慧眼-HXMT观测到的黑洞双星系统中的W-K 关系

通过几十年的观测研究, 黑洞X射线双星(X-Ray Binary, XRB)部分特征被揭示. 然而, 吸积盘结构尚不确定. 黑洞XRB功率密度谱的截断频率与准周期振荡(Quasi Periodic Oscillation, QPO)的相关性质(W-K关系)可以限制吸积盘结构. 利用慧眼-HXMT (Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope)观测到的5个黑洞XRB的数据, 对黑洞XRB的W-K关系进行了研究, 结果表明在慧眼-HXMT观测的3个探测器能段中W-K关系成立. 此外在MAXI J1535-571之中存在截断频率和吸积盘内半径的相关关系, 这和截断的吸积盘结构一致. 如果观测到的功率密度谱来自质量吸积率的扰动传播, 可以推测吸积盘内半径接近最内圆形稳定轨道, 此黑洞可能是高自旋系统.     

黑洞双星的B型QPO频率与幂律通量的相关性的解释

观测表明, 黑洞双星的B型准周期振荡(Quasi-Periodic Oscillation, QPO)频率与幂律通量之间存在正相关性. 试图基于阿尔文波振荡模型定量解释该相关性. 标准薄吸积盘辐射通量极大值处的阿尔文波振荡产生QPO. 标准薄盘上的软光子与冕或喷流基部的热电子介质发生逆康普顿散射产生幂律通量. 通过吸积率的连续变化, 得到QPO频率与幂律通量关系的分析解和数值解. 模拟得到的相关性在合理的参数范围内与观测值相吻合. QPO频率与幂律通量的正相关性可以理解为, 较强的磁场导致较高的阿尔文波频率和较高的电子温度从而得到较高的幂律通量. 结果表明B型QPO可能与吸积盘或喷流中的环向磁场的活动有关.     

黑洞X射线双星的类氢类氦铁Kа发射线

用径移主导吸积流模型(ADAF)不仅可以成功解释很多低吸积率天体的连续谱辐射,也可以说明X射线波段的谱线发射,而后者目前尚少有讨论.以黑洞X射线双星GX339-4处在低吸积率的宁静态情况为例,计算了它的铁线发射,表明在ADAF情况下的确可以产生足够强的可以在观测上检测的类氢和类氦铁Kа线.     

吸积盘物理：稳定性和振动

研究了环绕致密天体的吸积盘的稳定性质和振动模式。特别关注了在热致和粘滞扰动作用下稳定的对流起支配作用的盘外流。还研究了相对论性吸积盘的振动模式。一些在盘内的捕获的，非衰减的模式也许可以用来解释X射线双星和活动星系核中所观测到的准周期振动。     

黑洞候选体X射线双星CygX-1长期谱变化的研究

利用Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer(RXTE)卫星从1996年1月5日到2005年5月1日的all-sky monitor(ASM,1.5-12KeV)资料,详细分析了黑洞候选体X射线双星Cyg X-1在A-band(1.5-3KeV),B-band(3-5KeV)和C-band(5-12KeV)三个能段上光子计数率与谱线硬度比HR2(5-12KeV/3-5KeV)的相关性.利用1天时标的ASM资料研究发现: (1)Cyg X-1处于软态时,在A-band上光子计数率与硬度比HR2呈现反相关性,而在B-band和C-band上呈现正相关性.当该天体处于硬态时,在A、B、C三个能段上光子计数率与硬度比HR2都是反相关的.(2)Cyg X-1处于硬态和软态时,硬度比HR2与HR1都是正相关的.此外,还分析了ASM上"Dwell by Dwell"资料,得到了十分有趣的结果,即: (1)MJD=52600-52760期间(此时Cyg X-1处于硬态),A-band和B-band上的光子计数率与HR2是反相关性的,而在C-band上却呈现出较强的正相关性. (2)硬态时,硬度比HR2与HR1存在明显的反相关性.     

X射线脉冲星周期的变化与吸积盘边界的K-H不稳定性

本文在中子星磁层与吸积盘之间引入了一个速度、密度、压强和磁场都连续变化的有限厚度的剪切层,以代替Anzer理论中的切向间断面,用磁流体力学方法讨论了中子星磁层与吸积盘交界处等离子体可压缩情况下平面波扰动的K-H不稳定性。结果表明,K-H不稳定性依然存在,径向波矢扰动成为不稳定的主要模式。文中特别讨论了剪切层厚度取值对中子星自转的影响,表明适当调节剪切层厚度就可解释X射线脉冲星周期的变化。将此模型应用到脉冲X射线源Her X-1上,得到较好的结果。     

黑洞X射线双星的类氢类氦铁Kα发射线

用径移主导吸积流模型（ADAF）不仅可以成功解释很多低吸积率天体的连续谱辐射，也可以说明X射线波段的谱线发射，而后者目前尚少有讨论。以黑洞X射线双星GX339－4处在低吸积率的宁静态情况为例，计算了它的铁线发射，表明在ADAF情况下的确可以产生足够强的可以在观测上检测的类氢和类氦铁Kα线。     

XTE J1550-564 2001年“迷你爆发”的X射线能谱研究

黑洞X射线暂现源的迷你爆发是一类峰值光度较低、持续时间较短的爆发.由于观测数据较少,其物理机制仍不清楚.利用RXTE (Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer)卫星从2001年1月28日到3月14日的数据,研究了黑洞X射线暂现源XTE J1550–564 2001年迷你爆发的X射线能谱特性.发现在本次迷你爆发中, XTE J1550–564的X射线能谱可以用幂律谱很好地拟合.整个爆发的硬度强度图不是标准的q型,而是一直保持在最右侧.此外,还分析了此次爆发谱指数Γ与未吸收的2–10 keV能段的X射线流量F_(2–10 keV)的相关性,发现Γ-F_(2–10 keV)呈反相关关系,且谱指数Γ∈[1.35, 1.72].上述结果表明2001年这次爆发一直处于低/硬态,它的X射线辐射主要来自于辐射低效的吸积模式,如ADAF(Advection-Dominated Accretion Flow).     

粘滞对黑洞吸积盘的截断的影响

采用吸积盘-冕模型研究了粘滞对黑洞X射线双星和低光度活动星系核(LLAGN)中吸积盘的截断以及黑洞X射线双星中高低态转变的影响.以前的分析表明,冕的结构对粘滞的大小非常敏感.因此详细计算了一系列粘滞系数情况下冕的结构.为了便于与观测比较,将数值计算结果进行解析拟合得到最大蒸发率和粘滞系数a的关系,M/MEDD≈1.08a3.35;截断半径和粘滞系数的关系,R/Rs≈36.11a-1.94.这些结果可以用来解释光谱态的高低态的转换和截断半径的变化.并将这些结果应用到几个黑洞X射线双星XTE J118 480,GX 339-4,以及活动星系核NGC 4636中.     

黑洞天体活动的基本面研究

活动星系核(中心黑洞质量MBH^10^6-10^10M⊙)和黑洞X射线双星(MBH^10M⊙)普遍被认为具有相似的中心引擎:黑洞、吸积盘和喷流.类似的中心引擎、质量相却差如此之大(6{9个数量级)的两类黑洞系统是否具有相似的物理仍不清楚.本文围绕不同尺度黑洞天体的物理性质和观测特性展开,主要研究了不同尺度黑洞天体活动的基本面关系以及黑洞X射线双星的能谱演化.     

The Temporal Phenomena of Black Hole Transient XTE J1650-500 in Its 2001-2002 Outburst

Using the data observed by Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, a systematic study of temporal phenomena of the black-hole transient XTE J1650-500 in its 2001–2002 outburst is presented. By using the time lag in the Fourier frequency domain, three characteristic frequency ranges are analysed, namely the band limited noise, red noise, and QPOs (Quasi-Periodic Oscillations). The properties and evolution behaviours in these frequency ranges may be dominated by different accretion regions. It is commonly believed that the smaller timescale corresponds to the more inner region. The low-hard state and hard intermediate state are especially highlighted. The results of data analysis are discussed in the framework of Lense-Thirring precession. Results are in favor of the disturbance propagation model for explaining the observed time lags. Although the timing analysis in the frequency ranges of band-limited noise and red noise is carried out, and a possibly existed inflection point is found, the model to explain them is still not well established. More work is needed to understand the innermost accretion region.     

Jet-Disc Coupling in the Accreting Black Hole Xte J1118+480

We interpret the rapid correlated UV/optical/X-ray variability of XTE J1118+480 as a signature of the coupling between the X-ray corona and a jet emitting synchrotron radiation in the optical band. We propose a scenario in which the jet and the X-ray corona are fed by the same energy reservoir where large amounts of accretion power are stored before being channelled into either the jet or the high energy radiation. This time-dependent model reproduces the main features of the rapid multi-wavelength variability of XTE J1118+480. A strong requirement of the model is that the total jet power should be at least a few times larger than the observed X-ray luminosity, implying a radiative efficiency for the jet ∊_j3 × 10⁻³. This would be consistent with the overall low radiative efficiency of the source. We present independent arguments showing that the jet probably dominates the energetic output of all accreting black holes in the low-hard state. Partially supported by PPARC     

Low-Frequency Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in the X-ray Nova MAXI J1535-571 at the Initial Stage of Its 2017 Outburst

We report the discovery of low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the power spectrum of the X-ray nova MAXI J1535-571 at the initial stage of its outburst in September 2017. Based on data from the SWIFT and INTEGRAL instruments, we have traced the evolution of the QPO parameters (primarily their frequency) with time and their correlation with changes in the X-ray spectrum of the source (changes in the emission flux and hardness). We place constraints on the theoretical QPO generation models.     

Alignment time-scale of the microquasar GRO J1655−40

The microquasar GRO J1655−40 has a black hole with spin angular momentum apparently misaligned to the orbital plane of its companion star. We analytically model the system with a steady-state disc warped by Lense–Thirring precession and find the time-scale for the alignment of the black hole with the binary orbit. We make detailed stellar evolution models so as to estimate the accretion rate and the lifetime of the system in this state. The secondary can be evolving at the end of the main sequence or across the Hertzsprung gap. The mass-transfer rate is typically 50 times higher in the latter case but we find that, in both the cases, the lifetime of the mass-transfer state is at most a few times the alignment time-scale. The fact that the black hole has not yet aligned with the orbital plane is therefore consistent with either model. We conclude that the system may or may not have been counter aligned after its supernova kick but that it is most likely to be close to alignment rather than counter alignment now.     

Reprocessing of X-rays in the outer accretion disc of the black hole binary XTE J1817−330

We build a simple model of the optical/ultraviolet (UV) emission from irradiation of the outer disc by the inner disc and coronal emission in black hole binaries. We apply this to the broad-band Swift data from the outburst of the black hole binary XTE J1817−330 to confirm previous results that the optical/UV emission in the soft state is consistent with a reprocessing a constant fraction of the bolometric X-ray luminosity. However, this is very surprising as the disc temperature drops by more than a factor of 3 in the soft state, which should produce a marked change in the reprocessing efficiency. The easiest way to match the observed constant reprocessed fraction is for the disc skin to be highly ionized (as suggested 30 yr ago by van Paradijs), so that the bulk of the disc flux is reflected and only the hardest X-rays heat the disc. The constant reprocessed fraction also favours direct illumination of the disc over a scattering origin as the optical depth/solid angle of any scattering material (wind/corona) over the disc should decrease as the source luminosity declines. By contrast, the reprocessed fraction increases very significantly (by a factor of ∼6) as the source enters the hard state. This dramatic change is not evident from X-ray/UV flux correlations as it is masked by bandpass effects. However, it does not necessarily signal a change in emission, for example, the emergence of the jet dominating the optical/UV flux as the reflection albedo must change with the dramatic change in spectral shape.     

X-ray irradiation in XTE J1817−330 and the inner radius of the truncated disc in the hard state

The key aspect of the very successful truncated disc model for the low/hard X-ray spectral state in black hole binaries is that the geometrically thin disc recedes from the last stable orbit at the transition to this state. This has recently been challenged by direct observations of the low/hard state disc from CCD data. We reanalyse the Swift and RXTE campaign covering the 2006 outburst of XTE J1817−330, and show that these data actually strongly support the truncated disc model as the transition spectra unambiguously show that the disc begins to recede as the source leaves the disc-dominated soft state. The disc radius inferred for the proper low/hard state is less clear-cut, but we show that the effect of irradiation from the energetically dominant hot plasma leads to an underestimate of the disc radius by a factor of 2–3 in this state. This may also produce the soft excess reported in some hard-state spectra. The inferred radius becomes still larger when the potential difference in stress at the inner boundary, increased colour temperature correction from incomplete thermalization of the irradiation, and loss of observable disc photons from Comptonization in the hot plasma is taken into account. We conclude that the inner disc radius in XTE J1817−330 in the low/hard spectral state is at least six to eight times that seen in the disc-dominated high/soft state, and that recession of the inner disc is the trigger for the soft-hard-state transition, as predicted by the truncated disc models.     

Discovery of long-term superorbital periodicities in the pseudo-transient LMXBs: IGR J17098−3628 and EXO 0748−676

Long-term monitoring of the recently discovered X-ray transient, IGR J17098−3628, by the All-Sky Monitor on-board the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer , has shown that it displays a long-term (≈163 d) quasi-periodic modulation in the data spanning its 'active' state (i.e. approximately MJD 53450–54200). Furthermore, this light curve is not typical of 'classical' soft X-ray transients, in that J17098−3628 has remained active since its initial discovery, and may be more akin to the pseudo-transient EXO 0748−676, which is now classified as a persistent low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB). However, EXO 0748−676 recently entered a more active phase (since approximately MJD 53050), and since then we find that it too displays a quasi-periodic modulation (≈181 d) in its light curve. This must be a 'superorbital' modulation, as the orbital period of EXO 0748−676 is well established (3.8 h), and hence we interpret both objects' long periods as representing some intrinsic properties of the accretion disc (such as coupled precessional and warping effects). By analogy, we therefore suggest that IGR J17098−3628 is another member of this class of pseudo-transient LMXBs and is likely to have a <1 d orbital period.     

Low-Luminosity Accretion in Black Hole X-Ray Binaries and Active Galactic Nuclei

At luminosities below a few percent of Eddington, accreting black holes switch to a hard spectral state which is very different from the soft blackbody-like spectral state that is found at higher luminosities. The hard state is well-described by a two-temperature, optically thin, geometrically thick, advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) in which the ions are extremely hot (up to 10¹² K near the black hole), the electrons are also hot (∼10^9−10.5 K), and thermal Comptonization dominates the X-ray emission. The radiative efficiency of an ADAF decreases rapidly with decreasing mass accretion rate, becoming extremely low when a source reaches quiescence. ADAFs are expected to have strong outflows, which may explain why relativistic jets are often inferred from the radio emission of these sources. It has been suggested that most of the X-ray emission also comes from a jet, but this is less well established.