2013ApJ...771...96M

We have performed a detailed pulse-phase-resolved spectral analysis of cyclotron resonant scattering features (CRSFs) of the two Be/X-ray pulsars A0535+26 and XTE J1946+274 and the wind accreting HMXB pulsar 4U 1907+09 using Suzaku observations. The CRSF parameters vary strongly over the pulse phase and can be used to map the magnetic field, and a possible deviation forms the dipole geometry in these sources. It also reflects the conditions at the accretion column and the local environment over the changing viewing angles. The pattern of variation with pulse phase is obtained with more than one continuum spectral model for each source, all of which give consistent results. Care is also taken in performing the analysis over a stretch of data having constant spectral characteristics and luminosity in order to ensure that the results reflect the variations due to the changing viewing angle alone. For A0535+26 and XTE J1946+274, which show energy-dependent dips in their pulse profiles, a partial covering absorber is added in the continuum spectral models to take into account an additional absorption at those phases by the accretion stream/column blocking our line of sight.