Name | 014543 |
Title | Companion star reflection during the low-state of Hercules X-1 |
URL | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0145430301 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-cx9u4u9 |
Author | Dr Martin Still |
Description | Compton reflection is an important contributor to the energy budgets of AGN and black hole binaries. However characterizing and quantifying reflection is difficult because it is dominated by the central source of X-rays. RXTE observations of the X-ray binary Her X-1 have revealed a light curve consistent with reflection from the inner facing hemisphere of the companion star during the source.s X-ray low-state (the result of obscuration by an edge-on accretion disk). We request an XMM-Newton observation to confirm this reflection using spectral diagnostics. Stellar masses, binary size, geometry, temperarture, density, composition and the central irradiating spectrum are well-known. This makes Her X-1 a potential calibrator of reflection physics. |
Publication | No observations found associated with the current proposal |
Instrument | EMOS1, EMOS2, EPN, OM, RGS1, RGS2 |
Temporal Coverage | 2004-02-09T02:12:20Z/2004-02-23T05:14:35Z |
Version | 17.56_20190403_1200 |
Mission Description | The European Space Agency's (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESA's second cornerstone of the Horizon 2000 Science Programme. It carries 3 high throughput X-ray telescopes with an unprecedented effective area, and an optical monitor, the first flown on a X-ray observatory. The large collecting area and ability to make long uninterrupted exposures provide highly sensitive observations. Since Earth's atmosphere blocks out all X-rays, only a telescope in space can detect and study celestial X-ray sources. The XMM-Newton mission is helping scientists to solve a number of cosmic mysteries, ranging from the enigmatic black holes to the origins of the Universe itself. Observing time on XMM-Newton is being made available to the scientific community, applying for observational periods on a competitive basis. |
Creator Contact | https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk |
Date Published | 2005-04-25T00:00:00Z |
Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Martin Still, 2005, 014543, 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-cx9u4u9 |