Published January 20, 2010 | Version v1
Journal article

A COMPREHENSIVE SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF THE X-RAY PULSAR 4U 1907+09 FROM TWO OBSERVATIONS WITH THE SUZAKU X-RAY OBSERVATORY

  • 1. Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0424 (United States)
  • 2. CRESST and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Astrophysics Science Division, Code 661, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (United States)
  • 3. Dr. Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte and Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics, Sternwartstr. 7, 96049 Bamberg (Germany)

Description

We present results from two observations of the wind-accreting X-ray pulsar 4U 1907+09 using the Suzaku Observatory. The broadband time-averaged spectrum allows us to examine the continuum emission of the source and the cyclotron resonance scattering feature at ∼19 keV. Additionally, using the narrow CCD response of Suzaku near 6 keV allows us to study in detail the Fe K bandpass and to quantify the Fe Kβ line for this source for the first time. The source is absorbed by fully covering material along the line of sight with a column density of NH ∼ 2 x 1022 cm-2, consistent with a wind-accreting geometry, and a high Fe abundance (∼3-4 times solar). Time- and phase-resolved analyses allow us to study variations in the source spectrum. In particular, dips found in the 2006 observation which are consistent with earlier observations occur in the hard X-ray bandpass, implying a variation of the whole continuum rather than occultation by intervening material, while a dip near the end of the 2007 observation occurs mainly in the lower energies implying an increase in NH along the line of sight, perhaps indicating clumpiness in the stellar wind.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/709/1/179

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal
Journal Volume
709
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 179-190
ISSN
0004-637X
CODEN
ASJOAB

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
41119778
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ABUNDANCE; CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES; CYCLOTRON RESONANCE; ECLIPSE; EMISSION; HARD X RADIATION; MAGNETIC FIELDS; PULSARS; SCATTERING; STARS; STELLAR WINDS
Descriptors DEC
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; IONIZING RADIATIONS; RADIATIONS; RESONANCE; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; STELLAR ACTIVITY; X RADIATION