Heating in an extended accretion disk corona along the z-pattern in CYG X-2

  • N. S. Schulz
  • , D. P. Huenemoerder
  • , L. Ji
  • , M. Nowak
  • , Y. Yao
  • , C. R. Canizares

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

We observed at very high spectral resolution the prototype Z-source Cyg X-2 twice along its entire X-ray spectral variation pattern. In this preliminary analysis, we find an extended accretion disk corona (ADC) exhibiting Lyα emissions from various H-like ions, as well as emissions from He-like ions of Fe and Al, and Be-like ions of Fe. The brightest lines show a range of line broadening: H-like lines are very broad with Doppler velocities between 1100 and 2700 km s-1, while some others are narrower with widths of a few hundred km s-1. Line diagnostics allow us for the first time to determine coronal parameters. The line properties are consistent with a stationary, extended up to 1010 cm, dense (1 × 1015 cm-3), and hot (log ξ ≳ 3; T ≳ 106 K) ADC. We find ongoing heating of the corona along the Z-track and determine that heating luminosities change from about 0.4×L Edd on the horizontal to about 1.4 × L Edd on the flaring branch.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L80-L83
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume692
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

Keywords

  • Accretion, accretion disks
  • Binaries: close
  • Stars: individual (Cyg X-2)
  • Stars: neutron
  • Techniques: spectroscopic
  • X-rays: stars

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