English

Coronal--Temporal Correlations in GX339-4: Hysteresis, Possible Reflection Changes, and Implications for ADAFs

Astrophysics 2009-11-07 v1

Abstract

We present spectral fits and timing analysis of Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations of GX339-4. These observations were carried out over a span of more than two years and encompassed both the soft/high and hard/low states. Hysteresis in the soft state/hard state transition is observed. The hard state exhibits a possible anti-correlation between coronal compactness (i.e., spectral hardness) and the covering fraction of cold, reflecting material. The correlation between `reflection fraction' and soft X-ray flux, however, appears to be more universal. Furthermore, low flux, hard state observations - taken over a decline into quiescence- show that the Fe line, independent of `reflection fraction', remains broad and at a roughly constant equivalent width, counter to expectations from ADAF models. All power spectral densities (PSD) of the hard state X-ray lightcurves are describable as the sum of just a few broad, quasi-periodic features with frequencies that roughly scale as coronal compactness to the -3/2 power. Similar to observations of Cyg X-1, time lags between soft and hard variability anti-correlate with coronal compactness. A stronger correlation is seen between the time lags and the `reflection fraction'.

Cite

@article{arxiv.astro-ph/0201383,
  title  = {Coronal--Temporal Correlations in GX339-4: Hysteresis, Possible Reflection Changes, and Implications for ADAFs},
  author = {Michael A. Nowak and Joern Wilms and James B. Dove},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/0201383},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

29 Pages, 17 Figures, 6 Tables. Accepted for Publication in MNRAS. (Abstract Abridged)

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