977 research outputs found
Hubble Space Telescope Observations of the Black Hole X-ray Transient GRO J0422+32 Near Quiescence
We present HST/FOS ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy of the black hole
X-ray transient GRO J0422+32 shortly before the system reached quiescence. We
find that the accretion spectrum from 2500-9000A can be very well fit by a
self-absorbed synchrotron model, with superposed HI and MgII emission lines.
The explanations we suggest for this spectrum are that it is either due to
active coronal regions above a geometrically thin accretion disc, or that the
disc is evaporated into an advective flow.Comment: 7 pages with 7 postscript figures included, uses mn.sty. Accepted for
publication in MNRA
Superhumps in V348 Pup
The eclipsing novalike cataclysmic variable star V348 Pup exhibits a
persistent luminosity modulation with a period 6 per cent longer than its 2.44
hour orbital-period (Porb). This has been interpreted as a `positive superhump'
resulting from a slowly precessing non-axisymmetric accretion disc
gravitationally interacting with the secondary. We find a clear modulation of
mid-eclipse times on the superhump period, which agrees well with the
predictions of a simple precessing eccentric disc model. Our modelling shows
that the disc light centre is on the far side of the disc from the donor star
when the superhump reaches maximum light. This phasing suggests a link between
superhumps in V348 Pup and late superhumps in SU UMa systems. Modelling of the
full lightcurve and maximum entropy eclipse mapping both show that the disc
emission is concentrated closer to the white dwarf at superhump maximum than at
superhump minimum. We detect additional signals consistent with the beat
periods between the implied disc precession period and both (1/2)Porb and
(1/3)Porb.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Simulations of spectral lines from an eccentric precessing accretion disc
Two dimensional SPH simulations of a precessing accretion disc in a q=0.1
binary system (such as XTE J1118+480) reveal complex and continuously varying
shape, kinematics, and dissipation. The stream-disc impact region and disc
spiral density waves are prominent sources of energy dissipation.The dissipated
energy is modulated on the period P_{sh} = ({P_{orb}}^{-1}-{P_{prec}}^{-1}^{-1}
with which the orientation of the disc relative to the mass donor repeats. This
superhump modulation in dissipation energy has a variation in amplitude of ~10%
relative to the total dissipation energy and evolves, repeating exactly only
after a full disc precession cycle. A sharp component in the light curve is
associated with centrifugally expelled material falling back and impacting the
disc. Synthetic trailed spectrograms reveal two distinct "S-wave" features,
produced respectively by the stream gas and the disc gas at the stream-disc
impact shock. These S-waves are non-sinusoidal, and evolve with disc precession
phase. We identify the spiral density wave emission in the trailed spectrogram.
Instantaneous Doppler maps show how the stream impact moves in velocity space
during an orbit. In our maximum entropy Doppler tomogram the stream impact
region emission is distorted, and the spiral density wave emission is
uppressed. A significant radial velocity modulation of the whole line profile
occurs on the disc precession period. We compare our SPH simulation with a
simple 3D model: the former is appropriate for comparison with emission lines
while the latter is preferable for skewed absorption lines from precessing
discs.Comment: See http://physics.open.ac.uk/FHMR/ for associated movie (avi) files.
The full paper is in MNRAS press. Limited disk space limit of 650k, hence low
resolution figure file
SPH simulations of irradiation-driven warped accretion discs and the long periods in X-ray binaries
We present three dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH)
calculations of irradiation-driven warping of accretion discs. Initially
unwarped planar discs are unstable to the radiation reaction when the disc is
illuminated by a central radiation source. The disc warps and tilts and
precesses slowly in a retrograde direction; its shape continuously flexes in
response to the changing orientation of the Roche potential. We simulate ten
systems: eight X-ray binaries, one cataclysmic variable (CV), and a `generic'
low mass X-ray binary (LMXB). We adopt system parameters from observations and
tune a single parameter: our model X-ray luminosity () to reproduce the
observed or inferred super-orbital periods. Without exception, across a wide
range of parameter space, we find an astonishingly good match between the
observed and the model . We conclude irradiation-driven warping
is the mechanism underlying the long periods in X-ray binaries. Our Her X-1
simulation simultaneously reproduces the observed , the "main-" and
"short-high" X-ray states and the orbital inclination. Our simulations of SS
433 give a maximum warp angle of , a good match to the cone
traced by the jets, but this angle is reached only in the outer disc. In all
cases, the overall disc tilt is less than \degrees{13} and the maximum disc
warp is less than and or equal to \degrees{21}.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, shorter abstract (24 lines limit
Doppler Tomography of Dwarf Nova IY UMa during Quiescence
Quiescent Doppler tomography of the newly discovered deeply-eclipsing SU UMa
system IY UMa reveals properties of the region where the accretion stream from
the donor impacts the edge of the disc. A very strong bright spot is produced
and the Keplerian disc emission in the impact region is disrupted or obscured.
The differing properties of Halpha, Hbeta and He I emission will allow physical
parameters of the converging flow region to be studied.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. To appear in Proceedings of Astro-Tomography
Workshop, Brussels, July 2000, Eds. H. Boffin, D. Steeghs, Springer-Verlag
Lecture Notes in Physic
Superhumps in Low-Mass X-Ray Binaries
We propose a mechanism for the superhump modulations observed in optical
photometry of at least two black hole X-ray transients (SXTs). As in extreme
mass-ratio cataclysmic variables (CVs), superhumps are assumed to result from
the presence of the 3:1 orbital resonance in the accretion disc. This causes
the disc to become non-axisymmetric and precess. However the mechanism for
superhump luminosity variations in low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) must differ
from that in CVs, where it is attributed to a tidally-driven modulation of the
disc's viscous dissipation, varying on the beat between the orbital and disc
precession period. By contrast in LMXBs, tidal dissipation in the outer
accretion disc is negligible: the optical emission is overwhelming dominated by
reprocessing of intercepted central X-rays. Thus a different origin for the
superhump modulation is required. Recent observations and numerical simulations
indicate that in an extreme mass-ratio system the disc area changes on the
superhump period. We deduce that the superhumps observed in SXTs arise from a
modulation of the reprocessed flux by the changing area. Therefore, unlike the
situation in CVs, where the superhump amplitude is inclination-independent,
superhumps should be best seen in low-inclination LMXBs, whereas an orbital
modulation from the heated face of the secondary star should be more prominent
at high inclinations. Modulation at the disc precession period (10s of days)
may indicate disc asymmetries such as warping. We comment on the orbital period
determinations of LMXBs, and the possibility and significance of possible
permanent superhump LMXBs.Comment: 6 pages, 1 encapsulated figure. MNRAS in press; replaced to correct
typographical error
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