Phase-resolved spectroscopic modelling of quasi-periodic oscillations in X-ray binaries
Transient Astrophysics
Edward
Nathan
Date Submitted
2021-04-30 00:00:00
University of Oxford
E. Nathan (Oxford), A. Ingram (Oxford)
Low frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) with periods between ~10 s and ~0.05 s are often seen in the X-ray flux of accreting stellar-mass black holes. These are often attributed to the Lense-Thirring precession of the inner accretion flow, a General Relativistic effect caused by the spin of the black hole. QPO phase-resolved spectroscopy (measuring how the X-ray spectrum changes with QPO phase) provides the best test of this model against alternative interpretations, since precession leads to a rocking of the ~6.4 keV iron fluorescence line between Doppler red and blue shift over the course of each QPO cycle. I will present the latest results of our QPO phase-resolved spectral analyses, including the bright black hole X-ray binary system GRS1915+105 for which we utilise simultaneous data from NICER and NuSTAR. The high count rate and broad band X-ray coverage (~0.3-79 keV) provided by the combination of NICER and NuSTAR made this an ideal dataset for our analysis. I will discuss the statistical significance of the asymmetrical illumination profile and of the ‘rocking’ iron line, and the interpretation of these results.
All attendees are expected to show respect and courtesy to other attendees and staff, and to adhere to the NAM Code of Conduct.