Chilled disks in ultraluminous X-ray sources

Details Chilled disks in ultraluminous X-ray sources Chilled disks in ultraluminous X-ray sources

Apr 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007iaus..238..453s&link_type=abstract

Black Holes from Stars to Galaxies -- Across the Range of Masses. Edited by V. Karas and G. Matt. Proceedings of IAU Symposium #

Mathematics

Logic

Scientific paper

The "soft-excess" component fitted to the X-ray spectra of many ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) remains a controversial finding, which may reveal fundamental information either on the black hole (BH) mass or on the state of the accretion flow. In the simplest model, it was explained as thermal emission from a cool accretion disk around an intermediate-mass BH (about 1000 solar masses). We argue that this scenario is highly implausible, and discuss and compare the two most likely alternatives. 1) The soft-excess does come from a cool disk; however, the temperature is low not because of a high BH mass but because most of the accretion power is drained from the inner disk via magnetic torques, and channelled into jets and outflows ("chilled disk" scenario). Using a phenomenological model, we infer that ULXs contain BHs of about 50 solar masses accreting gas at about 10 times their Eddington rate. 2) The soft excess is in fact a soft deficit, if the power-law continuum is properly fitted. Such broad absorption features are caused by smeared absorption lines in fast, highly ionized outflows. This scenario has already been successfully applied to the soft excess in AGN. If so, this spectral feature reveals details of disk outflows,but is unrelated to the BH mass.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Chilled disks in ultraluminous X-ray sources does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Chilled disks in ultraluminous X-ray sources, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Chilled disks in ultraluminous X-ray sources will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1083037