Published March 1, 2009 | Version v1
Journal article

DISK REFLECTION SIGNATURES IN THE SPECTRUM OF THE BRIGHT Z-SOURCE GX 340+0

  • 1. Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche ed Astronomiche, Universita di Palermo, via Archirafi 36, I-90123 Palermo (Italy)
  • 2. Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita degli Studi Roma Tre, via della Vasca Navale 84, I-00146 Roma (Italy)

Description

We present the preliminary results of a 50 ks long XMM-Newton observation of the bright Z-source GX 340+0. In this Letter, we focus on the study of a broad asymmetric emission line in the Fe Kα energy band, whose shape is clearly resolved and compatible with a relativistically smeared profile arising from reflection on a hot accretion disk extending close to the central accreting neutron star. By combining temporal and spectral analysis, we are able to follow the evolution of the source along its horizontal branch. However, despite a significant change in the continuum emission and luminosity, the line profile does not show any strong correlated variation. This broad line is produced by recombination of highly ionized iron (Fe XXV) at an inferred inner radius close to 13R g, while the fit requires a high value for the outer disk radius. The inclination of the source is extremely well constrained at 35 deg., while the emissivity index is -2.50.

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/1/L1

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal (Online)
Journal Volume
693
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. L1-L5
ISSN
1538-4357

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
41029538
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ACCRETION DISKS; ASYMMETRY; EMISSION SPECTRA; EMISSIVITY; INCLINATION; IRON; LUMINOSITY; NEUTRON STARS; REFLECTION; X RADIATION
Descriptors DEC
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; ELEMENTS; IONIZING RADIATIONS; METALS; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; RADIATIONS; SPECTRA; STARS; SURFACE PROPERTIES; TRANSITION ELEMENTS