arXiv subjects

B. Vander Meulen

Publications and source records attributed to B. Vander Meulen.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

3D Radiative Transfer of Lyman-series Lines with SKIRT

Context. High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy and polarimetry provided by XRISM and IXPE offer new diagnostics of the geometry and kinematics of photo-ionised plasmas around compact objects. Interpreting reprocessed X-ray emission in such systems requires full three-dimensional radiative transfer (3D RT) including photon-ion interactions. Aims. We extend the Monte Carlo (MC) RT code SKIRT by implementing the Lyman-series lines of H-like ions, enabling self-consistent modelling of resonance scattering, radiative recombination, and polarisation of these lines in X-ray photo-ionised plasmas. Methods. We implemented Lyman-series transitions (up to $n=10$) for ions with $Z=$1--30, including fine-structure splitting and linear polarisation in resonance scattering. Two channels for the production of the Lyman-series lines (resonance scattering and radiative recombination) are considered. Results. The implementation reproduces analytical expectations and shows good agreement with Cloudy. The SKIRT simulations naturally capture RT effects such as P Cygni profiles and line-profile distortion in optically thick media, which are inaccessible to the conventional 1D RT codes commonly used in X-rays. In 3D geometries, we find that anisotropic illumination and velocity fields significantly modify the Lyman series line ratios and profiles, all of which are observable with XRISM. Conclusions. The extended version of SKIRT provides a powerful framework for interpreting X-ray line spectra and polarisation from photo-ionised plasmas. It is particularly suited for constraining the geometry and velocity structure in the vicinity of compact objects in the XRISM and IXPE era.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

A XRISM view of the iron line complex in NGC 1068: Rethinking the prototypical Compton-thick AGN

We analyze a XRISM/Resolve observation of NGC1068, focusing on the Fe K$α$ and Fe K$β$ fluorescent lines and on the Fe XXV and Fe XXVI emission complexes. Line centroid energies, intrinsic widths, flux ratios, and constraints on the Compton shoulder are derived through local spectral fitting, and compared with atomic calculations and theoretical predictions. The centroid energies of the Fe K$α$ and Fe K$β$ lines tightly constrain the emitting material to be neutral or near-neutral. The observed Fe K$β$/K$α$ ratio, together with the stringent upper limit on the Compton shoulder ($\lesssim$8--11% of the core flux), disfavour reflection dominated by a homogeneous, classical Compton-thick medium, indicating that most of the neutral Fe K$α$ emission arises in optically thin or moderately Compton-thick gas. The Fe XXV and Fe XXVI emission lines exhibit remarkably large velocity widths, of several thousand km~s$^{-1}$. These broad profiles closely resemble the integrated optical and infrared [O III] and [O IV] lines associated with the large-scale biconical outflow, and are naturally interpreted as the X-ray signature of a more highly ionized, faster, and more spatially confined phase of the same outflow. The iron-K emission of NGC1068 reveals a stratified circumnuclear environment in which neutral and highly ionized components arise in physically distinct regions. The neutral Fe K fluorescence originates predominantly in optically thin or mildly Compton-thick material, despite the persistently Compton-thick line-of-sight obscuration, indicating a geometrically complex cold reprocessor. The highly ionized iron emission lines trace a fast component consistent with a warm bipolar outflow on parsec scales, whose large velocities and inferred energetics suggest that it may represent an efficient channel for feedback in a heavily obscured Seyfert galaxy.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

The Super-Soft Source Phase of the recurrent nova V3890 Sgr

The 30-year recurrent symbiotic nova V3890 Sgr exploded 2019 August 28 and was observed with multiple X-ray telescopes. An XMM-Newton observation during the SSS phase captured a high degree of X-ray variability including a deep dip in the middle of the observation, an initial rise of similar depth and shape and, after the deep dip, smaller dips of 10% amplitude, which might be periodic over 18.1-minutes. An eclipse model of the dips yields clump sizes and orbital radii of 0.5-8 and 5-150 white dwarf radii, respectively. The simultaneous UV light curve shows no significant variations beyond slow fading. The RGS spectrum contains both residual shock emission at short wavelengths and the SSS emission at longer wavelengths. The shock temperature has clearly decreased compared to an earlier Chandra observation (day 6). The dip spectrum is dominated by emission lines like in U Sco. The intensity of underlying blackbody-like emission is much lower with the blackbody normalisation yielding a similar radius as during the brighter phases, while the lower bolometric luminosity is ascribed to lower T_eff. This would be inconsistent with clump occultations unless Compton scattering of the continuum emission reduces the photon energies to mimic a lower effective temperature. However, systematic uncertainties are high. The absorption lines in the bright SSS spectrum are blue-shifted by 870+/-10 km/s before the dip and 900+/-10 km/s, after the dip. The reproduction of the observed spectrum is astonishing, especially that only a single absorbing layer is necessary while three such layers are needed to reproduce the RGS spectrum of V2491 Cyg. The ejecta of V3890 Sgr are thus more homogeneous than many other SSS spectra indicate. Abundance determination is in principle possible but highly uncertain. Generally, solar abundances are found except for N and possibly O higher by an order of magnitude.

astro-ph.HE↗