A two zone model for the broad Iron line emission in MCG-6-30-15

We reanalyze the ASCA and BeppoSAX data of MCG-6-30-15, using a double zone model for the Iron line profile. In this model, the X-ray source is located around $\approx 10$ Schwarzschild radius and the regions interior and exterior to the X-ray source produce the line emission. We find that this model fits the data with similar reduced $\chi^2$ as the standard single zone model. The best fit inclination angle of the source ($i \approx 10^o$) for the medium intensity ASCA data set is compatible with that determined by earlier modeling of optical lines. The observed variability of the line profile with intensity can be explained as variations of the X-ray source size. That several AGN with broad lines have the peak centroid near 6.4 keV can be explained within the framework of this model under certain conditions. We also show that the simultaneous broad band observations of this source by BeppoSAX rules out the Comptonization model which was an alternative to the standard inner disk one. We thereby strengthen the case that the line broadening occurs due to the strong gravitational influence of a Black Hole.Comment: submitted to mnra

A Self-Consistent Model For The Long-Term Gamma-Ray Spectral Variability of Cygnus X-1

The long-term transitions of the black hole candidate Cygnus X-1 (between the states gamma_1, gamma_2, and gamma_3) include the occasional appearance of a strong ~ MeV bump (gamma_1), whose strength appears to be anti-correlated with the continuum flux (~ 400 keV) due to the Compton upscattering of cold disk photons by the inner, hot corona. We develop a self-consistent disk picture that accounts naturally for these transitions and their corresponding spectral variations. We argue that the bump is due to the self-Comptonization of bremsstrahlung photons emitted predominantly near the plane of the corona itself. Our results suggest that a decrease by a factor of approx 2 in the viscosity parameter alpha is responsible for quenching this bump and driving the system to the gamma_2 state, whereas a transition from gamma_2 to gamma_3 appears to be induced by an increase of about 25 % in the accretion rate Mdot. In view of the fact that most of the transitions observed in this source seem to be of the gamma_2 to gamma_3 variety, we conclude that much of the long term gamma-ray spectral variability in Cygnus X-1 is due to these small fluctuations in Mdot. The unusual appearance of the gamma_1 state apparently reflects a change in the dissipative processes within the disk.Comment: 13 pages, Plain TeX, (Steward Preprint

A Monte Carlo estimate for the fraction of thermal Comptonized photons that impinge back on the soft source in neutron star LMXBs

In earlier works, it was shown that the energy dependent soft time lags observed in kHz QPOs of neutron star low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) can be explained as being due to Comptonization lags provided a significant fraction ($\eta \sim 0.2$ - $0.8$) of the Comptonized photons impinge back into the soft photon source. Here we use a Monte Carlo scheme to verify if such a fraction is viable or not. In particular we consider three different Comptonizing medium geometries: (i) a spherical shell, (ii) a boundary layer like torus and (iii) a corona on top of an accretion disk. Two set of spectral parameters corresponding to the 'hot' and 'cold' seed photon models were explored. The general result of the study is that for a wide range of sizes, the fraction lies within $\eta \sim 0.3$ - $0.7$, and hence compatible with the range required to explain the soft time lags. Since there is a large uncertainty in the range, we cannot concretely rule out any of the geometries or spectral models, but the analysis suggests that a boundary layer type geometry with a 'cold' seed spectral model is favoured over an accretion corona model. Better quality data will allow one to constrain the geometry more rigorously. Our results emphasise that there is significant heating of the soft photon source by the Comptonized photons and hence this effect needs to be taken into account for any detailed study of these sources.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, submitted to MNRA

Long-term Spectral Variability of the Ultra-luminous X-ray source Holmberg IX X--1

We investigate the long-term spectral variability in the ultra-luminous X-ray source Holmberg IX X--1. By analyzing the data from eight {\it Suzaku} and 13 {\it XMM-Newton} observations conducted between 2001 and 2015, we perform a detailed spectral modeling for all spectra with simple models and complex physical models. We find that the spectra can be well explained by a disc plus thermal Comptonization model. Applying this model, we unveil correlations between the X-ray luminosity ($L_{\rm X}$) and the spectral parameters. Among the correlations, a particular one is the statistically significant positive correlation between $L_{\rm X}$ and the photon index ($\Gamma$), while at the high luminosities of $> 2\times10^{40}\,{\rm~erg\ s}^{-1}$, the source becomes marginally hard and that results a change in the slope of the $\Gamma - L_{\rm X}$ correlation. Similar variability behavior is observed in the optical depth of the source around $L_{\rm X} \sim 2\times10^{40}\,{\rm~erg\ s}^{-1}$ as the source becomes more optically thick. We consider the scenario that a corona covers the inner part of the disc, and the correlations can be explained as to be driven by the variability of seed photons from the disc input into the corona. On the basis of the disc-corona model, we discuss the physical processes that are possibly indicated by the variability of the spectral parameters. Our analysis reveals the complex variability behavior of Holmberg IX X--1 and the variability mechanism is likely related to the geometry of the X-ray emitting regions.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, 12 Pages, 3 Tables, 3 Figure