Using the X-ray dust scattering halo of 4U 1624-490 to determine distance and dust distributions

We present X-ray dust scattering halo results based on our 76 ks Chandra ACIS-S/HETGS observation of the LMXB dipping source 4U 1624-490. Through analysis of the halo light curves with 2-6 keV spectra over the persistent and dipping periods, we estimate a geometric distance of ∼15 kpc to 4U 1624-490. We also fit halo radial profiles with different ISM dust grain models to assess the location, uniformity, and density of the halo. Our analysis shows that the dust spatial distribution is not uniform along the line of sight; rather, it is consistent with the spiral arm structure mapped in H II. The large difference between the absorption hydrogen column (N_H^abs ∼ 8 × 10²² cm^-2; probes all gas along the line of sight) derived from broadband spectral fitting and the scattering hydrogen column (N_H^sca ∼ 4 × 10²² cm^-2; probes only Galactic gas) derived from our studies of the 4U 1624-490 X-ray halo suggests that a large fraction of the column is local to the X-ray binary. We also present (and apply) a new method for assessing the Chandra point-spread function at large (>50″) angles, through use of the time delays from the observed dips.