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arXiv · 1601.05867

Systematic spectral analysis of GX 339-4: influence of Galactic background and reflection models

M. Clavel·J. Rodriguez·S. Corbel·M. Coriat
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Abstract

Black hole X-ray binaries display large outbursts, during which their properties are strongly variable. We develop a systematic spectral analysis of the 3-40 keV RXTE/PCA data in order to study the evolution of these systems and apply it to GX 339-4. Using the low count rate observations, we provide a precise model of the Galactic background at GX 339-4's location and discuss its possible impact on the source spectral parameters. At higher fluxes, the use of a Gaussian line to model the reflection component can lead to the detection of a high-temperature disk, in particular in the high-hard state. We demonstrate that this component is an artifact arising from an incomplete modeling of the reflection spectrum.

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M. Clavel, J. Rodriguez, S. Corbel, M. Coriat. 2016-01-22. Systematic spectral analysis of GX 339-4: influence of Galactic background and reflection models. https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201612326

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