| Proposal ID | 014543 |
| Title | Companion star reflection during the low-state of Hercules X-1 |
| Download Data Associated to the proposal | https://nxsa.esac.esa.int/nxsa-sl/servlet/data-action-aio?obsno=0145430301 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-cx9u4u9 |
| Principal Investigator, PI | Dr Martin Still |
| Abstract | Compton reflection is an important contributor to the energy budgets of AGN andblack hole binaries. However characterizing and quantifying reflection isdifficult because it is dominated by the central source of X-rays. RXTEobservations of the X-ray binary Her X-1 have revealed a light curve consistentwith reflection from the inner facing hemisphere of the companion star duringthe sources X-ray low-state (the result of obscuration by an edge-on accretiondisk). We request an XMM-Newton observation to confirm this reflection usingspectral diagnostics. Stellar masses, binary size, geometry, temperarture,density, composition and the central irradiating spectrum are well-known. Thismakes Her X-1 a potential calibrator of reflection physics. |
| Publications |
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| 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 Agencys (ESA) X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) was launched by an Ariane 504 on December 10th 1999. XMM-Newton is ESAs 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 Earths 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 |
| Last Update | 2025-01-27 |
| Keywords | "spectral diagnostics", "binary size", "xmm newton", "quantifying reflection", "central irradiating spectrum", "companion star", "light curve", "xray binary", "blackhole binary", "companion star reflection", "energy budgets", "xray low", "inner facing hemisphere", "accretion disk", "stellar masses", "reflection physics", "XMM-Newton", "central source", "compton reflection", "hercules x", "XMM" |
| Publisher And Registrant | European Space Agency |
| Credit Guidelines | European Space Agency, Dr Martin Still, 2005, 'Companion star reflection during the low-state of Hercules X-1', 17.56_20190403_1200, European Space Agency, https://doi.org/10.5270/esa-cx9u4u9 |