A Type I Burst with Radius Expansion Observed from Cygnus X-2 with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Accretion, Accretion Disks, Stars: Individual Constellation Name: Cygnus X-2, Stars: Neutron, X-Rays: Bursts, X-Rays: Stars

Scientific paper

We present the results of a Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array observation of Cygnus X-2 in its high-intensity state, during which the source passed through the normal and horizontal branches of its Z diagram and mapped out a new, pronounced upturn on its horizontal branch. During this upturn state, a bright X-ray burst was observed, with rise and decay times of ~1 and ~5 s, respectively, and a peak flux of 1.52x10^{-8} ergs cm-2 s-1. The energy-dependent profile, energetics, and spectral evolution allow us to identify this as a type I X-ray burst, with evidence for photospheric radius expansion in its first 2 s and spectral cooling in its later stages. The detection of these phenomena removes the previous ambiguity about the nature of bursts from Cyg X-2 and, in addition, allows us to make an independent determination of the source distance of 11.6+/-0.3 kpc.

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