arXiv subjects

S. N. Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to S. N. Zhang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Beam pattern evolution of accreting X-ray pulsar 1A 0535+262 during its 2020 giant outburst

We report on pulse profile decomposition analysis of a bright transient X-ray pulsar 1A 0535+262 using the broadband Insight-HXMT observations during a giant outburst of the source in 2020. We show that the observed pulse profile shape can be described in terms of a combination of two symmetric single-pole contributions for wide range of energies and luminosities for a fixed geometry defining basic geometry of the pulsar. This corresponds to a slightly distorted dipole magnetic field, i.e., one pole has to be offset by $\sim 12^{\circ}$ from the antipodal position of the other pole. We reconstruct the intrinsic beam patterns of the pulsar assuming the geometry recovered from the decomposition analysis, and find evidence for a transition between "pencil" and "fan" beams in energy ranges above the cyclotron line energy which can be interpreted as transition from sub- to super-critical accretion regimes associated with onset of an accretion column. At lower energies the beam pattern appears, however, to be more complex, and contains substantial "fan" beam and an additional "pencil" beam component at all luminosities. The latter is not related to the accretion rate and is stronger in the fading phase of the outburst. We finally discuss results in context of other observational and theoretical findings earlier reported for the source in the literature.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Reanalysis of the X-ray burst associated FRB 200428 with Insight-HXMT observations

A double-peak X-ray burst from the Galactic magnetar SGR J1935+2154 was discovered as associated with the two radio pulses of FRB 200428 separated by 28.97+-0.02 ms. Precise measurements of the timing and spectral properties of the X-ray bursts are helpful for understanding the physical origin of fast radio bursts (FRBs). In this paper, we have reconstructed some information about the hard X-ray events, which were lost because the High Energy X-ray Telescope (HE) onboard the Insight-HXMT mission was saturated by this extremely bright burst, and used the information to improve the temporal and spectral analyses of the X-ray burst. The arrival times of the two X-ray peaks by fitting the new Insight-HXMT/HE lightcurve with multi-Gaussian profiles are 2.77+-0.45 ms and 34.30+-0.56 ms after the first peak of FRB 200428, respectively, while these two parameters are 2.57+-0.52 ms and 32.5+-1.4 ms if the fitting profile is a fast rise and exponential decay function. The spectrum of the two X-ray peaks could be described by a cutoff power-law with cutoff energy ~60 keV and photon index ~1.4, the latter is softer than that of the underlying bright and broader X-ray burst when the two X-ray peaks appeared.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

GRB minimum variability timescale with Insight-HXMT and Swift: implications for progenitor models, dissipation physics and GRB classifications

The dissipation process of GRB prompt emission is still unknown. Study of temporal variability may provide a unique way to discriminate the imprint of the inner engine activity from geometry and propagation related effects. We define the minimum variability timescale (MVT) as the shortest duration of individual pulses that shape a light curve for a sample of GRBs and test correlations with peak luminosity, Lorentz factor, and jet opening angle. We compare these correlations with predictions from recent numerical simulations for a relativistic structured -- possibly wobbling -- jet and assess the value of MTV as probe of prompt-emission physics. We used the peak detection algorithm mepsa to identify the shortest pulse within a GRB time history and estimate its full width half maximum (FWHM). We applied this framework to two sets of GRBs: Swift (from 2005 to July 2022) and Insight-HXMT (from June 2017 to July 2021, including 221009A). We then selected 401 GRBs with measured z to test for correlations. On average short GRBs have significantly shorter MVT than long GRBs. The MVT distribution of short GRBs with extended emission such as 060614 and 211211A is compatible only with that of short GRBs. This provides a new clue on the progenitor's nature. The MVT for long GRBs anticorrelates with peak luminosity. We confirm the anticorrelation with the Lorentz factor and find a correlation with the jet opening angle as estimated from the afterglow, along with an inverse correlation with the number of pulses. The MVT can identify the emerging putative new class of long GRBs that are suggested to be produced by compact binary mergers. For otherwise typical long GRBs, the different correlations between MVT and peak luminosity, Lorentz factor, jet opening angle, and number of pulses can be explained within the context of structured, possibly wobbling, weakly magnetised relativistic jets. (summarised)

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Design and test results of different aluminum coating layers on the sCMOS sensors for soft X-ray detection

In recent years, tremendous progress has been made on complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensors for applications as X-ray detectors. To shield the visible light in X-ray detection, a blocking filter of aluminum is commonly employed. We designed three types of aluminum coating layers, which are deposited directly on the surface of back-illuminated sCMOS sensors during fabrication. A commercial 2k * 2k sCMOS sensor is used to realize these designs. In this work, we report their performance by comparison with that of an uncoated sCMOS sensor. The optical transmissions at 660 nm and 850 nm are measured, and the results show that the optical transmission reaches a level of about 10-9 for the 200 nm aluminum layer and about 10-4 for the 100 nm aluminum layer. Light leakage is found around the four sides of the sensor. The readout noise, fixed-pattern noise and energy resolution of these Al-coated sCMOS sensors do not show significant changes. The dark currents of these Al-coated sCMOS sensors show a noticeable increase compared with that of the uncoated sCMOS sensor at room temperatures, while no significant difference is found when the sCMOS sensors are cooled down to about -15 degree. The aluminum coatings show no visible crack after the thermal cycle and aging tests. Based on these results, an aluminum coating of a larger area on larger sCMOS sensors is proposed for future work.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

First wide field-of-view X-ray observations by a lobster eye focusing telescope in orbit

As a novel X-ray focusing technology, lobster eye micro-pore optics (MPO) feature both a wide observing field of view and true imaging capability, promising sky monitoring with significantly improved sensitivity and spatial resolution in soft X-rays. Since first proposed by Angel (1979), the optics have been extensively studied, developed and trialed over the past decades. In this Letter, we report on the first-light results from a flight experiment of the Lobster Eye Imager for Astronomy ($LEIA$), a pathfinder of the wide-field X-ray telescope of the Einstein Probe mission. The piggyback imager, launched in July 2022, has a mostly un-vignetted field of view of $18.6^\circ \times 18.6^\circ $. Its spatial resolution is in the range of 4$-$7 arcmin in FWHM and the focal spot effective area is 2$-$3 cm$^2$, both showing only mild fluctuations across the field of view. We present images of the Galactic center region, Sco X-1 and the diffuse Cygnus Loop nebular taken in snapshot observations over 0.5$-$4 keV. These are truly wide-field X-ray images of celestial bodies observed, for the first time, by a focusing imaging telescope. Initial analyses of the in-flight data show excellent agreement between the observed images and the on-ground calibration and simulations. The instrument and its characterization are briefly described, as well as the flight experiment. The results provide a solid basis for the development of the present and proposed wide-field X-ray missions using lobster eye MPO.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Monte-Carlo simulations on possible collimation effects of outflows to fan-beamed emission of ultraluminous accreting X-ray pulsars

Pulsating ultraluminous X-ray sources (PULXs) are accreting pulsars with apparent X-ray luminosity exceeding $10^{39}\, \rm erg\ s^{-1}$. We perform Monte-Carlo simulations to investigate whether high collimation effect (or strong beaming effect) is dominant in the presence of accretion outflows, for the fan beam emission of the accretion column of the neutron stars in PULXs. We show that the three nearby PULXs (RX J0209.6$-$7427, Swift J0243.6+6124 and SMC X-3), namely the three musketeers here, have their main pulsed emission not strongly collimated even if strong outflows exist. This conclusion can be extended to the current sample of extragalactic PULXs, if accretion outflows are commonly produced from them. This means that the observed high luminosity of PULXs is indeed intrinsic, which can be used to infer the existence of very strong surface magnetic fields of $\sim10^{13-14}$ G, possibly multipole fields. However, if strong outflows are launched from the accretion disks in PULXs as a consequence of disk spherization by radiation pressure, regular dipole magnetic fields of $\sim10^{12}$ G may be required, comparable to that of the three musketeers, which have experienced large luminosity changes from well below their Eddington limit ($2\times10^{38}\, \rm erg\ s^{-1}$ for a NS) to super-Eddington and their maximum luminosity fills the luminosity gap between Galactic pulsars and extragalactic PULXs.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Radio Transients and Variables in the Tenth Deeper, Wider, Faster Observing Run

The Deeper, Wider, Faster (DWF) program coordinates observations with telescopes across the electromagnetic spectrum, searching for transients on timescales of milliseconds to days. The tenth DWF observing run was carried out in near real-time during September 2021 and consisted of six consecutive days of observations of the NGC 6744 galaxy group and a field containing the repeating fast radio burst FRB190711 with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, the Dark Energy Camera, the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope and the Parkes 64m "Murriyang" radio telescope. In this work we present the results of an image-domain search for transient, variable and circularly polarised sources carried out with ASKAP using data from the observing run, along with test observations prior to the run and follow-up observations carried out during and after the run. We identified eight variable radio sources, consisting of one pulsar, six stellar systems (five of which exhibit circularly polarised emission) and one previously uncatalogued source. Of particular interest is the detection of pulses from the ultra-cool dwarf SCR J1845-6357 with a period of $14.2\pm 0.3$ h, in good agreement with the known optical rotation period, making this the slowest rotating radio-loud ultra-cool dwarf discovered.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Wavelet analysis of the transient QPOs in MAXI J1535$-$571 with Insight-HXMT

Using wavelet analysis and power density spectrum, we investigate two transient quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in MAXI J1535$-$571 observed with Insight-HXMT. The transient QPOs have a centroid frequency of $\sim 10$ Hz with a FWHM $\sim 0.6$ Hz and an rms amplitude $\sim 14\%$. Energy spectra of QPO and non-QPO regimes are also separated and analyzed, and the spectra become softer with higher $E_{cut}$ in the non-QPO regime compared to the QPO regime. Our results suggest that the transient QPOs detected in MJD 58016 and 58017 are still the type-C QPO, and the source remains in its HIMS. The duration of all type-C QPO signals based on wavelet is positively correlated with the mean count rate above $\sim 10$ keV, implying appearance of QPOs in different time scales should be coupled with the corona. The transient QPO properties could be related to the jet or flares, perhaps the partial ejection of the corona is responsible for the disappearance of the type-C QPO.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

A fast radio burst source at a complex magnetised site in a barred galaxy

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are highly dispersed millisecond-duration radio bursts. Recent observations of a Galactic FRB suggest that at least some FRBs originate from magnetars, but the origin of cosmological FRBs is still not settled. Here we report the detection of 1863 bursts in 82 hr over 54 days from the repeating source FRB~20201124A. These observations show irregular short-time variation of the Faraday rotation measure (RM), which probes the density-weighted line-of-sight magnetic field strength, of individual bursts during the first 36 days, followed by a constant RM. We detected circular polarisation in more than half of the burst sample, including one burst reaching a high fractional circular polarisation of 75%. Oscillations in fractional linear and circular polarisations as well as polarisation angle as a function of wavelength were detected. All of these features provide evidence for a complicated, dynamically evolving, magnetised immediate environment within about an astronomical unit (au; Earth-Sun distance) of the source. Our optical observations of its Milky-Way-sized, metal-rich host galaxy reveal a barred spiral, with the FRB source residing in a low stellar density, interarm region at an intermediate galactocentric distance. This environment is inconsistent with a young magnetar engine formed during an extreme explosion of a massive star that resulted in a long gamma-ray burst or superluminous supernova.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Detection of a quasi-periodic oscillation at $\sim$40 mHz in Cen X-3 with Insight-HXMT

We investigated the quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) features in the accretion-powered X-ray pulsar Cen X-3 observed by Insight-HXMT. For two observations in 2020 when Cen X-3 was in an extremely soft state, the power density spectrum revealed the presence of obvious QPO features at $\sim$40 mHz with an averaged fractional rms amplitude of $\sim9\%$. We study the mHz QPO frequency and rms amplitude over orbital phases, and find that the QPO frequency is $\sim$33-39 mHz at the orbital phase of 0.1-0.4, increasing to $\sim$37-43 mHz in the orbital phase of 0.4-0.8, but has no strong dependence on X-ray intensity. We also carried out an energy-dependent QPO analysis, the rms amplitude of the mHz QPOs have a decreasing trend as the energy increases from 2 to 20 keV. In addition, the QPO time-lag analysis shows that the time delay is $\sim 20$ ms (a hard lag) in the range of $\sim$5-10 keV, and becomes negative (time lag of $-(20-70)$ ms) above $\sim 10$ keV. The different QPO theoretical models are summarized and discussed. In the end, we suggest that these energy-dependent timing features as well as the origin of mHz QPOs in Cen X-3 may be ascribed to an instability when the accretion disk is truncated near the corotation radius.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Fan beamed X-ray emission from 1 keV to above 130 keV from the ultraluminous X-ray pulsar RX J0209.6-7427 in the Small Magellanic Cloud

We present detailed timing and spectral analyses of the transient X-ray pulsar RX J0209.6$-$7427 in the Small Magellanic Cloud during its 2019 giant outburst. With a better known distance than most galactic X-ray pulsars, its peak luminosity is determined to be $(1.11\pm0.06)\times 10^{39}\, \rm erg\ s^{-1}$; it is thus a {\it bonda fide} pulsating ultraluminous X-ray source (PULX). Owing to the broad energy band of \textit{Insight}-HXMT, its pulsed X-ray emission was detected from 1 keV up to the 130$-$180 keV band, which is the highest energy emission detected from any PULXs outside the Milky Way. This allows us to conclude that its main pulsed X-ray emission is from the "fan beam" of the accretion column, and its luminosity is thus intrinsic. We also estimate its magnetic field of (4.8$-$8.6)$\times10^{12}$ G or (1.7$-$2.2)$\times10^{13}$ G, from its spin evolution or transition in the accretion column structure during the outburst; we suggest that the two values of the magnetic field strength correspond to the dipole and multipole magnetic fields of the neutron star, similar to the recent discovery in the Galactic PULX Swift J0243.6+6124. Therefore, the nature of the neutron star and its ULX emission can be understood within the current theoretical frame of accreting neutron stars. This may have implications for understanding the nature of those farther away extragalactic PULXs.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Timing properties of the X-ray accreting pulsar 1A 0535+262 studied with Insight-HXMT

We report results on the timing analysis of the 2020 giant outburst of 1A 0535+262, using broadband data from Insight-HXMT. The analysis of the pulse profile evolution from the sub-critical luminosity to super-critical luminosity regime is presented for the first time. We found that the observed pulse profile exhibits a complex dependence on both energy and luminosity.A dip structure at the energy of the cyclotron resonant scattering features (CRSFs) is found for the first time in the pulse fraction-energy relation of 1A 0535+262, when the outburst evolves in a luminosity range from 4.8 $\times 10^{37}$ erg s$^{-1}$ to 1.0 $\times 10^{38}$ erg s$^{-1}$. The observed structure is luminosity dependent and appears around the source critical luminosity ($\sim$ 6.7 $\times 10^{37}$ erg s$^{-1}$).

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Transitions and Origin of the Type-B Quasi-Periodic Oscillation in the Black Hole X-ray Binary MAXI~ J1348--630

The fast transitions between different types of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are generally observed in black hole transient sources (BHTs). We present a detailed study on the timing and spectral properties of the transitions of type-B QPOs in MAXI~J1348--630, observed by \emph{Insight}-HXMT. The fractional rms variability--energy relationship and energy spectra reveal that type-B QPOs probably originate from jet precession. Compared to weak power-law dominated power spectrum, when type-B QPO is present, the corresponding energy spectrum shows an increase in Comptonization component and the need for {\tt\string xillverCp} component, and a slight increase of height of the corona when using {\tt\string relxilllp} model. Therefore, we suggest that a coupled inner disk-jet region is responsible for the observed type-B QPOs transitions. The time scale for the appearance/disappearance of type-B QPOs is either long or short (seconds), which may indicate an instability of disk-jet structure. For these phenomena, we give the hypothesis that the Bardeen-Petterson effect causes disk-jet structure to align with BH spin axis, or that the disappearance of small-scale jets bound by the magnetic flux tubes lead to the disappearance of type-B QPOs. We observed three events regarding the B/C transitions, one of which occurred in a short time from $\sim 9.2$ Hz (C) to $\sim 4.8$ Hz (B). The energy spectral analysis for the other two transitions shows that when type-C QPO is present, the Comptonization flux is higher, the spectrum is harder and the inner radius of disk changes insignificantly. We suggest that type-C QPOs probably originate from relatively stronger jets or corona.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Evolution of Accretion Modes between Spectral States Inferred from Spectral and Timing Analysis of Cygnus X-1 with Insight-HXMT observations

We execute a detailed spectral-timing study of Cygnus X-1 in the low/hard, intermediate and high/soft states with the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope observations. The broad band energy spectra fit well with the "truncated disk model" with the inner boundary of the accretion disk stays within $\sim$10 \textit R$_{\rm g}$ and moves inward as the source softens. Through studying of PDS, rms and Fourier-frequency component resolved spectroscopy, we find that the X-ray variations are generated in two different regions for each state. We discover that the major role that contributes to the X-ray variation is the hot corona rather than the accretion disk. We suggest a scenario with different corona geometry for each state based on the truncated disk geometry in which the corona wraps up the disk to form a sandwich geometry in the low/hard state, and then gradually moves away from the disk in direction that is perpendicular to the disk until forming a jet-like geometry in the high/soft state.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

The peculiar spectral evolution of the new X-ray transient MAXI J0637-430

We studied the transient Galactic black hole candidate MAXI J0637-430 with data from Insight-HXMT, Swift and XMM-Newton. The broad-band X-ray observations from Insight-HXMT help us constrain the power-law component. MAXI J0637-430 is located at unusually high Galactic latitude; if it belongs to the Galactic thick disk, we suggest a most likely distance <7 kpc. Compared with other black hole transients, MAXI J0637-430 is also unusual for other reasons: a fast transition to the thermal dominant state at the start of the outburst; a low peak temperature and luminosity (we estimate them at ~ 0.7 keV and <0.1 times Eddington, respectively); a short decline timescale; a low soft-to-hard transition luminosity (<0.01 times Eddington). We argue that such properties are consistent with a small binary separation, short binary period (P ~ 2 hr), and low-mass donor star (M2 ~ 0.2 M_sun). Moreover, spectral modelling shows that a single disk-blackbody component is not a good fit to the thermal emission. Soft spectral residuals, and deviations from the standard L_disk ~ T^4 in relation, suggest the need for a second thermal component. We propose and discuss various scenarios for such component, in addition to those presented in previous studies of this source. For example, a gap in the accretion disk between a hotter inner ring near the innermost stable orbit, and a cooler outer disk. Another possibility is that the second thermal component is the thermal plasma emission from an ionized outflow.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Variations of cyclotron resonant scattering features in Vela X-1 revealed with Insight-HXMT

We present a detailed study of the high mass X-ray binary Vela X-1, using observations performed by Insight-HXMT in 2019 and 2020, concentrating on timing analysis and spectral studies including pulse phase-resolved spectroscopy. The cyclotron line energy is found to be at ~21-27 keV and 43-50 keV for the fundamental and first harmonic, respectively. We present the evolution of spectral parameters and find that two line centroid energy ratio E2/E1 evolved from ~2 before MJD 58900 to ~1.7 after that. The harmonic cyclotron line energy has no relation to the luminosity but the fundamental line energy shows a positive correlation with X-ray luminosity, suggesting that Vela X-1 is located in the sub-critical accreting regime. In addition, the pulse phase-resolved spectroscopy in Vela X-1 is performed. Both the CRSF and continuum parameters show strong variability over the pulse phase with the ratio of two line energies about 2 near the peak phases, and down to ~1.6 around off-peak phases. Long-term significant variations of the absorption column density and its evolution over the pulse phase may imply the existence of the clumpy wind structure near the neutron star.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Wavelet analysis of MAXI J1535-571 with Insight-HXMT

In this paper, wavelet analysis is used to study spectral-timing properties of MAXI J1535-571 observed by Insight-HXMT. The low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are detected in nine observations. Based on wavelet analysis, the time intervals with QPO and non-QPO are isolated separately, and the corresponding spectra with QPO and non-QPO are analyzed. We find that the spectra with QPO (hereafter QPO spectra) are softer than those without QPO (hereafter non-QPO spectra) in the hard intermediate state (HIMS). While in the soft intermediate state (SIMS), the QPO spectra are slightly harder. The disk temperature of QPO regime is slightly lower during HIMS, but becomes higher during SIMS. The cutoff energies of QPO spectra and non-QPO spectra do not show significant differences. The flux ratio of the disk to total flux is higher for the time intervals with non-QPO than that of QPO regime. We propose that these differences in the spectral properties between QPO and non-QPO regimes could be explained in the scenario of Lense-Thirring precession, and the reversal of the QPO/non-QPO behavior between HIMS and SIMS may be associated with appearance/disappearance of a type-B QPO which might origin from the precession of the jet.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

The accretion flow geometry of MAXI J1820+070 through broadband noise research with Insight-HXMT

Here we present a detailed study of the broadband noise in the power density spectra of the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070 during the hard state of its 2018 outburst, using the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT) observations. The broadband noise shows two main humps, which might separately correspond to variability from a variable disk and two Comptonization regions. We fitted the two humps with multiple Lorentzian functions and studied the energy-dependent properties of each component up to 100--150 keV and their evolution with spectral changes. The lowest frequency component is considered as the sub-harmonic of QPO component and shows different energy dependence compared with other broadband noise components. We found that although the fractional rms of all the broadband noise components mainly decrease with energy, their rms spectra are different in shape. Above $\sim$ 20--30 keV, the characteristic frequencies of these components increase sharply with energy, meaning that the high-energy component is more variable on short timescales. Our results suggest that the hot inner flow in MAXI J1820+070 is likely to be inhomogeneous. We propose a geometry with a truncated accretion disk, two Comptonization regions.

astro-ph.HE↗