X-ray time variations from Cygnus X-1 and implications for the accretion process

Details X-ray time variations from Cygnus X-1 and implications for the accretion process X-ray time variations from Cygnus X-1 and implications for the accretion process

Dec 1989

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1989natur.342..773m&link_type=abstract

Nature (ISSN 0028-0836), vol. 342, Dec. 14, 1989, p. 773, 774. Research supported by MOESC.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

99

Gravitational Effects, Spectrum Analysis, Stellar Mass Accretion, Time Lag, X Ray Sources, Black Holes (Astronomy), Companion Stars, Cygnus Constellation, O Stars, X Ray Spectra

Scientific paper

The binary system Cygnus X-1 is thought to contain a black hole that accretes matter from an O-type supergiant companion. Gravitational energy of the matter in the accretion disk is transformed to thermal energy, resulting in the emission of X-rays. These are emitted in successive bursts ('shots'). Here, the existence of a time delay between X-rays in different energy ranges is demonstrated; this is manifested as a double-peaked structure in the phase lag between two X-ray energy ranges for Fourier periods between 0.2 and 20 s. Taken together with an analysis of the power density spectrum, this indicates that shots tend to occur with two preferred durations and that the X-ray energy spectrum becomes harder as the shot progresses. This is consistent with an accretion model in which clumps of matter in the disk have two preferred sizes, and are heated by the release of gravitational energy as they drift from the outer to the inner region of the disk before disappearing into the black hole.

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