, featuring a rich spectrum of variable emission lines. However, the precise origin of these lines in the binary system remains uncertain. We perform a systematic, orbital-phase-dependent analysis of the reflected Fe Kα fluorescence line at 6.4 keV using over 100 NS Interior Composition Explorer observations. We resolve the line variability into 500 s time bins and find that it is predominantly due to variation in the ionizing flux, with a moderate underlying phase dependence over the 9-day orbital period. Our analysis reveals a significant reflection component that cannot originate from the companion B star alone. We also find that an appreciable portion of the B-star surface is obscured opposite the eclipse, and this obscuration is not symmetric around the midpoint (phase = 0.5). We argue that an accretion stream, from the B star to the NS and distorted by the orbital motion, is responsible both for the additional fluorescence emission component and for obscuring the B star.

On the Zeeman effect in magnetically arrested disks

Abstract The magnetically arrested disk (MAD) scenario has been argued as the key accretion phase to realize the formation of relativistic jets. However, due to the lack of magnetic field measurements of accreting systems, MAD has not been observationally confirmed yet. Here we propose that a strong magnetic field accompanied by MAD would induce the Zeeman splitting of relativistically broadened Fe Kα fluorescence lines in X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei, where we consider a two-phase medium in the inner accretion disk, magnetically dominated hot corona, and cold reflector. Such a geometrical configuration is suggested from X-ray observations and recently confirmed by numerical simulations. Although turbulence in accretion flows would broaden the split lines, future X-ray high-energy resolution satellites, XRISM and Athena, would be capable of seeing the Zeeman effect on the Fe lines in X-ray binaries in the case with the MAD configuration. The signature of the Zeeman split lines would provide observational evidence for MAD.

New Constraints on Cosmic Particle Populations at the Galactic Center Using X-Ray Observations of the Molecular Cloud Sagittarius B2

The Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2) molecular cloud complex is an X-ray reflection nebula whose nonthermal X-ray emissions have continued to decrease since 2001 as it reprocesses one or more past energetic outbursts from the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at the Galactic Center. The X-ray reflection model explains the observed time variability of Sgr B2 and provides a window into the luminous evolutionary history of our nearest supermassive black hole. In light of evidence of elevated cosmic particle populations in the Galactic Center, X-rays from Sgr B2 are also of interest as a probe of low-energy (sub-GeV) cosmic rays, which may be responsible for an increasing relative fraction of the nonthermal emission as the contribution from X-ray reflection decreases. Here, we present the most recent NuSTAR and XMM-Newton observations of Sgr B2, from 2018, and we emphasize the Kα fluorescence line of neutral Fe. These 2018 observations reveal small-scale variations within lower-density portions of the complex, including brightening features, yet still enable upper limits on X-rays from low-energy cosmic-ray interactions in Sgr B2. We present Fe Kα line fluxes from cloud regions of different densities, facilitating comparison with models of ambient low-energy cosmic-ray interactions throughout the cloud.

FLUKA Simulations of Kβ/Kα Intensity Ratios of Copper in Ag-Cu Alloys.

The numerical simulations of Cu and Cu fluorescence lines induced by Rh X-ray tube and by monoenergetic radiation have been presented. The copper intensity ratios for pure elements as well as for Ag–Cu alloys have been modeled. The results obtained by use of the FLUKA code, based on the Monte-Carlo approach, have been compared to available experimental and theoretical values. A visible relationship was found between the simulated intensity ratios and the copper content of the Ag–Cu alloy: As the Cu content increases, the coefficient decreases. The results can play role in elemental material analysis, especially in archaeometry.

Cloudy in the Microcalorimeter Era: Improved Energies for Si and S Kα Fluorescence Lines

Abstract The upcoming X-ray missions based on the microcalorimeter technology require exquisite precision in spectral simulation codes in order to match the unprecedented spectral resolution. In this work, we improve the fluorescence Kα energies for Si ii–xi and S ii–xiii in the code Cloudy. In particular, we provide here a patch to update the Cloudy fluorescence energy table, originally based on Kaastra & Mewe, with the laboratory energies measured by Hell et al. The new Cloudy simulations were used to model the Chandra/HETG spectra of the High Mass X-ray Binary Vela X-1, showing a remarkable agreement and a dramatic improvement with respect to the current release version of Cloudy (C17.02).

Canonical X-Ray Fluorescence Line Intensities as Column Density Indicators

Abstract X-ray line fluorescence is ubiquitous around powerful accretion sources, namely, active galactic nuclei and X-ray binaries. The brightest and best-studied line is the Fe Kα line at λ = 1.937 Å(6.4 keV). This paper presents a survey of all well-measured Chandra/HETG grating spectra featuring several Kα fluorescence lines from elements between Mg and Ni. Despite the variety of sources and physical conditions, we identify a common trend that dictates the Kα line intensity ratios between elements. For the most part, the line intensities are well described by a simple, plane-parallel approximation of a near-neutral, solar-abundance, high column density (N H > 1024 cm−2) medium. This approximation gives canonical photon-intensity line ratios for the Kα fluorescence of all elements, e.g., 0.104:0.069:1.0:0.043 for Si:S:Fe:Ni, respectively. Deviations from these ratios are shown to be primarily due to excess column density along the line of sight beyond the Galactic column. Therefore, measured fluorescence line ratios provide an independent estimate of N H and insight into the environment of accretion sources. Residual discrepancies with the canonical ratios could be due to a variety of effects such as a fluorescing medium with N H < 1024 cm−2, a non-neutral medium, variations in the illuminating spectrum, nonsolar abundances, or an irregular source geometry. However, evidently and perhaps surprisingly, these are uncommon, and their effect remains minor.

X-Ray Quasi-periodic Oscillations in the Lense–Thirring Precession Model. II. Variability of the Relativistic Iron Kα Line

Abstract The reprocessing of primary X-ray emission in the accretion disk of black hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs) produces a reflection spectrum with the characteristic Fe Kα fluorescence line. Strong low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are observed from BHXRBs, and the dependence of QPO properties (e.g., phase lag) on the inclination angle suggests that the observed QPO may be associated with a geometrical effect, e.g., the precession of the X-ray source due to frame dragging near the spinning black hole. Here, in the scenario of the Lense–Thirring precession of the X-ray source, we use a Monte Carlo simulation of radiative transfer to study the irradiation/reflection and the resultant spectral properties including the Fe Kα line as a function of precession phase (time). We found that the reflection fraction, i.e., the ratio of incident flux toward the disk and the direct flux toward the observer at infinity, is modulated by the precession phase, which depends on the truncation radius (i.e., the spectral state in the truncated disk model) and the inclination angle. The Fe Kα line profile also changes as the primary X-ray source precesses, with the line luminosity and the flux-weighted centroid energy varying with the precession phase. The periodically modulated 2–10 keV continuum flux could apparently lag the line luminosity in phase, if the truncation radius is small enough for Doppler effects due to disk orbital motion to significantly affect the observed radiation.

Iron line from neutron star accretion discs in scalar tensor theories

ABSTRACT The Fe Kα fluorescent line at 6.4 keV is a powerful probe of the space–time metric in the vicinity of accreting compact objects. We investigated here how some alternative theories of gravity, namely scalar tensor theories, that invoke the presence of a non-minimally coupled scalar field and predict the existence of strongly scalarized neutron stars (NSs), change the expected line shape with respect to General Relativity. By taking into account both deviations from the general relativistic orbital dynamics of the accreting disc, where the Fe line originates, and the changes in the light propagation around the NS, we computed line shapes for various inclinations of the disc with respect to the observer. We found that both the intensity of the low-energy tails and the position of the high-energy edge of the line change. Moreover, we verified that even if those changes are in general of the order of a few percent, they are potentially observable with the next generation of X-ray satellites.

Highly Sensitive Nondestructive Rare Earth Element Detection by Means of Wavelength-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy Enabled by an Energy Dispersive pn-Charge-Coupled-Device Detector.

Detection of rare earth elements (REE) is commonly performed with destructive techniques such as (LA)-ICPMS or coupled to a destructive sample preparation. When investigating unique geological samples, such as cometary, asteroidal, or interstellar material from sample return missions or inclusions in deep Earth diamonds, a nondestructive method is preferred. The presented nondestructive highly sensitive wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (WD-XRF) technique is designed to measure the L-lines of REE between 4.5 and 7 keV with a sensitivity down to the ppm level. REE fluorescence L-lines are often only separated by a few eV from neighboring XRF-lines and cannot be resolved by an energy dispersive approach especially in the presence of transition metal K-lines. In our spectrometer the characteristic X-rays emitted by the sample are dispersed by a fixed Ge(111) analyzer crystal over the active area of an energy dispersive pn-charge-coupled-device (pnCCD) detector, enabling high energy resolution detection of X-rays differentiated by their corresponding Bragg angles. The use of an energy-dispersive 2D detector enables the simultaneous acquiring of XRF-lines while eliminating any ambiguities due to potential contribution from higher order diffraction effects or other diffraction planes and thereby increases the sensitivity by reducing the (scatter) background. This detection method shows an energy resolution of 12 eV for the Ti-Kα fluorescence line and has a sensitivity down to 0.50 ppm for REE L-lines. The method was optimized specifically for the nondestructive analysis of inclusions in deep Earth diamonds, yielding in situ quantitative information about up-to-now inaccessible elemental (REE) composition patterns together with the more abundant transition metals like Ti, Cr, Mn, and Fe. This information is of great importance to decipher the role that deep Earth plays in the global carbon and fluid cycle.

XCLUMPY: X-Ray Spectral Model from Clumpy Torus and Its Application to the Circinus Galaxy

Abstract We construct an X-ray spectral model from the clumpy torus in an active galactic nucleus, designated as “XCLUMPY,” utilizing the Monte Carlo simulation for Astrophysics and Cosmology framework. The adopted geometry of the torus is the same as that in Nenkova et al. who assume a power-law distribution of clumps in the radial direction and a normal distribution in the elevation direction. We investigate the dependence of the X-ray continuum and Fe Kα fluorescence line profile on the torus parameters. Our model is compared with other torus models: MYTorus model, Ikeda model, and CTorus model. As an example, we also present the results applied to the broadband X-ray spectra of the Circinus galaxy observed with XMM-Newton, Suzaku, and NuSTAR. Our model can well reproduce the data, yielding a hydrogen column density along the equatorial plane cm−2, a torus angular width degree, and a 2–10 keV luminosity . These results are discussed in comparison with the observations in other wavelengths.

XZ: Deriving redshifts from X-ray spectra of obscured AGN

Context. Redshifts are fundamental for our understanding of extragalactic X-ray sources. Ambiguous counterpart associations, expensive optical spectroscopy, and/or multimission multiwavelength coverage to resolve degeneracies often make estimation difficult in practice. Aims. We attempt to constrain redshifts of obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) using only low-resolution X-ray spectra. Methods. Our method for determining redshifts from the X-ray spectrum (XZ) fits AGN X-ray spectra with a moderately complex spectral model incorporating a corona, a torus obscurer, and a warm mirror. Using the Bayesian X-ray Astronomy (BXA) package, we constrain redshift, column density, photon index, and luminosity simultaneously. The redshift information primarily comes from absorption edges in Compton-thin AGN, and from the Fe Kα fluorescent line in heavily obscured AGN. A new generic background fitting method allows us to extract more information from limited numbers of source counts. Results. We derive redshift constraints for 74/321 hard-band detected sources in the Chandra deep field South. Comparing with spectroscopic redshifts, we find an outlier fraction of 8%, indicating that our model assumptions are valid. For three Chandra deep fields, we release our XZ redshift estimates. Conclusions. The independent XZ estimate is easy to apply and effective for a large fraction of obscured AGN in today’s deep surveys without the need for any additional data. Compared to different redshift estimation methods, XZ can resolve degeneracies in photometric redshifts, help detect potential association problems, and confirm uncertain single-line spectroscopic redshifts. With high spectral resolution and a large collecting area, this technique will be highly effective for Athena/WFI observations.

The orbital phase resolved spectroscopy of X-ray binary 4U 1822−371 with Suzaku

4U 1822−371 is a typical edge-on eclipsing low mass X-ray binary and the prototype of accretion disk coronal sources. We report on the results of a spectral analysis over the energy range 0.5–45 keV observed by Suzaku in 2006. We extract spectra from five orbital phases. The spectra can be equally well described by various previously proposed models: an optically thick model described by a partially covered cutoff power law and an optically thin model described by a blackbody plus a cutoff power law. The optically thick model requires a covering fraction of about 55%, while the optically thin model requires a temperature of the central source of about 0.16 keV. The spectrum in the optically thick model also shows the previously detected cyclotron line feature at ∼30 keV with the same Suzaku observation. This feature confirms the presence of a strong magnetic field. The Fe Kα fluorescent line strengths as well as the detected Fe XXVI strengths are similar to previous Chandra and XMM-Newton detections in our phased spectral analysis; however, we also observe strong Fe XXVI during the eclipse, which indicates a slightly larger central corona.

Characterization of ultra-shallow aluminum implants in silicon by grazing incidence and grazing emission X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

In this work two synchrotron radiation-based depth-sensitive X-ray fluorescence techniques, grazing incidence X-ray fluorescence (GIXRF) and grazing emission X-ray fluorescence (GEXRF), are compared and their potential for non-destructive depth-profiling applications is investigated. The depth-profiling capabilities of the two methods are illustrated for five aluminum-implanted silicon wafers all having the same implantation dose of 1016 atoms per cm2 but with different implantation energies ranging from 1 keV up to 50 keV. The work was motivated by the ongoing downscaling effort of the microelectronics industry and the resulting need for more sensitive methods for the impurity and dopant depth-profile control. The principles of GIXRF and GEXRF, both based on the refraction of X-rays at the sample surface to enhance the surface-to-bulk ratio of the detected fluorescence signal, are explained. The complementary experimental setups employed at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) for GIXRF and the University of Fribourg for GEXRF are presented in detail. In particular, for each technique it is shown how the dopant depth profile can be derived from the angular intensity dependence of the Al Kα fluorescence line. The results are compared to theoretical predictions and, for two samples, crosschecked with values obtained from secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) measurements. A good agreement between the different approaches is found proving that the GIXRF and GEXRF methods can be efficiently employed to extract the dopant depth distribution of ion-implanted samples with good accuracy and over a wide range of implantation energies.

Monte Carlo simulations of the nickel Kα fluorescent emission line in a toroidal geometry

We present new results from Monte Carlo calculations of the flux and equivalent width (EW) of the Ni Kalpha fluorescent emission line in the toroidal X-ray reprocessor model of Murphy & Yaqoob (2009, MNRAS, 397, 1549). In the Compton-thin regime, the EW of the Ni Kalpha line is a factor of ~22 less than that of the Fe Kalpha line but this factor can be as low as ~6 in the Compton-thick regime. We show that the optically-thin limit for this ratio depends only on the Fe to Ni abundance ratio, it being independent of the geometry and covering factor of the reprocessor, and also independent of the shape of the incident X-ray continuum. We give some useful analytic expressions for the absolute flux and the EW of the Ni Kalpha line in the optically-thin limit. When the reprocessor is Compton-thick and the incident continuum is a power-law with a photon index of 1.9, the Ni Kalpha line EW has a maximum value of ~3 eV and ~250 eV for non-intercepting and intercepting lines-of-sight respectively. Larger EWs are obtained for flatter continua. We have also studied the Compton shoulder of the Ni Ka line and find that the ratio of scattered to unscattered flux in the line has a maximum value of 0.26, less than the corresponding maximum for the Fe Kalpha line. However, we find that the shape of the Compton shoulder profile for a given column density and inclination angle of the torus is similar to the corresponding profile for the Fe Ka line. Our results will be useful for interpreting X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and X-ray binary systems in which the system parameters are favorable for the Ni Kalpha line to be detected.

The Compton shoulder of the Fe Kα fluorescent emission line in active galactic nuclei

We present new, high signal-to-noise ratio results from a Monte Carlo study of the properties of the Compton shoulder of the Fe Kalpha emission line in the toroidal X-ray reprocessor model of Murphy & Yaqoob (2009, MNRAS, 397, 1549). The model comprehensively covers the Compton-thin to Compton-thick regimes and we find that the variety of Compton shoulder profiles is greater than that for both (centrally-illuminated) spherical and disk geometries. Our Monte Carlo simulations were done with a statistical accuracy that is high enough to reveal, for the case of an edge-on, Compton-thick torus, a new type of Compton shoulder that is not present in the spherical or disk geometries. Such a Compton shoulder is dominated by a narrow back-scattering feature at ~6.24 keV. Our results also reveal a dependence of the shape of the Compton shoulder (and its magnitude relative to the Fe Kalpha line core) on the spectral shape of the incident X-ray continuum. We also show the effects of velocity broadening on the Fe Kalpha line profile and find that if either the velocity width or instrument resolution is greater than a FWHM of ~2000 km/s, the Compton shoulder begins to become blended with the line core and the characteristic features of the Compton shoulder become harder to resolve. In particular, at a FWHM of ~7000 km/s the Compton shoulder is NOT resolved at all, its only signature being a weak asymmetry in the blended line profile. Thus, CCD X-ray detectors cannot unambiguously resolve the Compton shoulder. Our results are freely available in a format that is suitable for direct spectral-fitting of the continuum and line model to real data.

K -line spectra from tungsten heated by an intense pulsed electron beam

The plasma-filled rod-pinch diode (PFRP) is an intense source of x-rays ideal for radiography of dense objects. In the PRFP megavoltage electrons from a pulsed discharge concentrate at the pointed end of a 1 mm diameter tapered tungsten rod. Ionization of this plasma might increase the energy of tungsten's Kα(1) fluorescence line, at 59.3182 keV, enough for the difference to be observed by a high-resolution Cauchois transmission crystal spectrograph. When the PFRP's intense hard bremsstrahlung is suppressed by the proper shielding, such an instrument gives excellent fluorescence spectra, albeit with as yet insufficient resolution to see any effect of tungsten's ionization. Higher resolution is possible with various straightforward upgrades that are feasible thanks to the radiation's high intensity.

Relativistically broadened iron line in the Suzaku observation of the neutron star X-ray binary 4U 1705–44

Abstract The X-ray spectra of accreting compact objects often exhibit discrete emission features associated with fluorescent emission in the accretion disc, the strongest of which is the Fe Kα fluorescence line at 6.4–6.97keV. These reflection features are amongst the best tools in the study of the inner region of accretion flow around a compact object. Here, we report on three Suzaku observations of the neutron star X-ray binary 4U 1705−44 where a broad, skewed Fe Kα emission line is clearly visible above the continuum. By using a relativistically blurred reflection model, we find that in 4U 1705−44 the inner disc radius extends down to rin= 10.5+1.0−1.7GM/c2 and is at an angle of 29.8+1.1−1.0 deg to the line of sight. Furthermore, we find that the level of ionization in the surface layers of the accretion disc changes by two orders of magnitude between the three observations, however the inner radius obtained from the line profile remains stable.