University of Groningen
Disc reflection in low-mass X-ray binaries
Wang, Yanan
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Publication date: 2018
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Wang, Y. (2018). Disc reflection in low-mass X-ray binaries. Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.
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Disc reflection in low-mass X-ray binaries
Proefschrift
ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
op gezag van de
rector magnificus Prof. dr. E. Sterken en volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties.
De openbare verdediging zal plaatsvinden op maandag 3 december 2018 om 9:00 uur
door
Yanan Wang
geboren op 08 mei 1988 te Liaoning, China
Promotores Prof. M. Méndez Copromotor Dr. D. Altamirano Beoordelingscommissie Prof. S. Zhang Prof. C. Done Prof. R. Morganti
iii
iv
Cover: Artist’s impression of Cygnus X-1 (Credit NASA, ESA, Martin Kornmesser) Extra design by: C. Zheng.
Printed by GVO Drukkers & Vormgevers on recycled paper. ISBN: 978-94-034-1255-9 (printed version)
CONTENTS v
Contents
Table of Contents v
1 Thesis introduction 1
1.1 X-ray binaries . . . 1
1.2 Components of binary systems . . . 2
1.2.1 The accretion disc . . . 2
1.2.2 The corona . . . 3 1.3 X-ray spectra . . . 3 1.4 X-ray states . . . 7 1.5 X-ray facilities . . . 8 1.5.1 NUSTAR . . . 9 1.5.2 XMM-NEWTON . . . 9 1.5.3 SWIFT. . . 11
1.6 Thesis motivation and overview . . . 13
2 The XMM-NEWTONspectra of 4U 1630–47 revisited 17 2.1 Introduction . . . 19
2.2 Observations and data reduction . . . 21
2.3 Results . . . 22
2.3.1 Fits to the two burst-mode observations using the old calibra-tion files . . . 22
2.3.2 Fits to the burst- and timing-mode observations using the old calibration . . . 26
2.3.3 Fits to two burst-mode observations using the new calibration 29 2.4 Discussion . . . 30
3 The reflection spectrum of 4U 1636–53 35 3.1 Introduction . . . 37
3.2 Observations and data reduction . . . 38
3.3 Spectral analysis and results . . . 39
3.3.1 Phenomenological reflection model of the line . . . 42
vi CONTENTS
3.4 Discussion . . . 49
3.5 Conclusions . . . 54
4 The reflection spectrum of IGR J17091–3624 55 4.1 Introduction . . . 57
4.2 Observations and data analysis . . . 58
4.3 Results . . . 61
4.3.1 Outburst evolution . . . 61
4.3.2 Average spectra . . . 62
4.3.3 Phase-resolved sepctra . . . 66
4.4 Discussion . . . 72
4.4.1 Comparison between the 2011 and the 2016 outbursts of IGR J17091 . . . 74
4.4.2 The continuum in IGR J17091 . . . 75
4.4.3 Absorption features in IGR J17091 . . . 76
4.4.4 The reflection component in IGR J17091 . . . 77
4.4.5 The spin parameter of IGR J17091 . . . 77
4.4.6 The mass of the black-hole IGR J17091 . . . 78
4.4.7 Comparison between IGR J17091 and GRS 1915+105 in the heartbeat state . . . 79
4.5 Conclusions . . . 81
Appendices 83 Appendix 4.A Best-fitting parameters for the average and phase-resolved spectra of IGR J17091–3624 . . . 83
5 The X-ray properties of 4U 1728–34 87 5.1 Introduction . . . 88
5.2 Observations and data reduction . . . 90
5.3 Results . . . 91
5.3.1 Timing analysis . . . 91
5.3.2 Spectral analysis . . . 93
5.3.3 Tests with NUSTAR data . . . 107
5.4 Discussion . . . 107
5.4.1 Comparisons of all applied the models . . . 108
5.4.2 Inner radius uncorrelated with source states . . . 109
5.4.3 Iron abundance deduced from XMM-NEWTON and NU S-TAR data . . . 110
5.4.4 The possible illuminating source of the reflection component 111 Appendices 113 Appendix 5.A Additional best-fitting parameters for the 4U 1728–34 . . 113
CONTENTS vii
6 Summary and future prospects 119
6.1 Conclusions chapter by chapter . . . 119 6.2 Future prospects . . . 121
Bibliography 123
Appendix: List of refereed and non-refereed publications 133
Nederlandse samenvatting 135
