NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Press Enter or click the Search button to begin your search.

Back to Results
Supergiant X-Ray Binaries Observed by SuzakuSuzaku observations are presented for the high-mass X-ray binaries IGR 116207-5129 and IGR 117391-3021. For IGR 116207-5129, we provide the first X-ray broadband (0.5-60 keV) spectrum from which we confirm a large intrinsic column density (N(sub H) = 1.6 x 10(exp 23)/sq cm), and we constrain the cutoff energy for the first time (E(sub cut) = 19 keV). A prolonged (> 30 ks) attenuation of the X-ray flux was observed which we tentatively attribute to an eclipse of the probable neutron star by its massive companion, in a binary system with an orbital period between 4 and 9 days, and inclination angles> 50 degrees. For IGRJ17391-3021, we witnessed a transition from quiescence to a low-activity phase punctuated by weak flares whose peak luminosities in the 0.5-10keV band are only a factor of 5 times that of the pre-flare emission. These micro flares are accompanied by an increase in NH which suggests the accretion of obscuring clumps of wind. We now recognize that these low-activity epochs constitute the most common emission phase for this system, and perhaps in other supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs) as well. We close with an overview of our upcoming program in which Suzaku will provide the first ever observation of an SFXT (IGRJ16479-4514) during a binary orbit enabling us to probe the accretion wind at every phase.
Document ID
20120002598
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Bodaghee, A.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Tomsick, J. A.
(California Univ. Berkeley, CA, United States)
Rodriquez, J.
(Saclay Research Centre France)
Chaty, S.
(Saclay Research Centre France)
Pottschmidt, K.
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore County MD, United States)
Walter, R.
(Observatoire de Geneve France)
Romano, P.
(Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica (INAF-IASF) Rome, Italy)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2011
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.5628.2011
Report Number: GSFC.JA.5628.2011
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG06E090A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
No Preview Available