Black Hole Spin via Continuum Fitting and the Role of Spin in Powering Transient Jets

The spins of ten stellar black holes have been measured using the continuum-fitting method. These black holes are located in two distinct classes of X-ray binary systems, one that is persistently X-ray bright and another that is transient. Both the persistent and transient black holes remain for long periods in a state where their spectra are dominated by a thermal accretion disk component. The spin of a black hole of known mass and distance can be measured by fitting this thermal continuum spectrum to the thin-disk model of Novikov and Thorne; the key fit parameter is the radius of the inner edge of the black hole’s accretion disk. Strong observational and theoretical evidence links the inner-disk radius to the radius of the innermost stable circular orbit, which is trivially related to the dimensionless spin parameter a _? of the black hole (|a _?|<1). The ten spins that have so far been measured by this continuum-fitting method range widely from a _?≈0 to a _?>0.95. The robustness of the method is demonstrated by the dozens or hundreds of independent and consistent measurements of spin that have been obtained for several black holes, and through careful consideration of many sources of systematic error. Among the results discussed is a dichotomy between the transient and persistent black holes; the latter have higher spins and larger masses. Also discussed is recently discovered evidence in the transient sources for a correlation between the power of ballistic jets and black hole spin.     

Multi-Wavelength Variability

Multiwavelength variability data, combined with spectral-timing analysis techniques, provides information about the causal relationship between different physical components in accreting black holes. Using fast-timing data and long-term monitoring, we can probe the behaviour of the same components across the black hole mass scale. In this chapter we review the observational status of multiwavelength variability in accreting black holes, from black hole X-ray binaries to AGN, and consider the implications for models of accretion and ejection, primarily considering the evidence for accretion disc and jet variability in these systems. We end with a consideration of future prospects in this quickly-developing field.     

Observational Constraints on Transport (and Mixing) in Pre-Main Sequence Disks

Currently available observational constraints on transport mechanisms in pre-main sequence disks are reviewed. The main observable quantity accessable by imaging the spatial structure of disks is the mass accretion rate, which constrains angular momentum transport, and migration and diffusion of disk material. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Hα emitting regions of the accretion disks in Algols

The circumstellar plasma that produces Hα emission in Algol binaries has been investigated using phase-resolved, high dispersion data acquired from CCD and image tube detectors. Results are summarized in this paper, including discussions of the disk geometry and size, asymmetry in the distribution of material, long-term or non-phase dependent variability, mass outflow, the mean electron density, and how the latter properties vary with the system's period or location in the r-q diagram. Five systems which display permanent emission with periods ranging from 4.5 to 261 days (SW Cyg, UX Mon, TT Hya, AD Her, and RZ Oph) are intercompared. If P < 4.5 days, no permanent disks are observed, while if P > 6 days, stable disks with only slight long-term variations in their Hα brightness are seen. The most variable systems appear to be those in the 5 – 6 day range, but the star's position in the r-q diagram has the largest influence on its behavior. The trailing side of the accretion disk, where the gas stream impacts the inner disk, is usually brighter, and the leading side is often times more extended. The disk extends out to at least 95% of the Roche surface of the primary and is highly flattened (≤R_P). Mass outflow near phase 0.5 is commonplace.

     

Measuring the Masses of Supermassive Black Holes

Supermassive black holes reside at the centers of most, if not all, massive galaxies: the difference between active and quiescent galaxies is due to differences in mass accretion rate and radiative efficiency rather than whether or not they have nuclear black holes. In this contribution, methods for measuring the masses of supermassive black holes are discussed, with emphasis on reverberation mapping which is most generally applicable to accreting supermassive black holes and, in particular, to distant quasars where time resolution can be used as a surrogate for angular resolution. Indirect methods based on scaling relationships from reverberation mapping studies are also discussed, along with their current limitations.     

Accretion disks in stellar X-ray sources

This review presents an introduction to the theory of accretion disks. After explaining the importance of accretion disks in stellar X-ray sources, it considers observational and theoretical indications of the formation of accretion disks in close binary systems. The simple Shakura and Sunyaev model and its problems are discussed. A survey of other models that try to improve upon this model is given (in Table III), and critically discussed.     

Time-resolved spectroscopy of accretion disks in Algols

Time-resolved spectroscopy during the eclipse of short-period Algol systems, has shown their accretion disks to be small, turbulent structures with non-Keplerian velocity fields and asymmetries between the leading and trailing sides of the disk. These transient disks are produced by the impact of the gas stream on the mass-gaining star, and occur in systems where the star is just large enough to ensure the stream collision is complete. These emission line disks and the excess continuum emission do not always occur together. The permanent accretion disks in at least a few of the long-period Algol systems have features in common with the transient disks including non-Keplerian velocity fields.     

Time-resolved spectroscopy of accretion disks in Algols

Time-resolved spectroscopy during the eclipse of short-period Algol systems, has shown their accretion disks to be small, turbulent structures with non-Keplerian velocity fields and asymmetries between the leading and trailing sides of the disk. These transient disks are produced by the impact of the gas stream on the mass-gaining star, and occur in systems where the star is just large enough to ensure the stream collision is complete. These emission line disks and the excess continuum emission do not always occur together. The permanent accretion disks in at least a few of the long-period Algol systems have features in common with the transient disks including non-Keplerian velocity fields.     

Nucleosynthesis from non-thermal particles

The long-standing problem of nucleosynthesis from non-thermal charged particles is reviewed with emphasis on some novel points. Recent theoretical results predict very efficient acceleration of nuclei (up to GeV range) by violent systems with energy release in the form of multiple shock waves —OB associations and coronae of AGNs and black holes candidates in galactic accretion disks. A detection of gamma-line emission from the Orion complex by theCOMPTEL telescope on board ofGRO could confirm theoretical predictions. Production of lithium by non-thermal particles in Orion-like objects is discussed. The mechanism can be responsible for the observed variations of abundance of isotopes.     

Long-term cycles in cosmic X-ray sources

Most of what we know about galactic X-ray binaries comes from their time variation, particularly periodic variations corresponding to neutron star rotation, and binary motion. Longer cycles or quasi-cycles are much harder to observe because of the shortage of instrumentation suitable for long-term monitoring. Nonetheless, cycle with periods up to a few years have been seen in several galactic binaries.Cycles of 30–300 days have been confirmed for four high-mass systems, LMC X-4, Her X-1, SS433, and Cyg X-1, and are suspected in several others. These cycles are observed in both the X-ray and optical bands, and represent cyclic variations in both the inner and outer parts of the accretion disk. Some component of these systems is precessing, but we are not certain which. It could be a misaligned companion star; the outer rim of the accretion disk, driven by radiative feedback; or the neutron star.Several low-mass X-ray binaries have quasi-periodic cycles, with periods ranging from 1/2 to 2 years. The amplitude of modulation ranges between 50 and 100%, i.e., both persistent and transient objects fall into this class. This activity is reminiscent of the superoutburst cycles of the SU UMa cataclysmic variables, and may be caused by similar mass-transfer instabilities.Periodic outbursts in the Be/neutron star systems seem to result from variable mass transfer in a wide, eccentric orbit. The relationship between the orbital cycle and the flux outbursts, however, is not well understood, and even the equivalence of the outburst and binary cycles remains hypothetical for most objects. Most likely, the periodic outbursts result from enhanced mass transfer at periastron.Compared to other aspects of X-ray astronomy, long-term activity has been much less intensively studied by both observers and theoreticians. A simple all-sky monitor in permanent operation could provide for the X-ray sky the same kind of data base provided to optical observers by the Harvard plates.     

Observational Appearance of Black Holes in X-Ray Binaries and AGN

Accretion onto black holes powers most luminous compact sources in the Universe. Black holes are found with masses extending over an extraordinary broad dynamic range, from several to a few billion times the mass of the Sun. Depending on their position on the mass scale, they may manifest themselves as X-ray binaries or active galactic nuclei. X-ray binaries harbor stellar mass black holes—endpoints of the evolution of massive stars. They have been studied by X-ray astronomy since its inception in the early 60-ies, however, the enigma of the most luminous of them—ultra-luminous X-ray sources, still remains unsolved. Supermassive black holes, lurking at the centers of galaxies, are up to hundreds of millions times more massive and give rise to the wide variety of different phenomena collectively termed “Active Galactic Nuclei”. The most luminous of them reach the Eddington luminosity limit for a few billions solar masses object and are found at redshifts as high as z≥5–7. Accretion onto supermassive black holes in AGN and stellar- and (possibly) intermediate mass black holes in X-ray binaries and ultra-luminous X-ray sources in star-forming galaxies can explain most, if not all, of the observed brightness of the cosmic X-ray background radiation. Despite the vast difference in the mass scale, accretion in X-ray binaries and AGN is governed by the same physical laws, so a degree of quantitative analogy among them is expected. Indeed, all luminous black holes are successfully described by the standard Shakura-Sunyaev theory of accretion disks, while the output of low-luminosity accreting black holes in the form of mechanical and radiative power of the associated jets obeys to a unified scaling relation, termed as the “fundamental plane of black holes”. From that standpoint, in this review we discuss formation of radiation in X-ray binaries and AGN, emphasizing their main similarities and differences, and examine our current knowledge of the demographics of stellar mass and supermassive black holes.     

Photometric effects of accretion disks in long-period eclipsing binaries

Summary A multi-year photometric program on long-period eclipsing binaries has begun to uncover some properties of accretion disks in these systems. Emission and transmission properties can sometimes be found from light curve features produced by partial eclipses of the disk by the cool star, and by partial occultations of the cool star by the disk. These disks do not have the classical alpha structure. They are optically thin normal to the orbital plane, but may be geometrically thicker than purely gravitationally-stratified disks. Disk gas may be contaminated by dust particles acquired from the outer layers of the cool loser. In some systems, high states, produced by elevated mass accretion by the hot star, occur, suggesting that the mass distribution in the disk is clumpy. However mass-transfer rates are found, they lie between 10^-7 and 10^-6 solar masses per year.While this binary sample is small at the moment, some of its properties are shared with other systems. The author has five-color observations of about a dozen additional systems, which may fill out this picture more fully.     

Scaling Relations from Stellar to Supermassive Black Holes

Accretion is a ubiquitous phenomenon—it is seen in sources ranging from young stars to accreting supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies. Here, we present the known empirical connections between stellar mass X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei. We argue that this implies that both the accretion disc and the jet are scale invariant with respect to the black hole mass. Finally, we show that also accretion discs and jets in sources with a different accretor can be connected empirically to accreting black holes, hinting towards a common mechanism of accretion in all sources.     

Magnetic energy release near accreting black holes

The observed non-thermal emission from accreting compact objects is often understood in terms of the expected magnetic activity of accretion disks. This review discusses the constraints on this view point that can be obtained from, principally, the X-ray spectra and the X-ray variability of black hole candidates.Furthermore, the traditional view of an accretion disk corona, put forward as the source of the non-thermal emission, analogous to the solar corona is shown to be wrong on a few important points. Firstly, the density in the equilibrium accretion disk corona is extremely low. A reasonable plasma density is retained by pair production processes similar to those existing in the pulsar magnetosphere. Secondly, the dominant resistivity in the accretion the disk on the current carrying electrons.     

Fast Variability from Black-Hole Binaries

Currently available information on fast variability of the X-ray emission from accreting collapsed objects constitutes a complex phenomenology which is difficult to interpret. We review the current observational standpoint for black-hole binaries and survey models that have been proposed to interpret it. Despite the complex structure of the accretion flow, key observational diagnostics have been identified which can provide direct access to the dynamics of matter motions in the close vicinity of black holes and thus to the some of fundamental properties of curved spacetimes, where strong-field general relativistic effects can be observed.     

Menus for Feeding Black Holes

Black holes are the ultimate prisons of the Universe, regions of spacetime where the enormous gravity prohibits matter or even light to escape to infinity. Yet, matter falling toward the black holes may shine spectacularly, generating the strongest source of radiation. These sources provide us with astrophysical laboratories of extreme physical conditions that cannot be realized on Earth. This chapter offers a review of the basic menus for feeding matter onto black holes and discusses their observational implications.     

Tenma observations of bright binary X-ray sources

Spectroscopic study of bright binary X-ray sources, performed with the gas scintillation proportional counters on board Tenma, is reviewed. Properties of an iron emission line from two classes of bright binary X-ray sources: X-ray pulsars and low-mass binary sources, are first presented. It is shown that a most likely candidate for the line emitting region is an Alfven shell in case of X-ray pulsars, whereas that of low mass binary sources is an outer accretion disk. Next, nature of the continuum emission from low-mass binary sources is consistently interpreted by a picture that an optically thick accretion disk extends down to very near the surface of a weakly magnetized neutron star. Origin of ultrasoft spectra of black hole candidate sources is also discussed.     

The structure of low-mass X-ray binaries

The present knowledge of the structure of low-mass X-ray binary systems is reviewed. We examine the orbital period distribution of these sources and discuss how the orbital periods are measured. There is substantial observational evidence that the accretion disks in low-mass X-ray binaries are thick and structured. In a number of highly inclined systems, the compact X-ray emitting star is hidden from direct view by the disk and X-radiation is observed from these only because photons are scattered into the line of sight by material above and below the disk plane. In such systems the X-ray emission can appear extended with respect to the companion star, which can lead to partial X-ray eclipses. There are substantial variations in the thickness of the disk rim with azimuth. These give rise to the phenomenon of irregular dips in the X-ray flux which recur with the orbital period, or to an overall binary modulation of the X-ray flux if the source is extended. The X-ray spectra of low-mass X-ray binaries can be used to probe the innermost emission regions surrounding the compact star. The spectra of the bright Sco X-1 variables can be fitted with two components which are provisionally identified as originating in the inner disk and the boundary layer between the disk and the neutron star respectively. The characteristic energy dependent flaring of the Sco X-1 sub-class may be a geometric effect triggered by an increase in the thickness of the inner disk or boundary layer. The X-ray spectra of the lower luminosity systems, including the bursters, are less complex, and in many cases can be represented by a single power law with, in some sources, a high energy cut-off. Iron line emission is a characteristic of most low-mass X-ray binaries, irrespective of luminosity.     

Theories of magnetospheres around accreting compact objects

A wide class of galactic X-ray sources are believed to be binary systems where mass is flowing from a normal star to a companion that is a compact object, such as a neutron star. The strong magnetic fields of the compact object create a magnetosphere around it. We review the theoretical models developed to describe the properties of magnetospheres in such accreting binary systems. The size of the magnetosphere can be estimated from pressure balance arguments and is found to be small compared to the over-all size of the accretion region but large compared to the compact object if the latter is a neutron star. In the early models the magnetosphere was assumed to have open funnels in the polar regions, through which accreting plasma could pour in. Later, magnetically closed models were developed, with plasma entry made possible by instabilities at the magnetosphere boundary. The theory of plasma flow inside the magnetosphere has been formulated in analogy to a stellar wind with reversed flow; a complicating factor is the instability of the Alfvén critical point for inflow. In the case of accretion via a well-defined disk, new problems of magnetospheric structure appear, in particular the question to what extent and by what process the magnetic fields from the compact object can penetrate into the accretion disk. Since the X-ray emission is powered by the gravitational energy released in the accretion process, mass transfer into the magnetosphere is of fundamental importance; the various proposed mechanisms are critically examined.Proceedings of the NASA/JPL Workshop on the Physics of Planetary and Astrophysical Magnetospheres.