Spectra and time variability of black-hole binaries in the low/hard state

We propose a jet model for the low/hard state of galactic black-hole X-ray sources which explains the energy spectra from radio to X-rays and a number of timing properties in the X-ray domain such as the time lag spectra, the hardening of the power density spectra and the narrowing of the autocorrelation function with increasing photon energy. The model assumes that (i) there is a magnetic field along the axis of the jet, (ii) the electron density in the jet drops inversely proportional to distance, (iii) the jet is “hotter” near its center than at its periphery, and (iv) the electrons in the jet follow a power-law distribution function. We have performed Monte Carlo simulations of Compton upscattering of soft photons from the accretion disk and have found power-law high-energy spectra with photon-number index in the range 1.5–2 and cutoff at a few hundred keV, power-law time lags versus Fourier frequency with index 0.8, and an increase of the rms amplitude of variability and a narrowing of the autocorrelation function with increasing photon energy as they have been observed in Cygnus X-1. The spectrum at long wavelengths (radio, infrared, optical) is modeled to come from synchrotron radiation of the energetic electrons in the jet. We find flat to inverted radio spectra that extend from the radio up to about the optical band. For magnetic field strengths of the order 10⁵–10⁶ G at the base of the jet, the calculated spectra agree well in slope and flux with the observations.     

Testing the no-hair theorem with observations of black holes in the electromagnetic spectrum

According to the no-hair theorem, astrophysical black holes are uniquely described by their mass and spin. In this paper, we review a new framework for testing the no-hair hypothesis with observations in the electromagnetic spectrum. The approach is formulated in terms of a Kerr-like spacetime containing a quadrupole moment that is independent of both mass and spin. If the no-hair theorem is correct, then any deviation from the Kerr metric quadrupole has to be zero. We show how upcoming VLBI imaging observations of Sgr A∗ as well as spectroscopic observations of iron lines from accreting black holes with IXO may lead to the first astrophysical test of the no-hair theorem.     

SLX 1746-311 in outburst

We report on RXTE-PCA observations of SLX 1746-311 during a 100 day outburst in April 2003. We present the 3–20 keV PCA energy spectra of the source and study evolution of spectral parameters. The burst spectrum is soft with T_in 1.3 keV at the beginning of the outburst. There is a clear evidence of a hard power law component throughout the outburst. There is also an indication of a broad iron line. The source exhibits three state transitions with considerable change in the hardness ratio at low count rates. We discuss the possible scenario under which this unusual behaviour can be explained.     

Relativistic jets from black hole binaries

Relativistic jets are now believed to be a fairly ubiquitous property of accreting compact objects, and are intimately coupled with the accretion history. Associated with rapid changes in the accretion states of the binary systems, ejections of relativistic plasma can be observed at radio frequencies on timescale of weeks before becoming undetectable. However, recent observations point to long term effects of these ejecta on the interstellar medium with the formation of large scale relativistic jets around binary systems.     

Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations in SAX J1808.4–3658

I present a short overview of the behavior and properties of the two simultaneous kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) seen in the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4–3658. I will focus on the behavior of the upper frequency QPO as a function of time and count rate as seen during the 2002 outburst of this source. I will also discuss briefly the correlated behavior of this QPO with QPOs at lower frequencies (several tens of hertz).     

Composite profile of the Fe Kα spectral line emitted from a binary system of supermassive black holes

We used a model of a relativistic accretion disk around a supermassive black hole (SMBH), based on ray-tracing method in the Kerr metric, to study the variations of the composite Fe Kα line emitted from two accretion disks around SMBHs in a binary system. We assumed that the orbit of such a binary is approximately Keplerian, and simulated the composite line shapes for different orbital elements, accretion disk parameters and mass ratios of the components. The obtained results show that, if observed in the spectra of some SMBH binaries during their different orbital phases, such composite Fe Kα line profiles could be used to constrain the orbits and several properties of such SMBH binaries.     

2D and 3D MHD simulations of disk accretion by rotating magnetized stars: Search for variability

We performed 2D and full 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of disk accretion to a rotating star with an aligned or misaligned dipole magnetic field. We investigated the rotational equilibrium state and derived from simulations the ratio between two main frequencies: the spin frequency of the star and the orbital frequency at the inner radius of the disk. In 3D simulations we observed different features related to the non-axisymmetry of the magnetospheric flow. These features may be responsible for high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). Variability at much lower frequencies may be connected with restructuring of the magnetic flux threading the inner regions of the disk. Such variability is specifically strong at the propeller stage of evolution.     

Black-hole transients: From QPOs to relativistic jets

Due to the impressive amount of new data provided by the RXTE satellite in the past decade, our knowledge of the phenomenology of accretion onto black holes has increased considerably. In particular, it has been possible to schematize the outburst evolution of transient systems on the basis of their spectral and timing properties, and link them to the ejection of relativistic jets as observed in the radio. Here, I present this scheme, concentrating on the properties of the quasi-periodic oscillations observed in the light curves and on the link with jet ejection.     

‘Spectro-temporal’ characteristics and disk-jet connection of the outbursting black hole source XTE J1859+226

We re-investigated the ‘spectro-temporal’ behavior of the source XTE J1859+226 in X-rays during its outburst phase in 1999, by analysing the RXTE PCA/HEXTE data in 2–150 keV spectral band. Detailed analysis shows that the source evolves through different spectral states during its entire outburst as indicated by the variation in the spectral and temporal characteristics. Although the evolution pattern of the outburst followed the typical q-shaped profile, we observed an absence of ‘canonical’ soft state and a weak presence of ‘secondary’ emission during the decay phase of the outburst. The broad-band spectra, modeled with high energy cutoff, shows that the fold-energy increases monotonically in the hard and hard-intermediate states followed by a random variation in the soft-intermediate state. We attempted to estimate the mass of the source based on the evolution of Quasi-Periodic Oscillation (QPO) frequencies during rising phase modeled with the propagating oscillatory shock solution, and from the correlation of photon index and QPO frequency. It is also observed that during multiple ejections (observed as radio flares) the QPO frequencies are not present in the power spectra and there is an absence of lag in the soft to hard photons. The disk flux increases along with a decrease in the high energy flux, implying the soft nature of the spectrum. These results are the ‘possible’ indication that the inner part of the disk (i.e., Comptonized corona), which could be responsible for the generation of QPO and for the non-thermal Comptonized component of the spectrum, is disrupted and the matter gets evacuated in the form of jet. We attempted to explain the complex behavior of ‘spectro-temporal’ properties of the source during the entire outburst and the nature of the disk-jet connection before, during and after the ejection events in the context of two different types of accreting flow material, in presence of magnetic field.     

Production and evolution of millisecond X-ray and radio pulsars

Observations using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) have discovered dozens of accreting neutron stars with millisecond spin periods in low-mass binary star systems. Eighteen are millisecond X-ray pulsars powered by accretion or nuclear burning or both. These stars have magnetic fields strong enough for them to become millisecond rotation-powered (radio) pulsars when accretion ceases. Few, if any, accretion- or rotation-powered pulsars have spin rates higher than 750 Hz. There is strong evidence that the spin-up of some accreting neutron stars is limited by magnetic spin-equilibrium whereas the spin-up of others is halted when accretion ends. Further study will show whether the spin rates of some accretion- or rotation-powered pulsars are or were limited by emission of gravitational radiation.     

X-ray observations of black-hole accretion disks

Our current theoretical and observational understandings of the accretion disks around Galactic black-holes are reviewed. Historically, a simple phenomenological accretion disk model has been used to interpret X-ray observations. Although such a phenomenological interpretation is still useful, high quality X-ray data from contemporary instruments allow us to test more realistic accretion disk models. In a simple and ideal case, the standard optically thick accretion disk model is successful to explain observations, such that the inner disk radius is constant at three times the Schwarzschild radius over large luminosity variations. However, when disk luminosity is close to or exceeds the Eddington luminosity, the standard disk model breaks, and we have to consider the “slim disk” solution in which radial energy advection is dominant. Recent observations of Ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs), which may not be explained by the standard disk model, strongly suggest the slim disk solution. We compare theoretical X-ray spectra from the slim disk with observed X-ray spectra of ULXs. We have found that the slim disk model is successful to explain ULX spectra, in terms of the massive stellar black-holes with several tens of solar mass and the super-Eddington mass accretion rates. In order to explain the large luminosities (>10⁴⁰ ergs s⁻¹) of ULXs, “intermediate black-holes” (>100M) are not required. Slim disks around massive stellar black-holes of up to several tens of solar mass would naturally explain the observed properties of ULXs.