Polarization properties of iron emission lines as a tool to identify the finite thickness of disks with moderately super-eddington accretion rate

2021 ◽  
pp. 2150074
Author(s):  
Ze-Yuan Tang ◽  
Ye-Fei Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Accretion Disks ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Finite Thickness ◽  
Polarization Degree ◽  
Iron Line ◽  
Disk Thickness ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Polarized Radiation

The Fe-K[Formula: see text] fluorescence lines are commonly observed in AGNs and X-ray binaries. The lines are believed to be originated from the reflection of the hard X-ray continuum near the inner-most region of the accretion disks of black holes. The geometry of the accretion disk is usually assumed to be infinitely thin, but this assumption is not appropriate when the accretion rate is moderately super-Eddington. With the increase of the accretion rate, the disk becomes thick, which will significantly affect the properties of the fluorescence lines. For instance, the polarized radiation is strongly depended on the geometry of the accretion disk. In this work, based on the lamp-post model, we study the polarization properties of the relativistic Fe-K[Formula: see text] lines from thick disks in the framework of fully general relativity. We find that with the increase of the disk thickness, the polarization degree (PD) at the blue edge of the iron line increase significantly, and there appears a peak at the profile of the PD of the iron emission line, which at most is one order higher that of the line from the thin disk. Thus, the polarization properties of relativistic broad Fe-K[Formula: see text] lines can be used to as a tool to diagnose the disk thickness.

scholarly journals Non-Linear Resonances in Accretion Disks and QPOs

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 128-129
Author(s):  
Włodek Kluźniak
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Accretion Disks ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractNon-linear oscillations in the accretion disk are favored as an explanation of high-frequency QPOs observed in the light curves of low-mass X-ray binaries containing neutron stars, black holes, or white dwarfs.

scholarly journals Modeling He-Rich Disks in AM CVn Binaries

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 228-228
Author(s):  
T. Nagel ◽  
S. Dreizler ◽  
T. Rauch ◽  
K. Werner
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Accretion Disks ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
Cataclysmic Variables ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Synthetic Spectra ◽  
Pure Helium ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

We have developed a new code for the calculation of synthetic spectra and vertical structures of accretion disks in cataclysmic variables and compact X-ray binaries. Here we present results for the CV system AM CVn.AM CVn stars are a special type of cataclysmic variables, also called helium cataclysmics. They are systems of interacting binary white dwarfs, consisting of a degenerate C-O white dwarf primary and a low mass semi-degenerate secondary. The secondary loses mass, almost, pure helium, to the primary, forming an accretion disk. They have all in common a helium-rich composition, analoguous to the hydrogen-rich cataclysmic variables. They show photometric variabilities on time scales of ~ 1000s, the prototype of the class, AM CVn, e.g. exhibits a variability of ~ 18 min (Nelemans et al. 2001).

scholarly journals Hybrid Accretion-Disks in AGN and the AGN Contribution to the XRB

1994 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 491-491
Author(s):  
Amri Wandel
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Accretion Disks ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Bremsstrahlung Spectrum ◽  
Spectral Evolution ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Background ◽  
Inner Region ◽  
Two Temperature

The hybrid accretion-disk (HAD) model links the two characteristic components of AGN spectra – the UV bump and the X-ray power-law – in the framework of one physical model. The radially stratified hybrid disk is a self consistent combination of a thin, cool accretion disk at large radii, with an inner hot two-temperature disk. Its spectrum consists of three components, corresponding to the three radial disk regions: a blackbody thermal spectrum from the outer cool disk, a Comptonized soft photon power-law spectrum from the intermediate region, and a thermal Comptonized bremsstrahlung spectrum from the inner region. The dependence of the hybrid disk spectrum on the accretion rate and on other parameters is discussed and applied to AGN spectral evolution, and in particular to explaining the cosmic X-ray background by AGN.

scholarly journals MHD Accretion Disk Winds: The Key to AGN Phenomenology?

Galaxies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demosthenes Kazanas
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Accretion Disks ◽  
Mass Flux ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Mass Scale ◽  
Observational Constraints ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Mass Accretion Rate

Accretion disks are the structures which mediate the conversion of the kinetic energy of plasma accreting onto a compact object (assumed here to be a black hole) into the observed radiation, in the process of removing the plasma’s angular momentum so that it can accrete onto the black hole. There has been mounting evidence that these structures are accompanied by winds whose extent spans a large number of decades in radius. Most importantly, it was found that in order to satisfy the winds’ observational constraints, their mass flux must increase with the distance from the accreting object; therefore, the mass accretion rate on the disk must decrease with the distance from the gravitating object, with most mass available for accretion expelled before reaching the gravitating object’s vicinity. This reduction in mass flux with radius leads to accretion disk properties that can account naturally for the AGN relative luminosities of their Optical-UV and X-ray components in terms of a single parameter, the dimensionless mass accretion rate. Because this critical parameter is the dimensionless mass accretion rate, it is argued that these models are applicable to accreting black holes across the mass scale, from galactic to extragalactic.

scholarly journals Radiation-Driven Warping: The Origin of Warps and Precession in Accretion Disks

1997 ◽  
Vol 163 ◽  
pp. 311-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip R. Maloney ◽  
Mitchell C. Begelman
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Accretion Disks ◽  
Radiation Pressure ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Local Analysis ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Ss 433 ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractA geometrically thin, optically thick, warped accretion disk with a central source of luminosity is subject to non-axisymmetric forces due to radiation pressure; the resulting torque acts to modify the warp. Initially planar accretion disks are unstable to warping driven by radiation torque, as shown in a local analysis by Pringle (1996) and a global analysis of the stable and unstable modes by Maloney, Begelman, & Pringle (1996). In general, the warp also precesses.We discuss the nature of this instability, and its possible implications for accretion disks in X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei. Specifically, we argue that this effect provides a plausible explanation for the misalignment and precession of the accretion disks in X-ray binaries such as SS 433 and Her X–l; the same mechanism explains why the maser disk in NGC 4258 is warped.

Iron K-Line Emission from X-Ray Binaries

1988 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 47-50
Author(s):  
K. Masai ◽  
S. Hayakawa ◽  
F. Nagase
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Radiative Recombination ◽  
Characteristic Temperature ◽  
Line Emission ◽  
Ionization Front ◽  
Continuum Radiation ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractEmission mechanisms of the iron Kα-lines in X-ray binaries are discussed in relation with the characteristic temperature Txof continuum radiation thereof. The 6.7 keV line is ascribed to radiative recombination followed by cascades in a corona of ∼ 100 eV formed above the accretion disk. This mechanism is attained for Tx≲ 10 keV as observed for low mass X-ray binaries. The 6.4 keV line observed for binary X-ray pulsars with Tx> 10 keV is likely due to fluorescence outside the He II ionization front.

4U 1608–52 as a quasi-persistent X-ray source

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vojtěch Šimon
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Time Segment ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Band Emission ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Soft State ◽  
Cyclic Variations ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Disk Region

Abstract 4U 1608–52 is a soft X-ray transient. The analysis presented here of a particular part of its X-ray activity uses observations of RXTE/ASM and Swift/BAT. We show a time segment (MJD 54262–MJD 55090) (828 d) in which 4U 1608–52 behaved as a quasi-persistent X-ray source with a series of bumps, with a complicated relation between the evolution of fluxes in the soft (1.5–12 keV) and the hard (15–50 keV) X-ray regions. We ascribe these bumps to a series of propagations of heating and cooling fronts over the inner disk region without any transitions to the true quiescence. 4U 1608–52 oscillated around the boundary between the dominance of the Comptonized component and the dominance of the multicolor accretion disk in its luminosity. Only some of the bumps in this series were accompanied by a transition from the hard to the soft state; if it occurred, it displayed a strong hysteresis effect. The hard-band emission with the dominant Comptonized component was present for most of this active state and showed a cycle of about 40 d. We argue that the cyclic variations of flux come from the inner disk region, not, e.g., from a jet. We also discuss the observed behavior of 4U 1608–52 in the context of other quasi-persistent low-mass X-ray binaries.

scholarly journals Warped disks during type II outbursts in Be/X-ray binaries: evidence from optical polarimetry

2018 ◽  
Vol 619 ◽  
pp. A19 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Reig ◽  
D. Blinov
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Degree Of Polarization ◽  
Polarization Degree ◽  
Polarization Angle ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Line Profiles ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Binaries

Context. Current models that explain giant (type II) X-ray outbursts in Be/X-ray binaries (BeXB), are based on the idea of highly distorted disks. They are believed to occur when a misaligned and warped disk becomes eccentric, allowing the neutron star to capture a large amount of material. The BeXB 4U 0115+63 underwent two major outbursts in 2015 and 2017. Aims. Our aim is to investigate whether the structural changes in the disk expected during type II outbursts can be detected through optical polarimetry. Methods. We present the first optical polarimetric observations and new optical spectra of the BeXB 4U 0115+63 covering the period 2013–2017. We study in detail the shape of the Hα line profile and the polarization parameters before, during, and after the occurrence of a type II X-ray outburst. Results. We find significant changes in polarization degree and polarization angle and highly distorted line profiles during the 2017 X-ray outburst. The degree of polarization decreased by ∼1%, while the polarization angle, which is supposed to be related with the disk orientation, first increased by ∼10° in about two months and then decreased by a similar amount and on a similar timescale once the X-ray activity ceased. Conclusions. We interpret the polarimetric and spectroscopic variability as evidence for the presence of a warped disk.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document