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R. Sood

Publications and source records attributed to R. Sood.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Coupling of the X-ray and radio emission in the black hole candidate a nd compact jet source GX 339-4

We report the results of a long-term campaign of radio, soft- and hard- X-ray observations of the galactic black hole candidate GX 339-4. In the Low-Hard X-ray state the system displays a strong 3-way linear correlation between soft- and hard-X-rays and radio emission, implying a coupling between the Comptonising corona and a radio-emitting compact jet. In this state the radio emission is linearly polarised at a level of around 2 %, with an almost constant polarisation angle, indicative of a favored axis in this system probably related to the compact jet and/or black hole spin axis. In the Off X-ray state the radio emission declines with the X-ray emission to below detectable levels, suggesting that it is simply a lower-luminosity version of the Low-Hard state. In the High-Soft state both the hard-X-ray and radio emission are suppressed. We also note that the transitions from the Low-Hard state to the High-Soft state (and the reverse) are possibly associated with discrete ejection(s) of expanding relativistic plasma.

astro-ph

Observations of GX 339-4 in 1996

GX 339-4 is an unusual black hole candidate in that it is a persistent source, being detected by X-ray telescopes most of the time, but it also has nova-like flaring states. In 1996 we performed radio, optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray observations of GX 339-4 when it was in a hard state (= soft X-ray low state). Here we present a brief summary of some of the results.

astro-ph

Multiwavelength Observations of GX 339-4 in 1996. I. Daily Light Curves and X-ray and Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy

As part of our multiwavelength campaign of GX 339-4 observations in 1996 we present our radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray observations made in July, when the source was in a hard state (= soft X-ray low state). The radio observations were made at the time when there was a possible radio jet. We show that the radio spectrum was flat and significantly variable, and that the radio spectral shape and amplitude at this time were not anomalous for this source. Daily light curves from our pointed observation July 9-23 using OSSE, from BATSE, and from the ASM on RXTE also show that there was no significant change in the X- and gamma-ray flux or hardness during the time the possible radio jet-like feature was seen. The higher energy portion of our pointed RXTE observation made July 26 can be equally well fit using simple power law times exponential (PLE) and Sunyaev-Titarchuk (ST) functions. An additional soft component is required, as well as a broad emission feature centered on 6.4 keV. This may be an iron line that is broadened by orbital Doppler motions and/or scattering off a hot medium. Its equivalent width is 600 eV. Our simplistic continuum fitting does not require an extra reflection component. Both a PLE and a ST model also fit our OSSE spectrum on its own. Although the observations are not quite simultaneous, combining the RXTE and CGRO spectra we find that the PLE model easily fits the joint spectrum. However, the ST model drops off too rapidly with increasing energies to give an acceptable joint fit.

astro-ph