A NICER Spectrum of MAXI J1535-571: near-maximal black hole spin and potential disk warping
A NICER Spectrum of MAXI J1535-571: near-maximal black hole spin and potential disk warping
We report on a Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) observation of the Galactic X-ray binary and stellar-mass black hole candidate, MAXI J1535-571. The source was likely observed in an "intermediate" or "very high" state, with important contributions from both an accretion disk and hard X-ray corona. The 2.3-10 keV spectrum shows clear hallmarks of relativistic disk reflection. Fits with a suitable model strongly indicate a near-maximal spin parameter of and a disk that extends close to the innermost stable circular orbit, (1σ statistical errors). In addition to the relativistic spectrum from the innermost disk, a relatively narrow Fe K emission line is also required. The resolution of NICER reveals that the narrow line may be asymmetric, indicating a specific range of emission radii. Fits with a relativistic line model suggest an inner radius of for the putative second reflection geometry; full reflection models suggest that radii a few times larger are possible. The origin of the narrow line is uncertain, but a warp likely provides the most physically plausible explanation. We discuss our results in terms of the potential for NICER to reveal new features of the inner and intermediate accretion disk around black holes.
accretion, accretion disks, binaries: general, black hole physics, relativistic processes, stars: black holes
Miller, J. M.
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Gendreau, K.
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Ludlam, R. M.
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Fabian, A. C.
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Altamirano, D.
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Arzoumanian, Z.
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Bult, P. M.
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Cackett, E. M.
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Homan, J.
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Kara, E.
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Neilsen, J.
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Remillard, R. A.
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Tombesi, F.
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Miller, J. M.
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Gendreau, K.
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Ludlam, R. M.
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Fabian, A. C.
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Altamirano, D.
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Arzoumanian, Z.
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Bult, P. M.
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Cackett, E. M.
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Homan, J.
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Kara, E.
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Neilsen, J.
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Remillard, R. A.
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Tombesi, F.
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Miller, J. M., Gendreau, K., Ludlam, R. M., Fabian, A. C., Altamirano, D., Arzoumanian, Z., Bult, P. M., Cackett, E. M., Homan, J., Kara, E., Neilsen, J., Remillard, R. A. and Tombesi, F.
(2018)
A NICER Spectrum of MAXI J1535-571: near-maximal black hole spin and potential disk warping.
Astrophysical Journal Letters, 860 (2), [L28].
(doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aacc61).
Abstract
We report on a Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) observation of the Galactic X-ray binary and stellar-mass black hole candidate, MAXI J1535-571. The source was likely observed in an "intermediate" or "very high" state, with important contributions from both an accretion disk and hard X-ray corona. The 2.3-10 keV spectrum shows clear hallmarks of relativistic disk reflection. Fits with a suitable model strongly indicate a near-maximal spin parameter of and a disk that extends close to the innermost stable circular orbit, (1σ statistical errors). In addition to the relativistic spectrum from the innermost disk, a relatively narrow Fe K emission line is also required. The resolution of NICER reveals that the narrow line may be asymmetric, indicating a specific range of emission radii. Fits with a relativistic line model suggest an inner radius of for the putative second reflection geometry; full reflection models suggest that radii a few times larger are possible. The origin of the narrow line is uncertain, but a warp likely provides the most physically plausible explanation. We discuss our results in terms of the potential for NICER to reveal new features of the inner and intermediate accretion disk around black holes.
Text
A NICER SPECTRUM OF MAXI J1535−571: NEAR-MAXIMAL BLACK HOLE SPIN AND POTENTIAL DISK WARPING
- Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 9 June 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 25 June 2018
Additional Information:
Author Altamirano confirmed Arxiv record 1806.04115 is AM
Keywords:
accretion, accretion disks, binaries: general, black hole physics, relativistic processes, stars: black holes
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 422625
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/422625
ISSN: 2041-8205
PURE UUID: 7b7f4b05-52ae-4b80-a2dd-cca67d8dac05
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Date deposited: 26 Jul 2018 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 06:53
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Contributors
Author:
J. M. Miller
Author:
K. Gendreau
Author:
R. M. Ludlam
Author:
A. C. Fabian
Author:
Z. Arzoumanian
Author:
P. M. Bult
Author:
E. M. Cackett
Author:
J. Homan
Author:
E. Kara
Author:
J. Neilsen
Author:
R. A. Remillard
Author:
F. Tombesi
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