SIMBAD references

2020A&A...642A.196S - Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 642A196-196 (2020/10-1)

Cyclotron line energy in Hercules X-1: stable after the decay.

STAUBERT R., DUCCI L., JI L., FURST F., WILMS J., ROTHSCHILD R.E., POTTSCHMIDT K., BRUMBACK M. and HARRISON F.

Abstract (from CDS):

We summarize the results of a dedicated effort made between 2012 and 2019 to follow the evolution of the cyclotron line in Her X-1 through repeated NuSTAR observations. The previously observed nearly 20-year-long decay of the cyclotron line energy has ended in 2012: from then on, the pulse-phase-averaged flux-corrected cyclotron line energy has remained stable and constant at an average value of Ecyc=(37.44±0.07)keV (normalized to a flux level of 6.8 RXTE/ASM-cts/s). The flux dependence of Ecyc discovered in 2007 is now measured with high precision, giving a slope of (0.675±0.075) keV/(ASM-cts/s), corresponding to an increase of 6.5% of Ecyc for an increase in flux by a factor of two. We also find that all line parameters as well as the continuum parameters show a correlation with X-ray flux. While a correlation between Ecyc and X-ray flux (both positive and negative) is now known for several accreting binaries with various suggestions for the underlying physics, the phenomenon of a long-term decay has so far only been seen in Her X-1 and Vela X-1, with far less convincing explanations.

Abstract Copyright: © ESO 2020

Journal keyword(s): stars: magnetic field - radiation mechanisms: general - scattering - pulsars: individual: Her X-1 - stars: neutron - X-rays: stars

Simbad objects: 6

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