2013ApJ...767L..35Y -
Astrophys. J., 767, L35 (2013/April-3)
Highly ionized Fe-K absorption line from Cygnus X-1 in the High/Soft state observed with Suzaku.
YAMADA S., TORII S., MINESHIGE S., UEDA Y., KUBOTA A., GANDHI P., DONE C., NODA H., YOSHIKAWA A. and MAKISHIMA K.
Abstract (from CDS):
We present observations of a transient He-like Fe Kα absorption line in Suzaku observations of the black hole binary Cygnus X-1 on 2011 October 5 near superior conjunction during the high/soft state, which enable us to map the full evolution from the start to the end of the episodic accretion phenomena or dips for the first time. We model the X-ray spectra during the event and trace their evolution. The absorption line is rather weak in the first half of the observation, but instantly deepens for ∼10 ks, and weakens thereafter. The overall change in equivalent width is a factor of ∼3, peaking at an orbital phase of ∼0.08. This is evidence that the companion stellar wind feeding the black hole is clumpy. By analyzing the line with a Voigt profile, it is found to be consistent with a slightly redshifted Fe XXV transition, or possibly a mixture of several species less ionized than Fe XXV. The data may be explained by a clump located at a distance of ∼1010–12 cm with a density of ∼10^(- 13)-(- 11)^ g/cm3, which accretes onto and/or transits the line of sight to the black hole, causing an instant decrease in the observed degree of ionization and/or an increase in density of the accreting matter. Continued monitoring for individual events with future X-ray calorimeter missions such as ASTRO-H and AXSIO will allow us to map out the accretion environment in detail and how it changes between the various accretion states.
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Journal keyword(s):
stars: individual: Cyg X-1 - X-rays: binaries
Simbad objects:
2
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