High Resolution Ultraviolet Spectroscopy of the X-ray Binary Cygnus X-1

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Scientific paper

High-resolution ultraviolet observations of the black hole X-ray binary Cygnus X-1 were obtained using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. Observations were taken at two epochs roughly a year apart; orbital phase ranges around forb = 0 and forb = 0.5 were covered at each epoch. We detected P Cygni line features from both high (N V, C IV, Si IV) and low (Si II, C II, O I, Al II) ionization state material. We analyze the characteristics of a selection of P Cygni profiles and note, in particular, a strong dependence on orbital phase: the profiles show strong, broad emission when the X-ray source is behind the companion star and noticeably less absorption when the X-ray object is between us and the companion star. We discuss possible explanations for this effect, including the Hatchett-McCray effect, in which X-rays from the compact object photo-ionize the stellar wind from the companion star, reducing absorption, or a ‘focusing’ of the wind toward the compact object as has been suggested by several authors.

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