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Zhang, S. N.

Publications and source records attributed to Zhang, S. N..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2002

Inclination Angles of Black Hole X-Ray Binaries Manifest Strong Gravity around Black Holes

System inclination angles have been determined for about 15 X-ray binaries, in which stellar mass black holes are considered to exist. These inclination angles range between 25 degrees and 80 degrees, but peaked between 60-70 degrees. This peak is not explained in the frame work of Newtonian gravity. However, this peak is reproduced naturally if we model the observed X-ray radiations as being produced in the accretion disks very close to the black hole horizons, where the extremely strong general and special relativistic effects, caused by the extremely strong gravity near the black hole horizons, modify the local radiation significantly as the X-rays propagate to the remote observer. Therefore the peak of the inclination angle distribution provides evidence or strong gravity around stellar mass black holes.

Zhang, S. N.↗
NASA NTRS2002

The Burst and Transient Source Experiment Earth Occultation Technique

An Earth orbiting detector sensitive to gamma-ray photons will see step-like occultation features in its count rate when a gamma-ray point source crosses the Earth's limb. This is due to the change in atmospheric attenuation of the gamma rays along the line of sight. In an uncollimated detector, these occultation features can be used to locate and monitor astrophysical sources provided their signals can be individually separated from the detector background. We show that the Earth occultation technique applied to the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) is a viable and flexible all-sky monitor in the low-energy gamma-ray and hard X-ray energy range (20 keV-1 MeV). The method is an alternative to more sophisticated photon imaging devices for astronomy and can serve well as a cost-effective science capability for monitoring the high energy sky. Here we describe the Earth occultation technique for locating new sources and for measuring source intensity and spectra without the use of complex background models. Examples of transform imaging, step searches, spectra, and light curves are presented. Systematic uncertainties due to source confusion, detector response, and contamination from rapid background fluctuations are discussed and analyzed for their effect on intensity measurements. A sky location-dependent average systematic error is derived as a function of Galactic coordinates. The sensitivity of the technique is derived as a function of incident photon energy and also as a function of angle between the source and the normal to the detector entrance window. Occultations of the Crab Nebula by the Moon are used to calibrate Earth occultation flux measurements independent of possible atmospheric scattering effects.

Harmon, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS2002

The BATSE Earth Occultation Catalog of Low Energy Gamma Ray Sources

The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE), aboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO), provided a record of the hard X-ray/low energy gamma ray sky between April 1991 and June 2000. During that time, a catalog of known sources was derived from existing catalogs such as HEAO A-4 (Levine et al. 1984), as well as new transient sources discovered with BATSE and other X-ray monitors operating in the CGRO era. The Earth Occultation Technique (Harmon et al. 2001, astro-ph/0109069) was used to monitor a combination of these sources, mostly galactic, totaling to about 175 objects. The catalog will present the global properties of these sources and their probability of detection (greater than 10 mCrab, 20-100 keV) with BATSE. Systematic errors due to unknown sources or background components are included. Cursory analyses to search for new transients (35-80 mCrab in the 20-100 keV band) and super-orbital periods in known binary sources are also presented. Whole mission light curves and associated data production/analysis tools are being delivered to the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC) for public use.

Harmon, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Spectroscopy of Cyg X-1 the High State with HETG/Chandra

Cyg X-1 was observed in the high state around orbital phase 0 with HETG/Chandra. Significant absorption lines of highly ionized species were detected, such as Fe XXV, Fe XXIV, Fe XXIII, S XIV, S XVI, Ne X, etc. The observed absorption lines are found to be blue-shifted (z approx. -0.002) from those observed in the low and transition states. In the high state each absorption line was composed of a blue-shifted absorption line and a un-shifted absorption line which similar to that observed in the low state. The broad line feature of Fe K(sub alpha;) at 6.4 keV was detected with a significance of Delta chi(Sup 2) approx. 40, although precise measurements are hindered by uncertainties in the calibration. The implications of these results on the configuration of the accretion flow of Cyg X-1 in the high state are discussed.

Feng, Y. X.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Evolution of Iron K Alpha Line Emission in the Black Hole Candidate GX 339-4

GX 339-4 was regularly monitored with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer during a period (in 1999) when its X-ray flux decreased significantly (from 4.26 x 10(exp -10) to 7.6 x 10(exp -12) ergs in the 3-20 keV band), as the source settled into the 'off state.' Our spectral analysis revealed the presence of a prominent iron K alpha line in the observed spectrum of the source for all observations. The line shows an interesting evolution: it is centered at approx. 6.4 keV when the measured flux is above 5 x 10(exp -1) ergs per sq cm/s but is shifted to approx. 6.7 keV at lower fluxes. The equivalent width of the line appears to increase significantly toward lower fluxes, although it is likely to be sensitive to calibration uncertainties. While the fluorescent emission of neutral or mildly ionized iron atoms in the accretion disk can perhaps account for the 6.4 keV line, as is often invoked for black hole candidates, it seems difficult to understand the 6.7 keV line with this mechanism because the disk should be less ionized at lower fluxes (unless its density changes drastically). On the other hand, the 6.7 keV line might be due to a recombination cascade of hydrogen- or helium-like iron ions in an optically thin, highly ionized plasma. We discuss the results in the context of proposed accretion models.

Feng, Y. X.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Timing Evolution of 4U 1630-47 During Its 1998 Outburst

We report on the evolution of the timing of 4U 1630-47 during its 1998 outburst using data obtained with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The count rate and position in hardness intensity, color-color diagrams, and simple spectral fits are used to track the concurrent spectral changes. The source showed seven distinct types of timing behavior, most of which show differences with the canonical black hole spectral/timing states. In marked contrast to previous outbursts, we find quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) signals during nearly all stages of the outburst with frequencies between 0.06 and 14 Hz and a remarkable variety of other characteristics. In particular, we find large (up to 23% rms) amplitude QPOs on the early rise. Later, slow 0.1 Hz semiregular short (-5 s), 9%-16% deep dips dominate the light curve. At this time there are two QPOs, one stable near 13.5 Hz and the other whose frequency drops from the 6-8 Hz range to -4.5 Hz during the dips. BeppoSAX observations during the very late declining phase show 4U 1630-47 in a low state.

Dieters, S. W.↗
NASA NTRS2000

RXTE and BATSE Observations of the Recent Outbursts of 2S 1417-624

25 1417-624 is a 57 mHz transient Be/X-ray pulsar system first discovered by SAS 3 in 1978. After the discovery outburst it was not seen again until 1994 when BATSE observed an outburst that peaked at 40 Srab (pulsed flux, 20-50 keV) and lasted 110 days, followed by a series of 5 shorter, 10-15 mCrab outbursts occurring every 42 days. Pulse timing analysis showed that these smaller outbursts began a few days after periastron passage of the system's eccentric, 42 day period orbit. Renewed activity from the source was detected by BATSE beginning in 1999 November. BATSE monitoring shows a 10 mCrab peak flux outburst lasting 10 days, followed in the next orbit by a 30 mCrab peak flux outburst, which to date has lasted 56 days. Regular monitoring with RXTE began during the 1999 November outburst and has continued in to the current outburst. The data provides good coverage of the low flux state between BATSE detections, which includes the periastron passage. Pulses are detected through this interval, showing that the source did not enter the propeller regime. The PCA monitoring from the lowest flux level, which occurs shortly before periastron, until the peak of the current outburst, show a continuous evolution of the pulse profile. These profiles contain a narrow notch feature which allow us to present a phase aligned history of this pulse evolution. We present a timing analysis of the PCA and BATSE observations that provide corrections to the binary orbit, and measurements of the torque during the observations. From the observed torque and flux we show that disc accretion is occurring in the current outburst, most probably was also occurring in the smaller outburst.

Finger, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Three-Layered Atmospheric Structure in Accretion Disks Around Stellar-Mass Black Holes

Modeling of the x-ray spectra of the Galactic superluminal jet sources GRS 1915+105 and GRO J1655-40 reveals a three-layered atmospheric structure in the inner region of the inner accretion disks. Above the cold and optically thick disk with a temperature of 0.2 to 0.5 kiloelectron volts, there is a warm layer with a temperature of 1.0 to 1.5 kiloelectron volts and an optical depth around 10. Sometimes there is also a much hotter, optically thin corona above the warm layer, with a temperature of 100 kiloelectron volts or higher and an optical depth around unity. The structural similarity between the accretion disks and the solar atmosphere suggests that similar physical processes may be operating in these different systems.

Zhang, S. N.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Does the Inner Disk Boundary of a Black Hole X-Ray Binary move During an Outburst?

Comptonization in the corona of an X-ray binary may reduce significantly the flux in the observed soft component of its X-ray spectrum. There fore the apparent inner disk radius inferred from the observed soft component may change in accordance to the fraction of the disk emission scattered into the hard component. We have developed a simple numerical model for carrying out the radiative transfer correction, in order to determine the original disk emission before the Comptonization in the hot corona. Applying this model to the extensive monitoring data of several black hole X-ray binaries with RXTE, we have found that most of the previous 1 y reported inner disk radius variations may be explained as due to this radiative transfer effect in the corona. We thus conclude that there is currently no evidence for significant inner disk boundary movement during the outbursts of these black hole X-ray binaries we have studied with the RXTE data.: GROJ1655-40, XTEJ1550-564, XTEJ1748-288 and XTEJ2012+381.

Zhang, S. N.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Earth Occultation Technique with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment

The Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) is successfully being used as an all-sky hard X-ray monitor. The experiment consists of a set of eight uncollimated detectors sensitive to photons in the 20 keV to 2 MeV range. Since CGRO orbits the Earth at an altitude of about 450 km, about 33% of the sky, as viewed with BATSE, is covered by the Earth at any given time. The entire sky is subject to Earth occultation for some portion of CGRO's 52 day precession period. When a source sets below or rises above the Earth's limb, atmospheric attenuation produces step-like features in the BATSE data. The observed change in count rate in several energy bands provides a measurement of the source intensity and spectrum without sophisticated background models. These occultation features are used to locate and monitor astrophysical sources with BATSE when the source signal can be separated from the detector background. Examples of step searches, spectra, light curves, and transform imaging are presented.

Wilson, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Discovery of a Three-Layered Atmospheric Structure in Accretion Disks around Stellar-Mass Black Holes

We have carried out systematic modeling of the X-ray spectra of the Galactic superluminal jet sources GRS 1915+105 and GRO J1655-40, using our newly developed spectral fitting methods. Our results reveal, for the first time, a three-layered structure of the atmosphere in the inner region of the accretion disks. Above the conanonly known, cold and optically thick disk of a blackbody temperature 0.2-0.5 keV, there is a layer of warm gas with a temperature of 1.0-1.5 keV and an optical depth of around 10. Compton scattering of the underlying disk blackbody photons produces the soft X-ray component we comonly observe. Under certain conditions, there is also a much hotter, optically thin corona above the warm layer, characterized by a temperature of 100 keV or higher and an optical depth of unity or less. The corona produces the hard X-ray component typically seen in these sources. We emphasize that the existence of the warm layer seem to be independent of the presence of the hot corona and, therefore, it is not due to irradiation of the disk by hard X-rays from the corona. Our results suggest a striking structural similarity between the accretion disks and the solar atmosphere, which may provide a new stimulus to study the common underlying physical processes operating in these vastly different systems. We also report the first unambiguous detection of an emission line around 6.4 keV in GRO J1655-40, which may allow further constraining of the accretion disk structure. We acknowledge NASA GSFC and MFC for partial financial support. (copyright) 1999: American Astronomical Society. All rights reverved.

Zhang, S. N.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Hard X-Ray Lags in GRO J1719--24

We have used the Fourier cross spectra of GRO J1719-24, obtained with BATSE, to estimate the phase lags between the X-ray flux variations in the 20 50 and 50-100 keV energy bands as a function of Fourier frequency in the interval 0.002-0.488 Hz. Our analysis covers the entire about 80 day X-ray outburst of this black hole candidate, following the first X-ray detection on 1993 September 25. The X-ray variations in the 50-100 keV band lag those in the 20-50 keV energy band by an approximately constant phase difference of 0.072 + 0.010 rad in the frequency interval 0.02-0.20 Hz. The peak phase lags in the interval 0.02-0.20 Hz are about twice those of Cyg X-1 and GRO J0422+32. These results are consistent with models for Comptonization regions composed of extended nonuniform clouds around the central source.

VanDerHooft, F.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Discovery of Correlated Behavior Between the Hard X-Ray and the Radio Bands in Cygnus X-3

Using Compton Gamma Ray Observatory BATSE hard X-ray (HXR) data and GHz radio monitoring data from the Green Bank Interferometer, we have performed a long-term study (approx. 1800 days) of the unusual X-ray binary Cyg X-3, resulting in the discovery of a remarkable relationship between these two wavelength bands. We find that during quiescent radio states, the radio flux is strongly anticorrelated with the intensity of the HXR emission. The relationship switches to a correlation with the onset of major radio flaring activity. During major radio flaring activity, the HXR drops to a very low intensity during quenching in the radio and recovers during the radio flare. Injection of plasma into the radio jets of Cyg X-3 occurs during changes in the HXR emission and suggests that disk-related and jet-related components are responsible for the high energy emission.

McCollough, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Hard X-Ray Variability of the Black Hole Candidate GRO J0422+32 During its 1992 Outburst

We have studied the hard X-ray variability of the soft X-ray transient GRO J0422+32 with BATSE (Burst and Transient Source Experiment) in the 20-100 keV energy band. Our analysis covers 180 days following the first X-ray detection of the source on August 5, 1992, fully covering its primary and secondary X-ray outbursts. We compute power density spectra (PDSs) in the 20-50, 50-100, and 20-100 keV energy bands, in the frequency interval 0.002-0.488 Hz. The PDSs of GRO J0422+32 are approximately flat up to a break frequency, and decay as a power law above it, with index approximately 1. During the first 70 days of the X-ray outburst, the PDSs of GRO J0422+32 show a significant quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) peak near approximately 0.2 Hz, superposed on the power-law tail. The break frequency of the PDSs obtained during the primary X-ray outburst of GRO J0422+32 occurs at 0.041 +/- 0.006 Hz; during the secondary outburst, the break is at 0.081 +/- 0.015 Hz. The power density at the break ranged between 44% and 89% / square root of Hz (20-100 keV). The canonical anticorrelation between the break frequency and the power density at the break, observed in Cyg X-1 and other BHCs in the low state, is not observed in the PDSs of GRO J0422+32. We compare our results with those of similar variability studies of Cyg X-1. The relation between the spectral slope and the amplitude of the X-ray variations of GRO J0422+32 is similar to that of Cyg X-1; however, the relation between the hard X-ray flux and the amplitude of its variation is opposite to what has been found in Cyg X-1. Phase lags between the X-ray flux variations of GRO J0422+32 at high and low photon energies could only be derived during the first 30 days of its outburst. During this period, the variations in the 50-100 keV band lag those in the 20-50 keV energy band by an approximately constant phase difference of 0.039(3) rad in the frequency interval 0.02-0.20 Hz. The time lags of GRO J0422+32 during the first 30 days of the outburst decrease with frequency as a power law with index 0.9 for v > 0.01 Hz.

vanderHooft, F.↗