arXiv subjects

O. Vilhu

Publications and source records attributed to O. Vilhu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Strong QPOs and High Energy Tail in Simultaneous RXTE/INTEGRAL Observations of GRS 1915+105

We present the first results of the timing analysis of our RXTE/INTEGRAL monitoring campaign on GRS 1915+105. Over the 6 already performed RXTE observations, we study the presence of Low Frequency QPO (LFQPO), and their energetic dependences. In a view to understand the QPO phenomenon, we compare the QPO properties to the spectral behaviour of the source. We propose that part of the compact jet detected during multi-wavelength observations, could produce a significant amount of hard X-rays, and hence explain the energy dependence of the amplitude of the QPOs.

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arXiv2004

The INTEGRAL LMXRB Monitoring Programme

Our collaboration is responsible for the study of a sample of 72 low mass X-ray binaries (LMXRB) using the INTEGRAL Core Programme data. In this paper we describe the monitoring programme we have started and the current variability and spectral results on a sample of 8 persistently bright LMXRBs hosting a neutron star (Z and Atoll sources). Current results show that among our sample of sources there seems to be no important difference in the variability of Z sources with respect to Atolls and the first colour-colour and hardness intensity diagrams built in the "traditional" energy bands display the expected patterns. Z sources seem to be harder than the bright Atolls of our sample (above 20 keV) and present no evident cut-off until about 50 keV. A hint of a non-thermal hard tail is seen in Sco X-1 with ISGRI and SPI, similarly to what was previously detected by D'Amico et al. (2001) with RXTE. These results, even if preliminary, show the importance of such a programme and the potential underlying it to understand these sources as a class.

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arXiv2004

GRS 1915+105: The first three months with INTEGRAL

GRS 1915+105 is being observed as part of an Open Time monitoring program with INTEGRAL. Three out of six observations from the monitoring program are presented here, in addition to data obtained through an exchange with other observers. We also present simultaneous RXTE observations of GRS 1915+105. During INTEGRAL Revolution 48 (2003 March 6) the source was observed to be in a highly variable state, characterized by 5-minute quasi-periodic oscillations. During these oscillations, the rise is faster than the decline, and is harder. This particular type of variability has never been observed before. During subsequent INTEGRAL revolutions (2003 March-May), the source was in a steady or ''plateau'' state (also known as class $χ$ according to Belloni et al. 2000). Here we discuss both the temporal and spectral characteristics of the source during the first three months of observations. The source was clearly detected with all three gamma-ray and X-ray instruments onboard INTEGRAL.

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arXiv2004

INTEGRAL Observations of Cygnus X-3

The peculiar X-ray binary Cygnus X-3 has been observed on several occasions with the X/gamma-ray instruments on board INTEGRAL. We have collected data from available public and Galactic Plane Scan observations between December 2002 and December 2003 and summed them together into two broad-band spectra, representing different physical spectral states of the source. We have fitted the two spectra with models including Comptonization and Compton reflection, similar to those found for black-hole binaries at high accretion rates.

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arXiv2004

INTEGRAL observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud region

We present the preliminary results of the INTEGRAL survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The observations have been carried out in January 2003 (about 10^6 s) and January 2004 (about 4x10^5 s). Here we concentrate on the bright sources LMC X-1, LMC X-2, LMC X-3 located in our satellite galaxy, and on the serendipitous detections of the Galactic Low Mass X-ray Binary EXO 0748-676 and of the Seyfert 2 galaxy IRAS 04575-7537.

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arXiv2003

Simultaneous INTEGRAL/RXTE Observations of GRS 1915+105

We present the first results of simultaneous INTEGRAL and RXTE observations of the microquasar GRS 1915+105. We focus on the analysis of the unique highly variable observation and show that we might have observed a new class of variability. We then study the energetic dependence of a low frequency QPO from our steady observations.

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arXiv2003

First INTEGRAL observations of GRS 1915+105

We present data from the first of six monitoring Open Time observations of GRS 1915+105 undertaken with the orbiting INTEGRAL satellite. The source was clearly detected with all three X-ray and gamma-ray instruments on board. GRS 1915+105 was in a highly variable state, as demonstrated by the JEM X-2 and ISGRI lightcurves. These and simultaneous RXTE/PCA lightcurves point to a novel type of variability pattern in the source. In addition, we fit the combined JEM X-2 and ISGRI spectrum between 3-300 keV with a disk blackbody + powerlaw model leading to typical parameter values found earlier at similar luminosity levels. A new transient, IGR J19140+098, was discovered during the present observation.

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arXiv2003

First INTEGRAL observations of Cygnus X-3

We present the first INTEGRAL results on Cyg X-3 from the PV phase observations of the Cygnus region. The source was clearly detected by the JEM-X, ISGRI and SPI detectors. The INTEGRAL observations were supported by simultaneous pointed RXTE observations. Their lightcurves folded over the 4.8 hour binary period are compatible with the mean RXTE/ASM and CGRO/BATSE light curves. We fit our broad band X-ray/Gamma-ray spectra with a physical model, which represents the first such published model for Cyg X-3. The main physical processes in the source are thermal Comptonization and Compton reflection with parameters similar to those found for black-hole binaries at high Eddington rates.

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arXiv2003

First INTEGRAL Observations of Eight Persistent Neutron Star Low Mass X-ray Binaries

Early results from the INTEGRAL Core Program, for a sample of eight persistently bright neutron star low mass X-ray binaries in the energy range from 5 keV to 200 keV are presented. It is shown that INTEGRAL efficiently detects sources and that spectra may be obtained up to several hundreds of keV by combining data from three of the four INTEGRAL instruments: JEM-X, IBIS and SPI. For the source GX 17+2 it is shown that the spectrum extends well above 100 keV with a flattening of the spectrum above 30 keV. This might suggest a non-thermal comptonisation emission, but uncertainties in the current data reduction and background determination do not allow firm conclusions to be drawn.

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arXiv2002

The Duty Cycle of GRS 1915+105

We propose a scenario for a periodic filling and emptying of the accretion disc of GRS 1915+105, by computing the mass transfer rate from the donor and comparing it with the observed accretion rate. The binary parameters found by Greiner et al. (2001) predict evolutionary expansion of the donor along the giant branch with a conservative mass transfer rate (1 - 2)E-8 solar masses per year. This reservoir can support the present accretion with a duty cycle 0.05 - 0.1 (the active time as a fraction of the total life time). The viscosity time scale at the circularization radius (15 solar radii from the primary 14 solar mass black hole) is identified as the recurrent quiescent time during which a new disc is formed once consumed by the BH. For small viscosity (alpha = 0.001) it equals to 300 - 400 years. The microquasar phase, with the duty cycle, will last around 10 million years ending with a long period black hole + white dwarf system.

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arXiv2002

BeppoSAX observations of the EXS 1737.9-2952 region II: Analysis of sources

(Abridged) Spectral and time variability analysis of the region of the hard X-ray transient EXS 1737.9-2952 near the Galactic Centre (GC), using data from the Narrow Field Instruments of BeppoSAX is reported. The main results are the MECS spectra of the 10 identified sources. Fluxes obtained with spectral fits are 1.7-4.8E-12 erg / cm2 s. The absorption is in the range N_H=0.5-6.7E22 / cm2, indicating that the sources are at least at the distance of the GC, and thus have L_x > 2-5E34 erg/s (2-10 keV). A powerlaw with photon index 1.1-1.8 generally gives a fair fit, but a strong iron line (at 6-7 keV) is evident for 5 sources and exists at lower confidence in the others. The fits indicate differences in line position in the range 6.1-7.0 keV suggesting that the ionisation state and/or emission mechanism may not be the same in all sources. The time-binned data indicates that two sources are variable on a time scale of hours at confidence > 99.99%, and one at 99.67%. These sources could be low-mass X-ray binaries. The other sources are most probably X-ray binaries or SNRs. A MECS spectrum from a subfield including 8 of the new sources and a major contribution of diffuse emission yielded a fairly good fit to a power-law spectrum with photon index 1.3 and a strong iron line at 6.8 keV. Another field with only residual emission and no point sources yielded spectral parameters close to the diffuse emission near GC observed by other investigators, except for the high interstellar absorption. The PDS spectrum of the same region is more difficult to interpret due to lack of spatial resolution and a larger FOV that contains the bright hard X-ray source 1E1740.7-2942. The source for the hard X-ray transient EXS 17137.9-2952 cannot be identified from the present observations.

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arXiv2002

Microflaring of a solar Bright point

A solar X-ray Bright point (BP) was observed with the SUMER-spectrograph of the SOHO-observatory. The data consist of four far-UV spectral lines formed between 2 10^4 - 6 10^5 K, with 2 arcsec spatial, 2.8 min temporal and 4 km/s spectral resolution. A striking feature is the strong microflaring and appearance of several short lived transients. Using simultaneous magnetic field measurements the region observed seemed to lie above a cancelling flux region. With respect to the filling factor and emission measure this particular BP was similar to the average surface of a moderately active solar type star.

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arXiv2002

Mass transfer from the donor of GRS 1915+105

A scenario for a periodic filling and emptying of the accretion disc of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 is proposed, by computing the mass transfer rate from the evolving low mass red giant donor (Greiner at al. 2001) and comparing it with the observed accretion rate onto the primary black hole. We propose a duty-cycle with (5-10)(eta/0.1) per cent active ON-state where eta is the efficiency of converting accretion into radiation. The duration of the quiescent recurrent OFF-state is identified as the viscosity time scale at the circularization radius and equals 370(alpha/0.001)^(-4/5) years, where alpha is the viscosity parameter in the alpha-prescription of a classical disc. If the viscosity at the outer edge of the disc is small and eta is close to the maximum available potential energy (per rest mass energy) at the innermost stable orbit, the present active phase may last another 10 - 20 years.

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arXiv2001

The coronal FeXXI 1354.094 line in AB Doradus

The active late-type star AB Doradus was observed in February 1996 with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph of the Hubble Space Telescope using the low resolution G140L grating. The observations covered one half of the star's rotation cycle (P = 0.514 d) with 11.5 min time resolution. The strong coronal Fe XXI 1354.094 line formed at 10^7 K was analysed and its emission measure (EM) derived. This EM is much higher than that derived from recent XMM-Newton observations (Guedel et al. 2001), and earlier EXOSAT (Collier Cameron et al. 1988) and ASCA/EUVE (Mewe et al. 1996) data, as well, requiring a variability by a factor of 5. The physical reason for the variability remains unknown, since (outside flares) the observed broad band variability of AB Dor is much smaller.

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arXiv1997

UV Spectroscopy of AB Doradus with the Hubble Space Telescope. Impulsive flares and bimodal profiles of the CIV 1549 line in a young star

We observed AB Doradus, a young and active late type star (K0 - K2 IV-V, P= 0.514 d) with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph of the post-COSTAR Hubble Space Telescope with the time and spectral resolutions of 27 s and 15 km, respectively. The wavelength band (1531 - 1565 A) included the strong CIV doublet (1548.202 and 1550.774, formed in the transition region at 100 000 K). The mean quiescent CIV flux state was close to the saturated value and 100 times the solar one. The line profile (after removing the rotational and instrumental profiles) is bimodal consisting of two Gaussians, narrow (FWHM = 70 km/s) and broad (FWHM =330km/s). This bimodality is probably due to two separate broadening mechanisms and velocity fields at the coronal base. It is possible that TR transient events (random multiple velocities), with a large surface coverage, give rise to the broadening of the narrow component,while true microflaring is responsible for the broad one. The transition region was observed to flare frequently on different time scales and magnitudes. The largest impulsive flare seen in the CIV 1549 emission reached in less than one minute the peak differential emission measure (10**51.2 cm-3) and returned exponentially in 5 minutes to the 7 times lower quiescent level.The 3 min average line profile of the flare was blue-shifted (-190 km/s) and broadened (FWHM = 800 km/s). This impulsive flare could have been due to a chromospheric heating and subsequent evaporation by an electron beam, accelerated (by reconnection) at the apex of a coronal loop.

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arXiv1997

Two-phase spectral modelling of 1E1740.7-2942

Combined ASCA and SIGMA data of 1E1740.7-2942 during the standard state (September 1993 and 1994) were fitted with two-phase models (ISMBB/Poutanen at al. and ADAF/Narayan et al.). In ISMBB's, the radius of the spherical hot (Te = 150 - 200 KeV) corona lies between 200 - 250 km where it joins the classical inner disc. The disc radiates 40 per cent of the total luminosity with 1.7 per cent of the Eddington accretion rate of 10 solar mass black hole. ADAF's need an extra component to reproduce the soft part of the spectrum. However, the origin of the soft excess remains somewhat uncertain, although special care was taken in the background elimination.

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arXiv1997

Implication of the discovery of the proper motion of the optical counterpart of GRB 970228 for the models of gamma-ray bursts

The accurate position determination of GRB 970228 by the Beppo/SAX Satellite led to the discovery of a fading X-ray and optical counterparts of the burst. About a month after the GRB event the proper motion of the ejecta was detected and the extended optical source has faded below the Keck detection level. We analyze these observations in the framework of the most popular gamma ray burst models. We find a lower limit on the distance to GRB 970228 d>6.6 pc. We estimate the amount of energy required to explain the motion of a point source and the variability of the extended source. We find that the cosmological models are ruled out. The Galactic corona models suffer difficulties if the distance to the burst is > 100 kpc or the variability of the extended source is directly connected with the burst No constraints are found for GRBs originating between 6.6 pc and $\sim 10$ kpc.

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arXiv1996

The Great Annihilator 1E1740.7-2942: Molecular cloud connection and coronal structure

Using 12CO and 13CO observations we present column density maps of the molecular cloud (V = -135 km/s) in the direction of 1E1740.7-2942. Hydrogen column densities of the cloud scatter between (3.5 - 11) 10**22 cm-2, depending on the method used. From this we conclude, deriving first a simple analytic formula, that despite of the weakness of the iron fluorescent 6.4 keV line (Churazov et al. 1996), the source may lie inside the cloud, or at least close to its edge. The combined ASCA/BATSE spectrum from September 1993 and 1994 can be modelled with a two-phase accretion disc corona model, where the hot region is detached from the cold disc. Geometrically, the hot phase can be interpreted e.g. as a number of active regions (magnetic loops) above the disc, or as a spherical hot cloud around the central object.

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