The X-ray spectrum of the intermediate polar AO Piscium.

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Accretion, Accretion Discs -- Binaries: Close -- Stars: Individual: Ao Psc -- Novae, Cataclysmic Variables -- X-Rays: Stars, Polars: X-Ray Spectra, Polars: X-Ray Light Curves, Polars: Accretion Disks, Polars: Models, Polars: Radiation Mechanisms

Scientific paper

An ASCA observation of AO Psc shows an X-ray lightcurve dominated by a sinusoidal spin pulse. There are absorption dips recurring with the orbital cycle, but otherwise no other periodic variations in the lightcurve. AO Psc is thus an ideal system for studying the spectral characteristics of the spin pulse. The authors find that the spectrum can be modelled as a 10-20 keV bremsstrahlung. To reproduce the spin pulse one requires a leaky photoelectric absorber, increasing in both column and covering fraction from spin maximum to spin minimum. This absorber consists of at least two phases of different density. The derived parameters match well with the "accretion curtain" model for intermediate polars. If the accretion flow is channelled on to an area ≡10-3 of the white dwarf surface, electron scattering in the highly ionized post-shock region is significant. However, the authors cannot rule out either disappearance of the lower pole or opacity due to dense blobs effecting similar spectral changes. The authors find evidence for cold, helium-like and hydrogen-like iron emission, and also helium-like argon emission, from which they derive a plasma temperature compatible with that from their continuum modelling. The thermal lines are unusually broad.

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