arXiv subjects

T. M. Belloni

Publications and source records attributed to T. M. Belloni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Rethinking the 67 Hz QPO in GRS 1915+105: type-C QPOs at the innermost stable circular orbit

Context. The study of Quasi-Periodic Oscillations (QPO) at low and high frequency in the variability of the high-energy emission from black-hole binaries and their physical interpretation in terms of signatures of General Relativity in the strong-field regime. Aims. To understand the nature of the 67 Hz QPOs observed in the X-ray emission of the peculiar black-hole binary GRS 1915+105 within the general classification of QPO and to determine the spin of the black hole in the system by applying the Relativistic Precession Model (RPM). Methods. Within the RPM, the only relativistic frequency that is stable in time over a large range of accretion rates and can be as low as 67 Hz (for a black-hole mass as measured dynamically) is the Lense-Thirring frequency at the Innermost Stable Circular Orbit (ISCO). In the application of the model, this corresponds to type-C QPOs. Under this assumption, it is possible to measure the spin of the black hole. We re-analysed a large number of RossiXTE observations to check whether other timing features confirm this hypothesis. Results. The identification of the 67 Hz QPO as the Lense-Thirring frequency at ISCO yields a value of 0.706 +/- 0.034 for the black hole spin. With this spin, the only two QPO detections at higher frequencies available in the literature are consistent with being orbital frequencies at a radius outside ISCO. The high-frequency bumps often observed at frequencies between 10 and 200 Hz follow the correlation expected for orbital and periastron-precession frequencies at even larger radii.

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arXiv2023

Sub-second infrared variability from the archetypal accreting neutron star 4U~1728-34

We report on the first simultaneous high-time resolution X-ray and infrared (IR) observations of a neutron star low mass X-ray binary in its hard state. We performed $\approx 2\,$h of simultaneous observations of 4U 1728-34 using HAWK-I@VLT, XMM-Newton and NuSTAR. The source displayed significant X-ray and IR variability down to sub-second timescales. By measuring the cross-correlation function between the infrared and X-ray lightcurves, we discovered a significant correlation with an infrared lead of $\approx 30-40\,$ms with respect to the X-rays. We analysed the X-ray energy dependence of the lag, finding a marginal increase towards higher energies. Given the sign of the lag, we interpret this as possible evidence of Comptonization from external seed photons. We discuss the origin of the IR seed photons in terms of cyclo-synchrotron radiation from an extended hot flow. Finally, we also observed the IR counterpart of a type-I X-ray burst, with a delay of $\approx7.2\,$s. Although some additional effects may be at play, by assuming that this lag is due to light travel time between the central object and the companion star, we find that 4U 1728-34 must have an orbital period longer than $3\,$h and an inclination higher than 8$^\circ$.

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arXiv2022

Basics of Fourier Analysis for High-Energy Astronomy

The analysis of time variability, whether fast variations on time scales well below the second or slow changes over years, is becoming more and more important in high-energy astronomy. Many sophisticated tools are available for data analysis and complex practical aspects are described in technical papers. Here, we present the basic concepts upon which all these techniques are based. It is intended as a condensed primer of Fourier analysis, dealing with fundamental aspects that can be examined in detailed elsewhere. It is not intended to be a presentation of detailed Fourier tools for data analysis, but the reader will find the theoretical basis to understand available analysis techniques.

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arXiv2022

The X-ray spectral-timing contribution of the stellar wind in the hard state of Cyg X-1

The clumpy stellar wind from the companion star in high mass X-ray binaries causes variable, partial absorption of the emission from the X-ray source. We studied XMM-Newton observations from the 7.22 d-long "Cyg X-1 Hard state Observations of a Complete Binary Orbit in X-rays" (CHOCBOX) monitoring campaign, in order to constrain the effects of the stellar wind on the short-timescale X-ray spectral-timing properties of the source. We find these properties to change significantly in the presence of the wind. In particular, the longest sampled timescales (corresponding to temporal frequencies of $ν\sim$ 0.1-1 Hz) reveal an enhancement of the fractional variability power, while on the shortest sampled timescales ($ν\sim$ 1-10 Hz) the variability is suppressed. In addition, we observe a reduction (by up to a factor of $\sim$ 1.8) of the otherwise high coherence between soft and hard band light curves, as well as of the amplitude of the hard X-ray lags intrinsic to the X-ray continuum. The observed increase of low frequency variability power can be explained in terms of variations of the wind column density as a consequence of motions of the intervening clumps. In this scenario (and assuming a terminal velocity of $v_{\infty}=2400\ {\rm km\ s^{-1}}$), we obtain an estimate of $l \sim$ 0.5-1.5 $\times 10^{-4} R_{\ast}$ for the average radial size of a clump. On the other hand, we suggest the behaviour at high frequencies to be due to scattering in an optically thicker medium, possibly formed by collision of the stellar wind with the edge of the disc.

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arXiv2021

The inner flow geometry in MAXI J1820+070 during hard and hard-intermediate states

[Abridged] Context: We present a systematic X-ray spectral-timing study of the recently discovered, exceptionally bright black hole X-ray binary system MAXI J1820+070. Our analysis focuses on the first part of the 2018 outburst, covering the rise throughout the hard state, the bright hard and hard-intermediate states, and the transition to the soft-intermediate state. Aims: We address the issue of constraining the geometry of the innermost accretion flow and its evolution throughout an outburst. Methods: We employed two independent X-ray spectral-timing methods applied to the NICER data of MAXI J1820+070. We first identified and tracked the evolution of a characteristic frequency of soft X-ray reverberation lags. Then, we studied the spectral evolution of the quasi-thermal component responsible for the observed thermal reverberation lags. Results: The frequency of thermal reverberation lags steadily increases throughout most of the outburst, implying that the relative distance between the X-ray source and the disc decreases as the source softens. However, near transition this evolution breaks, showing a sudden increase (decrease) of lag amplitude (frequency). The temperature of the quasi-thermal component in covariance spectra consistently increases throughout all the analysed observations. Conclusions: The behaviour of thermal reverberation lags near transition might be related to the relativistic plasma ejections detected at radio wavelengths, suggesting a causal connection between the two phenomena. Throughout most of the hard and hard-intermediate states the disc is consistent with being truncated (with an inner radius $R_{\rm in}>\sim 10 R_{\rm g}$), reaching close to the innermost stable circular orbit only near transition.

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arXiv2021

Broadband variability study of MAXI J1631-479 in its Hard-Intermediate State observed with Insight-HXMT

We report the energy-resolved broadband timing analysis of the black hole X-ray transient MAXI J1631-479 during its 2019 outburst from February 11 to April 9, using data from the Insight-Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT), which caught the source from its hard intermediate state to the soft state. Thanks to the large effective area of Insight-HXMT at high energies, we are able to present the energy dependence of fast variability up to ~100 keV. Type-C quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) with frequency varying between 4.9 Hz and 6.5 Hz are observed in the 1-100 keV energy band. While the QPO fractional rms increases with photon energy from 1 keV to ~10 keV and remains more or less constant from ~10 keV to ~100 keV, the rms of the flat-top noise first increases from 1 keV to ~8 keV then drops to less than 0.1% above ~30 keV. We suggest that the disappearance of the broadband variability above 30 keV could be caused by the non-thermal acceleration in the Comptonizing plasma. At the same time, the QPOs could be produced by the precession of either a small-scale jet or a hot inner flow model.

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arXiv2021

The Varying Kinematics of Multiple Ejecta from the Black Hole X-ray Binary MAXI J1820+070

During a 2018 outburst, the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070 was comprehensively monitored at multiple wavelengths as it underwent a hard to soft state transition. During this transition a rapid evolution in X-ray timing properties and a short-lived radio flare were observed, both of which were linked to the launching of bi-polar, long-lived relativistic ejecta. We provide detailed analysis of two Very Long Baseline Array observations, using both time binning and a new dynamic phase centre tracking technique to mitigate the effects of smearing when observing fast-moving ejecta at high angular resolution. We identify a second, earlier ejection, with a lower proper motion of $18.0\pm1.1$ mas day$^{-1}$. This new jet knot was ejected $4\pm1$ hours before the beginning of the rise of the radio flare, and $2\pm1$ hours before a switch from type-C to type-B X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). We show that this jet was ejected over a period of $\sim6$ hours and thus its ejection was contemporaneous with the QPO transition. Our new technique locates the original, faster ejection in an observation in which it was previously undetected. With this detection we revised the fits to the proper motions of the ejecta and calculated a jet inclination angle of $(64\pm5)^\circ$, and jet velocities of $0.97_{-0.09}^{+0.03}c$ for the fast-moving ejecta ($Γ>2.1$) and $(0.30\pm0.05)c$ for the newly-identified slow-moving ejection ($Γ=1.05\pm0.02$). We show that the approaching slow-moving component is predominantly responsible for the radio flare, and is likely linked to the switch from type-C to type-B QPOs, while no definitive signature of ejection was identified for the fast-moving ejecta.

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arXiv2020

NuSTAR and Parkes observations of the transitional millisecond pulsar binary XSS J12270-4859 in the rotation-powered state

We report on the first NuSTAR observation of the transitional millisecond pulsar binary XSS J12270-4859 during its current rotation-powered state, complemented with a 2.5yr-long radio monitoring at Parkes telescope and archival XMM-Newton and Swift X-ray and optical data. The radio pulsar is mainly detected at 1.4GHz displaying eclipses over about 40% of the 6.91h orbital cycle. We derive a new updated radio ephemeris to study the 3-79keV light curve that displays a significant orbital modulation with fractional amplitude of 28+/-3%, a structured maximum centred at the inferior conjunction of the pulsar and no cycle-to-cycle or low-high-flaring mode variabilities. The average X-ray spectrum, extending up to about 70keV without a spectral break, is well described by a simple power-law with photon index Gamma = 1.17+/-0.08 giving a 3-79keV luminosity of 7.6(-0.8;+3.8)x10**32 erg/s, for a distance of 1.37(-0.15;+0.69)kpc. Energy resolved orbital light curves reveal that the modulation is not energy dependent from 3keV to 25keV and is undetected with an upper limit of about 10% above 25keV. Comparison with previous X-ray XMM-Newton observations in common energy ranges confirms that the modulation amplitudes vary on timescales of a few months, indicative of a non-stationary contribution of the intrabinary shock formed by the colliding winds of the pulsar and the companion. A more detailed inspection of energy resolved modulations than previously reported gives hints of a mild softening at superior conjunction of the pulsar below 3keV, likely due to the contribution of the thermal emission from the neutron star. The intrabinary shock emission, if extending into the MeV range, would be energetically capable alone to irradiate the donor star.

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arXiv2019

Study of the X-ray properties of the neutron-star binary 4U 1728$-$34 from the soft to hard state

We studied five XMM-Newton observations of the neutron-star binary 4U 1728$-$34 covering the hard, intermediate and soft spectral states. By jointly fitting the spectra with several reflection models, we obtained an inclination angle of 25$-$53$°$ and an iron abundance up to 10 times the solar. From the fits with reflection models, we found that the fluxes of the reflection and the Comptonised components vary inconsistently; since the latter is assumed to be the illuminating source, this result possibly indicates the contribution of the neutron star surface/boundary layer to the disc reflection. As the source evolved from the relatively soft to the intermediate state, the disc inner radius decreased, opposite to the prediction of the standard accretion disc model. We also explore the possible reasons why the supersolar iron abundance is required by the data and found that this high value is probably caused by the absence of the hard photons in the XMM-Newton data.

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arXiv2018

The long outburst of the black hole transient GRS 1716-249 observed in the X-ray and radio band

We present the spectral and timing analysis of X-ray observations performed on the Galactic black hole transient GRS 1716-249 during the 2016-2017 outburst. The source was almost continuously observed with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from December 2016 until October 2017. The X-ray hardness ratio and timing evolution indicate that the source approached the soft state three times during the outburst, even though it never reached the canonical soft spectral state. Thus, GRS 1716-249 increases the number of black hole transients showing outbursts with "failed" state transition. During the softening events, XRT and BAT broadband spectral modeling, performed with thermal Comptonization plus a multicolor disc black-body, showed a photon index (Gamma < 2) and an inner disc temperature (kTin = 0.2-0.5 keV) characteristic of the hard intermediate state. This is in agreement with the root mean square amplitude of the flux variability (rms > 10%). We find that, coherently with a scenario in which the disc moves closer to the compact object, the accretion disc inner radius decreases with the increase of the inner disc temperature, until a certain point when the temperature starts to increase at constant radius. This, in addition with the spectral analysis results, suggests that either the accretion disc reached the innermost stable circular orbit during the hard intermediate state or the hot accretion flow might re-condensate in an inner mini-disc. We report on the radio observations performed during the outburst finding that GRS 1716-249 is located on the radio-quiet "outlier" branch of the radio/X-ray luminosity plane.

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arXiv2017

Multi-band study of RX J0838-2827 and XMM J083850.4-282759: a new asynchronous magnetic cataclysmic variable and a candidate transitional millisecond pulsar

In search for the counterpart to the Fermi-LAT source 3FGL J0838.8-2829, we performed a multi-wavelength campaign, in the X-ray band with Swift and XMM-Newton, performed infrared, optical (with OAGH, ESO-NTT and IAC80) and radio (ATCA) observations, as well as analysed archival hard X-ray data taken by INTEGRAL. We report on three X-ray sources consistent with the position of the Fermi-LAT source. We confirm the identification of the brightest object, RX J0838-2827, as a magnetic cataclysmic variable, that we recognize as an asynchronous system (not associated with the Fermi-LAT source). RX J0838-2827, is extremely variable in the X-ray and optical bands, and timing analysis reveals the presence of several periodicities modulating its X-ray and optical emission. The most evident modulations are interpreted as due to the binary system orbital period of ~1.64h and the white dwarf spin period of ~1.47h. A strong flux modulation at ~15h is observed at all energy bands, consistent with the beat frequency between spin and orbital periods. Optical spectra show prominent Hbeta, HeI and HeII emission lines Doppler-modulated at the orbital period and at the beat period. Therefore, RX J0838-2827, accretes through a diskless configuration and could be either a strongly asynchronous polar or a rare example of a pre-polar system in its way to reach synchronism. Among the other two X-ray sources, XMM J083850.4-282759 showed a variable X-ray emission, with a powerful flare lasting ~600s, similar to what is observed in transitional millisecond pulsars during the sub-luminous disc state: that would possibly associate this source with the Fermi-LAT source.

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arXiv2017

The reflection spectrum of the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53

We present 3-79 keV NuSTAR observations of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53 in the soft, transitional and hard state. The spectra display a broad emission line at 5-10 keV. We applied several models to fit this line: A GAUSSIAN line, a relativistically broadened emission line model, KYRLINE, and two models including relativistically smeared and ionized reflection off the accretion disc with different coronal heights, RELXILL and RELXILLLP. All models fit the spectra well, however, the KYRLINE and RELXILL models yield an inclination of the accretion disc of $\sim88\degree$ with respect to the line of sight, which is at odds with the fact that this source shows no dips or eclipses. The RELXILLLP model, on the other hand, gives a reasonable inclination of $\sim56\degree$. We discuss our results for these models in this source and the possible primary source of the hard X-rays.

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arXiv2016

Dark jets in the soft X-ray state of black hole binaries?

X-ray binary observations led to the interpretation that powerful compact jets, produced in the hard state, are quenched when the source transitions to its soft state. The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibility that a powerful dark jet is still present in the soft state. Using the black hole X-ray binaries GX339-4 and H1743-322 as test cases, we feed observed X-ray power density spectra in the soft state of these two sources to an internal shock jet model. Remarkably, the predicted radio emission is consistent with current upper-limits. Our results show that, for these two sources, a compact dark jet could persist in the soft state with no major modification of its kinetic power compared to the hard state.

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arXiv2016

Multiwavelength variability study and search for periodicity of PKS 1510-089

Blazars are the most luminous and variable AGNs, and thus excellent probes of accretion and emission processes close to the central engine. We focus on PKS 1510-089 ($z=0.36$), one of the brightest gamma-ray sources in the Fermi LAT catalog, to study its complex multi-wavelength variability. PKS 1510-089 was observed twice in hard X-rays with the IBIS instrument onboard INTEGRAL during the flares of Jan 2009 and Jan 2010, and simultaneously with Swift and NOT, in addition to the constant Fermi monitoring. The optical polarization was measured in several bands on 18 Jan 2010 at the NOT. Using our and archival data we constructed historical light curves at gamma-to-radio wavelengths covering nearly 20 years and applied variability tests. We assembled SEDs in 2009 and 2010 and compared them with those at two previous epochs and with a model based on synchrotron and inverse Compton (IC) radiation. The SED modeling suggests that the physical quantities that undergo the largest variations are the total power injected into the emitting region and the random Lorentz factor of the electron distribution cooling break, that are higher in the higher gamma-ray states. This suggests a correlation of the injected power with enhanced activity of the acceleration mechanism. The cooling likely takes place at a much smaller distance ($\sim$0.03 pc) than the BLR radius. The emission at a few hundred GeV can be reproduced with IC scattering of highly relativistic electrons off FIR photons at $\sim$0.2 pc, presumably in a dusty torus. DCF analysis between the long-term optical and gamma-ray light curves yields a good correlation with no measurable delay. Our time analysis of the RXTE PCA and Fermi LAT light curves reveals no obvious (quasi-)periodicities, up to the maximum time scale (a few years) probed by the light curves, which are severely affected by red noise.

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arXiv2016

Inclination dependence of QPO phase lags in black hole X-ray binaries

Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) with frequencies from $\sim0.05$-$30$ Hz are a common feature in the X-ray emission of accreting black hole binaries. As the QPOs originate from the innermost accretion flow, they provide the opportunity to probe the behaviour of matter in extreme gravity. In this paper, we present a systematic analysis of the inclination dependence of phase lags associated with both Type-B and Type-C QPOs in a sample of 15 Galactic black hole binaries. We find that the phase lag at the Type-C QPO frequency strongly depends on inclination, both in evolution with QPO frequency and sign. Although we find that the Type-B QPO soft lags are associated with high inclination sources, the source sample is too small to confirm this as a significant inclination dependence. These results are consistent with a geometrical origin of Type-C QPOs and a different origin for Type-B and Type-C QPOs. We discuss the possibility that the phase lags originate from a pivoting spectral power law during each QPO cycle, while the inclination dependence arises from differences in dominant relativistic effects. We also search for energy dependences in the Type-C QPO frequency. We confirm this effect in the three known sources (GRS 1915+105, H1743-322 and XTE J1550-564) and newly detect it in XTE J1859+226. Lastly, our results indicate that the unknown inclination sources XTE J1859+226 and MAXI J1543-564 are most consistent with a high inclination.

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arXiv2016

Transient Black Hole Binaries

The last two decades have seen a great improvement in our understand- ing of the complex phenomenology observed in transient black-hole binary systems, especially thanks to the activity of the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer satellite, com- plemented by observations from many other X-ray observatories and ground-based radio, optical and infrared facilities. Accretion alone cannot describe accurately the intricate behavior associated with black-hole transients and it is now clear that the role played by different kinds of (often massive) outflows seen at different phases of the outburst evolution of these systems is as fundamental as the one played by the accretion process itself. The spectral-timing states originally identified in the X-rays and fundamentally based on the observed effect of accretion, have acquired new importance as they now allow to describe within a coherent picture the phenomenology observed at other wave- length, where the effects of ejection processes are most evident. With a particular focus on the phenomenology seen in the X-ray band, we review the current state-of-the-art of our knowledge of black hole transients, describing the accretion-ejection connection at play during outbursts through the evolution of the observed spectral-timing properties. Although we mainly concentrate on the ob- servational aspects of the global X-ray transient picture, we also provide physical insight to it by reviewing (when available) the theoretical explanations and models proposed to explain the observed phenomenology.

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arXiv2015

Spectral and timing evolution of the bright failed outburst of the transient black hole Swift J174510.8-262411

We studied time variability and spectral evolution of the Galactic black hole transient Swift J174510.8-262411 during the first phase of its outburst. INTEGRAL and Swift observations collected from 2012 September 16 until October 30 have been used. The total squared fractional rms values did not drop below 5% and QPOs, when present, were type-C, indicating that the source never made the transition to the soft-intermediate state. Even though the source was very bright (up to 1 Crab in hard X-rays), it showed a so called failed outburst as it never reached the soft state. XRT and IBIS broad band spectra, well represented by a hybrid thermal/non-thermalComptonisationmodel, showed physical parameters characteristic of the hard and intermediate states. In particular, the derived temperature of the geometrically thin disc black body was about 0.6 keV at maximum.We found a clear decline of the optical depth of the corona electrons (close to values of 0.1), as well as of the total compactness ratio lh/ls. The hard-to-hard/intermediate state spectral transition is mainly driven by the increase in the soft photon flux in the corona, rather than small variations of the electron heating. This, associated with the increasing of the disc temperature, is consistent with a disc moving towards the compact object scenario, i.e. the truncated-disc model. Moreover, this scenario is consistent with the decreasing fractional squared rms and increasing of the noise and QPO frequency. In our final group of observations, we found that the contribution from the non-thermal Comptonisation to the total power supplied to the plasma is 0.59+0.02/-0.05 and that the thermal electrons cool to kTe<26 keV.

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arXiv2015

X-ray coherent pulsations during a sub-luminous accretion disk state of the transitional millisecond pulsar XSS J12270-4859

We present the first detection of X-ray coherent pulsations from the transitional millisecond pulsar XSS J12270-4859, while it was in a sub-luminous accretion disk state characterized by a 0.5-10 keV luminosity of 5E33 erg/s (assuming a distance of 1.4 kpc). Pulsations were observed by XMM-Newton at an rms amplitude of (7.7 +/- 0.5)% with a second harmonic stronger than the the fundamental frequency, and were detected when the source is neither flaring nor dipping. The most likely interpretation of this detection is that matter from the accretion disk was channelled by the neutron star magnetosphere and accreted onto its polar caps. According to standard disk accretion theory, for pulsations to be observed the mass in-flow rate in the disk was likely larger than the amount of plasma actually reaching the neutron star surface; an outflow launched by the fast rotating magnetosphere then probably took place, in agreement with the observed broad-band spectral energy distribution. We also report about the non-detection of X-ray pulsations during a recent observation performed while the source behaved as a rotationally-powered radio pulsar.

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