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arXiv 1101.1802astro-ph.HE
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NGC 4051的快速X射线变异性

The rapid X-ray variability of NGC 4051

S. Vaughan, P. Uttley, K. A. Pounds, K. Nandra, T. E. Strohmayer

摘要:

我们基于2009年进行的一系列XMM-牛顿观测,对NGC 4051的高频X射线变异性(M_BH ~ 1.7*10^6 M_sun)进行了分析,总曝光量约为570 ks(EPIC pn)。这些数据揭示了从10^-4 Hz(低于先前探测到的功率谱突变)到10^-2 Hz(高于围绕黑洞的最内层稳定圆轨道(ISCO)的频率)(nu_ISCO ~ 10^-3 - 10^-2 Hz,取决于黑洞的自旋参数j)的功率谱的形式。这相当于在恒星质量(M_BH ~ 10 Msun)的黑洞双星系统中探测频率>1 kHz。功率谱在预期的ISCO频率区域上是一个无特征的幂律,表明在系统中最快的轨道周期上,可变性没有强烈的增强或变化。尽管观测之间的通量变化幅度很大(峰-峰因子>50),功率谱的形状似乎是固定的,并且在所有观测到的频率下的振幅都遵循先前建立的线性均方根通量关系。均方根-通量关系在通量中被抵消一个小的和能量依赖的量。偏移量的最简单解释是非常软的光谱分量,它实际上是恒定的(与可变性的主要来源相比)。这种发射的一个可能来源是环核激波,它由中心区域的辐射驱动流出物提供能量,并通过中央发动机的光学-紫外连续谱的逆康普顿散射发射(从能谱的单独分析中推断)。与2001年XMM-牛顿长期观测的功率谱相比,功率谱形状或振幅的非平稳性只给出了微弱的证据。[删节]

英文摘要:

We present an analysis of the high frequency X-ray variability of NGC 4051 (M_BH ~ 1.7*10^6 M_sun) based on a series of XMM-Newton observations taken in 2009 with a total exposure of ~570 ks (EPIC pn). These data reveal the form of the power spectrum over frequencies from 10^-4 Hz, below the previously detected power spectral break, to > 10^-2 Hz, above the frequency of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) around the black hole (nu_ISCO ~ 10^-3 - 10^-2 Hz, depending on the black hole spin parameter j). This is equivalent to probing frequencies >1 kHz in a stellar mass (M_BH ~ 10 Msun) black hole binary system. The power spectrum is a featureless power law over the region of the expected ISCO frequency, suggesting no strong enhancement or change in the variability at the fastest orbital period in the system. Despite the huge amplitude of the flux variations between the observations (peak-to-peak factor of >50) the power spectrum appears to be stationary in shape, and varies in amplitude at all observed frequencies following the previously established linear rms-flux relation. The rms-flux relation is offset in flux by a small and energy-dependent amount. The simplest interpretation of the offset is in terms of a very soft spectral component that is practically constant (compared to the primary source of variability). One possible origin for this emission is a circumnuclear shock energised by a radiatively driven outflow from the central regions, and emitting via inverse-Compton scattering of the central engine's optical-UV continuum (as inferred from a separate analysis of the energy spectrum). A comparison with the power spectrum of a long XMM-Newton observation taken in 2001 gives only weak evidence for non-stationarity in power spectral shape or amplitude. [Abridged]

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