Variations in the cyclotron resonant scattering features during 2011 outburst of 4U 0115+63

Iyer, N and Mukherjee, D and Dewangan, GC and Bhattacharya, D and Seetha, S (2015) Variations in the cyclotron resonant scattering features during 2011 outburst of 4U 0115+63. In: MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 454 (1). pp. 741-751.

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Abstract

We study the variations in the Cyclotron Resonant Scattering Feature (CRSF) during 2011 outburst of the high mass X-ray binary 4U 0115+63 using observations performed with Suzaku, RXTE, Swift and INTEGRAL satellites. The wide-band spectral data with low-energy coverage allowed us to characterize the broad-band continuum and detect the CRSFs. We find that the broad-band continuum is adequately described by a combination of a low temperature (kT similar to 0.8 keV) blackbody and a power law with high energy cutoff (E-cut similar to 5.4 keV) without the need for a broad Gaussian at similar to 10 keV as used in some earlier studies. Though winds from the companion can affect the emission from the neutron star at low energies (<3 keV), the blackbody component shows a significant presence in our continuum model. We report evidence for the possible presence of two independent sets of CRSFs with fundamentals at similar to 11 and similar to 15 keV. These two sets of CRSFs could arise from spatially distinct emitting regions. We also find evidence for variations in the line equivalent widths, with the 11 keV CRSF weakening and the 15 keV line strengthening with decreasing luminosity. Finally, we propose that the reason for the earlier observed anticorrelation of line energy with luminosity could be due to modelling of these two independent line sets (similar to 11 and similar to 15 keV) as a single CRSF.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
Publisher:	OXFORD UNIV PRESS
Additional Information:	Copy right for this article belongs to the OXFORD UNIV PRESS, GREAT CLARENDON ST, OXFORD OX2 6DP, ENGLAND
Keywords:	line: identification; pulsars: individual: 4U 0115+63; X-rays: binaries
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	23 Nov 2015 09:12
Last Modified:	23 Nov 2015 09:12
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/52798

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