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At least 163 records · Page 9
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NASA NTRS1995

The dim inner accretion disk of the quiescent black hole A0620-00

We observed the X-ray nova A0620-00 with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Faint object Spectrograph 16 yr after its 1975 outburst. We present a single spectrum (1250-4750 A), which is approximately an average over a full 7.8 hr orbital cycle of the source. The continuum can be fitted approximately by a blackbody model with T = 9000 K and a small projected source area, which is approximately 1 % of the expected area of the accretion disk. AS0620-00 is faint in the far-UV band; its luminosity is comparable to the luminosity of the quiescent dwarf-nova accretion disk (i.e., excluding the white dwarf). By analogy with dwarf novae, the optical luminosity of the disk (M(sub nu) approximately = 7) and the orbital period of A0620-00 imply that the rate of mass transfer onto the outer disk in M(sub d) approximately 10(exp -10) solar mass/yr. We also observed A0620-00 with the ROSAT PSPC X-ray detector for 3 x 10(exp 4) s and detected a faint source (5 sigma) at the location of the X-ray nova. For an assumed blackbody spectrum the source temperature and luminosity are approximately 0.16 keV and 6 x 10(exp 30) ergs/s, respectively (d = 1 kpc). This luminosity implies that the rate of mass transfer into the black hole is extraordinarily small: M(sub BH) less than 5 x 10(exp -15) solar mass/yr. The much larger mass transfer rate onto the outer disk, and the UV/X-ray faintness of the inner disk confirm key predictions of the disk instability model for the nova outburst of A0620-00 published by Huang and Wheeler and by Mineshige and Wheeler.

Mcclintock, Jeffrey E.↗
NASA NTRS2021

A Broadband X-Ray View of the Precessing Accretion Disk and Pre-eclipse Dip in the Pulsar Her X-1 with NuSTAR and XMM-Newton

We present a broad-band X-ray study of the variation with the super orbital cycle of the pulse profiles and spectral shape in the low-mass X-ray binary Her X-1. This source shows a 35-day superorbital modulation in X-ray flux that is most likely caused by occultation by a warped, precessing accretion disk. Our data set consists of four joint XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations of Her X-1 which span a complete super orbital cycle. However, We focus our analysis on the first and fourth observa-tion, which occur during the bright “main-on” phase, that have sufficient signal to noise to resolve pulsations. In order to broaden our coverage of the superorbital cycle, we supplemented our weakly pulsed observations with an archival XMM-Newton observation during the “short-on” phase of the superorbital cycle. We find that the energy-resolved pulse profiles show variations with superorbital phase and that pulse profiles from observations at similar superorbital phases show the same shape and relative phase, which we expect from a precessing disk. We determine that the broad-band spectrum is well fit by an absorbed power law with a soft black body component. We demonstrate that a simple precessing accretion disk model is sufficient to reproduce the observed pulse profiles. The results of this model support the idea that the similarities in the observed pulse profiles are due to reprocessing by a precessing disk that has returned to its original precession phase. We also present a brief analysis of the energy resolved light curves of a pre-eclipse dip, which shows soft X-ray absorption and hard X-ray variability during the dip.

McKinley C Brumback↗
NASA NTRS1989

Magnetic fields in the accretion disks of cataclysmic variables

The radial transport of magnetic flux in CV accretion disks is considered. Turbulent diffusion in a disk with finite outer radius Rd leads to decay of large-scale magnetic fields, as magnetic flux can leak out at the outer edge of the disk. Numerical computations of the decay rate and magnetic structure are presented. It is shown that the decay time is significantly shorter than the accretion time. Centrifugally driven winds may be possible from the outer parts of the disk, provided there exist efficient dynamo processes which regenerate the field.

Van Ballegooijen, A. A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Spectral eclipse mapping of the accretion disk in the nova-like variable UX Ursae Majoris

We analyze narrow-band eclipse light curves of the nova-like cataclysmic variable UX UMa, obtained from low-resolution spectra spanning lambda lambda 3600-9800 A . The light curves for narrow bands in the continuum as well as those for individual spectral lines are treated independently, and are used to construct images of the accretion disk's brightness distribution using the maximum-entropy eclipse-mapping technique. Particular attention is paid to the propagation of statistical uncertainties in the data and to how the analysis may introduce systematic errors in the final result. From the many narrrow band images we have reconstructed the spectra from isolated parts of the accretion disk. These spectra reveal that the inner disk radiates a continuum spectrum which peaks in the near UV and has the hydrogen Balmer lines in absorption (with the exception of H-alpha), whereas the outer disk is much fainter, has a much redder spectrum, and has Balmer emission lines. Our analysis reveals the presence of an uneclipsed component of the total light, whose spectrum is very red and has Balmer lines in emission. This unexpected feature of the eclipse mapping technique offers a new tool for an independent assessment of the secondary star's spectrum in eclipsing cataclysmic variables.

Rutten, R. G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Variability of accretion disks surrounding black holes: The role of inertial-acoustic mode instabilities

The global nonlinear time-dependent evolution of the inertial-acoustic mode instability in accretion disks surrounding black holes has been investigated. The viscous stress is assumed to be proportional to the gas pressure only, i.e., tau = alphap(sub g). It is found that an oscillatory nonsteady behavior exists in the inner regions of disks (r is less than 10r(sub g) where r(sub g) is the Schwarzschild radius) for sufficiently large alpha(greater than or approximately equal to 0.2) and for mass accretion rates less than about 0.3 times the Eddington value. The variations of the integrated bolometric luminosity from the disk, Delta L/L, are less than 3%. A power spectrum analysis of these variations reveals a power spectrum which can be fitted to a power-law function of the frequency Pis proportional to f(exp -gamma), with index gamma = 1.4-2.3 and a low-frequency feature at about 4 Hz in one case. In addition, a narrow peak centered at a frequency corresponding to the maximum epicyclic frequency of the disk at approximately 100-130 Hz and its first harmonic is also seen. The low-frequency modulations are remarkably similar to those observed in black hole candidate systems. The possible existence of a scattering corona in the inner region of the disk and/or other processes contributing to the power at high frequencies in the inner region of the accretion disk may make the detection of the high-frequency component difficult.

Chen, Xingming↗
NASA NTRS2011

Truncation of the Inner Accretion Disk Around a Black Hole at Low Luminosity

Most black hole binaries show large changes in X-ray luminosity caused primarily by variations in mass accretion rate. An important question for understanding black hole accretion and jet production is whether the inner edge of the accretion disk recedes at low accretion rate. Measurements of the location of the inner edge (R(sub in)) can be made using iron emission lines that arise due to fluorescence of iron in the disk, and these indicate that R(sub in) is very close to the black hole at high and moderate luminosities (greater than or equal to 1% of the Eddington luminosity, L(sub Edd). Here, we report on X-ray observations of the black hole GX 339-4 in the hard state by Suzaku and the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer that extend iron line studies to 0.14% L(sub Edd) and show that R(sub in) increases by a factor of greater than 27 over the value found when GX 339-4 was bright. The exact value of R(sub in) depends on the inclination of the inner disk (i), and we derive 90% confidence limits of R(sub in) greater than 35 R(sub g) at i = 0 degrees and R(sub in) greater than 175 R(sub g) at i = 30 degrees. This provides direct evidence that the inner portion of the disk is not present at low luminosity, allowing for the possibility that the inner disk is replaced by advection- or magnetically dominated accretion flows.

Tomsick, John A.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Truncation of the Inner Accretion Disk Around a Black Hole at Low Luminosity

Most black hole binaries show large changes in X-ray luminosity caused primarily by variations in mass accretion rate. An important question for understanding black hole accretion and jet production is whether the inner edge of the accretion disk recedes at low accretion rate. Measurements of the location of the inner edge (R(sub in)) can be made using iron emission lines that arise due to fluorescence of iron in the disk, and these indicate that R(sub in) is very close to the black hole at high and moderate luminosities (greater than approximately equal to 1% of the Eddington luminosity, L(sub Edd). Here, we report on X-ray observation of the black hole GX 339-4 in the hard state by Suzaku and the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) that extend iron line studies to 0.14% L(sub Edd) and show that R(sub in) increases by a factor of greater than 27 over the value found when GX 339-4 was bright. The exact value of R(sub in) depends on the inclination of the inner disk (i), and we derive 90% confidence limits of R(sub in) greater than 35R(sub g) at i = 0 degrees and R(sub in) greater than 175R(sub g) at i = 30 degrees. This provides direct evidence that the inner portion of the disk is not present at low luminosity, allowing for the possibility that the inner disk is replaced by advection- or magnetically-dominated accretion flows.

Tomsick, John A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Optical polarimetry of PKS 2155 - 304 and constraints on accretion disk models for BL Lacertae objects

Optical broad-band polarimetry and photometry of the BL Lacertae object PKS 2155 - 304 during late 1990 are presented. Variability in both flux and linear polarization was moderate during this period. The optical polarization ranged from 2 to 7 percent while photometric variations were within 0.2 mag (V = 13.2-13.4). Accurate multicolor measurements were made to study any wavelength dependence of the polarization with an eye to using these data to test the model of Wandel and Urry (1991) which proposes that the UV to soft X-ray continuum of this object arises from an accretion disk. Wavelength-dependent polarization (WDP) is observed in PKS 2155 - 304. However, the polarization is always seen to decrease with wavelength when WDP is observed. This is opposite to the expected sense of WDP if the UV continuum is dominated by an accretion disk.

Smith, Paul S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

On the magnetic viscosity in Keplerian accretion disks

The paper develops a model for the anomalous viscosity in accretion disks based on the hypothesis that the hydrodynamic turbulence within the disk takes the form of spatially localized magnetic flux cells. The local shear flow due to Keplerian differential rotation distorts the flux cell topology, converting shear flow energy into magnetic energy. In the radial diffusion approximation, the kinematic viscosity is estimated from the radial displacement and is shown to maximize at flux cell scale lengths for which the shear flow stopping and reconnection times are equal.

Coroniti, F. V.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Hydraulic jumps in 'viscous' accretion disks

It is proposed that the dissipative process necessary for rapid accretion disk evolution is driven by hydraulic jump waves on the surface of the disk. These waves are excited by the asymmetric nature of the central rotator (e.g., neutron star magnetosphere) and spiral out into the disk to form a pattern corotating with the central object. Disk matter in turn is slowed slightly at each encounter with the jump and spirals inward. In this process, the disk is heated by true turbulence produced in the jumps. Additional effects, such as a systematic misalignment of the magnetic moment of the neutron star until it is nearly orthogonal, and systematic distortion of the magnetosphere in such a way as to form an even more asymmetric central 'paddle wheel', may enhance the interaction with inflowing matter. The application to X-ray sources corresponds to the 'slow' solutions of Ghosh and Lamb, and therefore to rms magnetic fields of about 4 x 10 to the 10th gauss. Analogous phenomena have been proposed to act in the formation of galactic spiral structure.

Michel, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The structure and stability of transonic accretion disks surrounding black holes

Stationary transonic alpha-viscosity models of accretion disks surrounding nonrotating black holes have been investigated. The viscosity is modified such that it vanishes in the supersonic region to ensure its effect does not violate the causality condition. In contrast to previous studies, the viscous stress is taken to be explicitly proportional to the angular velocity gradient and is not assumed to depend solely on the local pressure in the disk. The numerical results reveal that the structure of the innermost regions of the disk are more sensitive to the modified form of the viscosity than to the form of the viscous stress. The critical sonic point is located inside the innermost stable circular orbit of a test particle at 3 Schwarzschild radii. In these solutions, the transition from subsonic to supersonic flow results from pressure effects and not viscous effects. The linear stability of these disks has been examined in the local approximation. It is found that radiative energy transport and viscous stresses in the radial direction can have important effects. As a result, it is shown that the growth rate of the inertial-acoustic mode reaches a maximum at a critical wavelength.

Chen, Xingming↗
NASA NTRS2016

The Accretion Disk Wind in the Black Hole GRS 1915 + 105

We report on a 120 kiloseconds Chandra/HETG spectrum of the black hole GRS 1915+105. The observation was made during an extended and bright soft state in 2015 June. An extremely rich disk wind absorption spectrum is detected, similar to that observed at lower sensitivity in 2007. The very high resolution of the third-order spectrum reveals four components to the disk wind in the Fe K band alone; the fastest has a blueshift of v = 0.03 c (velocity equals 0.03 the speed of light). Broadened reemission from the wind is also detected in the first-order spectrum, giving rise to clear accretion disk P Cygni profiles. Dynamical modeling of the re-emission spectrum gives wind launching radii of r approximately equal to 10 (sup 2-4) GM (Gravitational constant times Mass) divided by c (sup 2) (the speed of light squared). Wind density values of n approximately equal to 10 (sup 13-16) per cubic centimeter are then required by the ionization parameter formalism. The small launching radii, high density values, and inferred high mass outflow rates signal a role for magnetic driving. With simple, reasonable assumptions, the wind properties constrain the magnitude of the emergent magnetic field to be B approximately equal to 10 (sup 3-4) G (Gravitational constant) if the wind is driven via magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pressure from within the disk and B approximately equal to 10 (sup 4-5) G (Gravitational constant) if the wind is driven by magnetocentrifugal acceleration. The MHD estimates are below upper limits predicted by the canonical alpha-disk model. We discuss these results in terms of fundamental disk physics and black hole accretion modes.

accretion↗
NASA NTRS1994

Three-dimensional radiative transfer calculations on an SIMD machine applied to accretion disks

We have developed a tool to solve the radiative transfer equation for a three-dimensional astrophysical object on the SIMD computer MasPar MP-1. With this tool we can rapidly calculate the image of such an object as seen from an arbitrary direction and at an arbitrary wavelength. Such images and spectra can then be used to directly compare observations with the model. This tool can be applied to many different areas in astrophysics, e.g., HI disks of galaxies and polarized radiative transfer of accretion columns onto white dwarfs. Here we use this tool to calculate the image and spectrum of a simple model of an accretion disk.

Vath, H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Two-temperature accretion disks with winds in a fluid approximation

The polytropic relation between pressure and density of wind gases is used to obtain solutions for optically thin hot accretion disks with winds. It is assumed that the cooling mechanisms in the disks are bremsstrahlung and Compton scattering. This extends the previous work of Takahara et al. (1989) which did not analyze winds within a self-consistent disk model. It is shown that the disks have winds for accretion rates higher than about 10 percent of the Eddington rate, depending on the viscosity parameter of the disks and the polytropic exponent of wind gases. The poloidal velocity of winds at the foot-point is shown to be as high as 10 percent of light speed.

Kusunose, Masaaki↗
NASA NTRS2009

Probing the Accretion Disk and Central Engine Structure of the NGC 4258 with Suzaku and XMM-Newton Observations

We present an X-ray study of the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus (AGN) in NGC 4258 using data from Suzaku, XMM-Newton, and the Swift/Burst Alert Telescope survey. We find that signatures of X-ray reprocessing by cold gas are very weak in the spectrum of this Seyfert-2 galaxy; a weak, narrow fluorescent K(alpha) emission line of cod iron is robustly detected in both the Suzaku and XMM-Newton spectra but at a level much below that of most other Seyfert-2 galaxies. We conclude that the circumnuclear environment of this AGN is very "clean" and lacks the Compton-thick obscuring torus of unified Seyfert schemes. From the narrowness of the iron line, together with evidence of line flux variability between the Suzaku and XMM-Newton observations, we constrain the line emitting region to be between 3 x 10(exp 3)r(sub g) and 4 x 10(exp 4)r(sub g), from the black hole. We show that the observed properties of the iron line can be explained if the line originates from the surface layers of a warped accretion disk. In particular, we present explicit calculations of the expected iron line from a disk warped by Lens-Thirring precession from a misaligned central black hole. Finally, the Suzaku data reveal clear evidence of large amplitude 2-10 keV variability on timescales of 50 ksec and smaller amplitude flares on timescales as short as 5-10 ksec. If associated with accretion disk processes, such rapid variability requires an origin in the innermost regions of the disk (r approx. equals 10(r(sub g) or less). Analysis of the difference spectrum between a high- and low-flux states suggests that the variable component of the X-ray emission is steeper and more absorbed than the average AGN emission, suggesting that the primary X-ray source and absorbing screen have a spatial structure on comparable scales. We note the remarkable similarity between the circumnuclear environment of NGC 4258 and another well studied low-luminosity AGN, M81*.

Reynolds, Christopher S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Transonic disk accretion onto black holes

The solution for the radial drift velocity of thin disk accretion onto black holes must be transonic, and is analogous to the critical solution in spherical Bondi accretion, except for the presence of angular momentum. The transonic requirement yields a correct treatment of the inner region of the disk not found in the conventional Keplerian models and may lead to significantly different overall disk structures. Possible observational consequences, relevant to the black hole hypothesis for Cyg X-1 and other candidates, are discussed.

Liang, E. P. T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

IUE/Voyager observations of luminous accretion disk systems

The importance of simultaneous IUE and Voyager observations of luminous accretion disk systems is shown. The composite spectra of SS Cyg, VW Hyi, CPD-48 1577, and V3895 Sgr show the changes which occur in the continuum flux distributions from 3200 A down to the Lyman limit. Results imply that current disk ingredients (i.e., blackbodies and Kurucz atmospheres) cannot explain the IUE/Voyager observations.

Carone, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Higher Resolution Observatories of the Accretion Disk in NGC 4261

The physical conditions in the inner parsec of accretion disks believed to orbit the central black holes in active galactic nuclei can be probed by imaging the absorption of background radio emission by ionized gas in the disk. We will present high angular resolution observations of the nearby galaxy NGC 4261 that show evidence for free-free absorption by a thin, nearly edge-on disk at several frequencies. Because free-free absorption is much larger at lower frequencies, the longest possible baselines are needed to provide adequate angular resolution; observing at higher frequencies to improve resolution does not help. We used trans-Pacific baselines and the HALCA satellite to obtain higher resolution than was previously available at 1.6 and 4.9 GHz. The angular width and the depth of the absorption appears to increase with decreasing frequency, as expected.

Jones, D. L.↗