We present the detection of type C quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) along with upper harmonic at respective frequencies of $\sim0.6$ Hz and $\sim1.2$ Hz in the single AstroSat observation taken during the 2016 outburst of the low-mass black hole X-ray binary H~1743--322. These frequencies are found to be shifted by $\sim0.4$ Hz for the QPO and $\sim0.8$ Hz for the upper harmonic with respect to that found in the simultaneous \textit{XMM-Newton} and \textit{NuSTAR} observation taken five days later than the AstroSat observation, indicating a certain geometrical change in the system. However, the centroid frequency of the QPO and the upper harmonic do not change with energy, indicating the energy-independent nature. The decreasing trend in the fractional rms of the QPO with energy is consistent with the previous results for this source in the low/hard state. The value of the photon index ($Γ\sim1.67$) also indicates that the source was in the low/hard state during this particular observation. In addition, similar to the \textit{XMM-Newton} observations during the same outburst, we find a hard lag of $\sim21$ ms in the frequency range of $\sim1-5$ Hz. The log-linear trend between the averaged time lag and energy indicates the propagation of fluctuations in the mass accretion rate from outer part of the accretion disk to the inner hot regions.
We present an in-depth spectral and timing analysis of the Black Hole binary 4U 1630-472 during 2016 and 2018 outbursts as observed by \textit{AstroSat} and \textit{MAXI}. The extensive coverage of the outbursts with \textit{MAXI} is used to obtain the Hardness Intensity Diagram (HID). The source follows a `c'-shaped profile in agreement with earlier findings. Based on the HIDs of previous outbursts, we attempt to track the evolution of the source during a `super'-outburst and `mini'-outbursts. We model the broadband energy spectra ($0.7-20.0$ keV) of \textit{AstroSat} observations of both out…
NGC1566 is a changing-look active galaxy that exhibited an outburst during 2017-2018 with a peak in June 2018. We triggered AstroSat observations of NGC 1566 twice in August and October 2018 during its declining phase. Using the AstroSat observations along-with two XMM-Newton observations in 2015 (pre-outburst) and June 2018 (peak-outburst), we found that the X-ray power-law, the soft X-ray excess, and the disk components showed extreme variability during the outburst. Especially, the soft excess was negligible in 2015 before the outburst, it increased to a maximum level by a factor of $>200$ …
We present results from timing and spectral analysis of the HMXB X-ray pulsar IGR J19294+1816 observed using \asr during its recent Type-I outburst in October, 2019. AstroSat observations sampled the outburst at the decline phase right after the outburst peak. We carried out timing analysis on the light curves obtained using the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) instrument on board AstroSat and measured a spin period of 12.485065$\pm$0.000015 s. The peak in the power density spectrum (PDS) corresponding to the spin period of 12.48 s also shows a broadened base. We also detected a Q…
The Be X-ray Binary 4U 0115+63 was observed by Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) instrument on AstroSat on 2015 October 24 during the peak of a giant Type II outburst. Prominent intensity oscillations at ~ 1 and ~ 2 mHz frequency were detected during the outburst. Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) observations made during the same outburst also show mHz quasi periodic oscillations (QPOs). Details of the oscillations and their characteristics deduced from LAXPC/AstroSat and NuSTAR observations are reported in this paper. Analysis of the archival Rossi X-ray Timing Explo…
We present results from AstroSat observation of the recent outburst of GRO J2058+42, an X-ray pulsar in a Be-binary system. The source was observed on April 10, 2019 by LAXPC and SXT instruments on AstroSat during its declining phase of the latest giant outburst. Light curves showed a strong pulsation of the pulsar with a period of 194.2201 \pm 0.0016 s, and a spin-up rate of (1.65\pm0.06)\times10^{-11} Hz s^{-1}. Intermittent flaring was detected in light curves between 3--80 keV energy band with increase in intensity by up to 1.8 times its average intensity. Pulse profiles obtained between 3…
We report on the analysis of the AstroSat dataset of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658, obtained during its 2019 outburst. We found coherent pulsations at $\sim 401$ Hz and an orbital solution consistent with previous studies. The 3-20 keV pulse profile can be well fitted with three harmonically related sinusoidal components with background-corrected fractional amplitude of $\sim 3.5 \%$, $\sim 1.2 \%$ and $\sim 0.37 \%$ for fundamental, second and third harmonic, respectively. Our energy-resolved pulse profile evolution study indicate a strong energy dependence. We also …
We present the timing and spectral studies of the Be/X-ray binary XTE J1946+274 during its 2018 and 2021 giant outbursts using observations with the SXT and the LAXPC instruments on the AstroSat satellite. Unlike the 1998 and 2010 outbursts, where a giant outburst was followed by several low intensity periodic outbursts, the 2018 and 2021 outbursts were single outbursts. The X-ray pulsations are detected over a broad energy band covering 0.5-80 keV from the compact object. We construct the spin evolution history of the pulsar over two decades and find that the pulsar spins-up during the outbur…
We present the timing and spectral studies of RX J0209.6-7427 during its rare 2019 outburst using observations with the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) and Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) instruments on the AstroSat satellite. Pulsations having a periodicity of 9.29 s were detected for the first time by the NICER mission in the 0.2-10 keV energy band and, as reported here, by AstroSat over a broad energy band covering 0.3-80 keV. The pulsar exhibits a rapid spin-up during the outburst. Energy resolved folded pulse profiles are generated in several energy bands in 3-80 keV. To the best…
We present the observational results from a detailed timing analysis of the black hole candidate Swift J1658.2-4242 during its 2018 outburst with the observations of Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT), Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) and AstroSat in 0.1-250keV. The evolution of intensity, hardness and integrated fractional root mean square (rms) observed by Insight-HXMT and NICER are presented in this paper. Type-C quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed by NICER (0.8-3.5Hz) and Insight-HXMT (1-1.6Hz) are also reported in this work. The features of the QPOs a…
The newly discovered galactic black hole candidate (BHC) MAXI~J1348-630 showed two major outbursts in 2019, just after its discovery. Here, we provide a detailed spectral and temporal analysis of the less-studied second outburst using archive data from multiple satellites, namely Swift, MAXI, NICER, NuSTAR and AstroSat. The outburst continued for around two and a half months. Unlike the first outburst from this source, this second outburst was a `failed' one. The source did not transition to soft or intermediate spectral states. During the entire outburst, the source was in the hard state with…
Two long AstroSat Soft X-ray Telescope observations were taken of the third recorded outburst of the Symbiotic Recurrent Nova, V3890 Sgr. The first observing run, 8.1-9.9 days after the outburst, initially showed a stable intensity level with a hard X-ray spectrum that we attribute to shocks between the nova ejecta and the pre-existing stellar companion. On day 8.57, the first, weak, signs appeared of Super Soft Source (SSS) emission powered by residual burning on the surface of the White Dwarf. The SSS emission was observed to be highly variable on time scales of hours. After day 8.9, the SSS…
We present a comprehensive spectral and temporal study of the black hole X-ray transient MAXI J1820+070 during its outbursts in 2018 using Swift/XRT, NICER, NuSTAR and AstroSat observations. The Swift/XRT and NICER spectral study shows a plateau in the light curve with spectral softening (hardness changes from $\sim$ $2.5$ to $2$) followed by a gradual decline without spectral softening during the first outburst. Also, spectral modelling suggests that the first outburst is in the low/hard state throughout with a truncated disk whereas the thermal disk emission dominates during the second outbu…
In $2016-17$, the Galactic transient black hole candidate GRS 1716-249 exhibited an outburst event after a long period of quiescence of almost 23 years. The source remained in the outbursting phase for $\sim 9$ months. We study the spectral and temporal properties of the source during this outburst using archival data from four astronomy satellites, namely MAXI, Swift, NuSTAR and AstroSat. Initial spectral analysis is done using combined disk black body and power-law models. For a better understanding of the accretion flow properties, we studied spectra with the physical two component advectiv…
We present timing and spectral results of 2018 outburst of Cepheus X-4, observed twice by AstroSat at luminosity of $2.04 \times 10^{37}$ erg s$^{-1}$ and $1.02 \times 10^{37}$ erg s$^{-1}$ respectively. The light curves showed strong pulsation and co-related X-ray intensity variation in SXT (0.5--8.0 keV) and LAXPC (3--60 keV) energy bands. Spin-period and spin-down rate of the pulsar were determined from two observations as $65.35080\pm0.00014$ s , $(-2.10\pm0.8)\times10^{-12}$ Hz s$^{-1}$ at an epoch MJD 58301.61850 and $65.35290\pm0.00017$ s, $(-1.6\pm0.8)\times10^{-12}$ Hz s$^{-1}$ for an…
Broadband Timing and Spectral Study of Accreting Millisecond X-ray Pulsar SAX J1808.4$-$3658 during Its 2022 Outburst
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)（大学间天文学与天体物理学中心）；Universitá degli Studi di Cagliari（卡利亚里大学）；Department of Applied Sciences, UPES（印度石油大学应用科学系）
The Large Area Proportional Counter (LAXPC) instruments onboard the AstroSat Observatory has observed the X-ray binary system Her X-1 during AstroSat observing sessions AO2, AO3 and TO2. These include observations while Her X-1 is in different stages of its 35 day cycle: Low State, Turn-on to Main High State, peak of Main High State and early decline of Main High State. These observations also include a number of dips and one egress of neutron star eclipse. Here we present light curves and softness ratio analysis for these observations and discuss new features of the spectral changes with 35-d…
We present broadband X-ray spectral-timing analysis of the new Galactic X-ray transient MAXI~J1348--630 using five simultaneous {\it AstroSat} and {\it NICER} observations. Spectral analysis using {\it AstroSat} data identify the source to be in the soft state for the first three observations and in a faint and bright hard state for the next two. Quasi-periodic oscillations at $\sim 0.9$ and $\sim 6.9$\,Hz, belonging to the type-C and type-A class are detected. In the soft state, the power density spectra are substantially lower (by a factor $> 5$) for the {\it NICER} (0.5--12 keV) band compar…
Galactic transient black hole candidate (BHC) MAXI J1535-571 was discovered on 2017 September 02 simultaneously by {\it MAXI}/GSC and {\it Swift}/BAT instruments. It has also been observed by India's first multi-wavelength astronomy-mission satellite {\it AstroSat}, during the rising phase of its 2017-18 outburst. We make both the spectral and the temporal analysis of the source during 2017 September 12-17 using data of {\it AstroSat}'s Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) in the energy range of $3-40$~keV to infer the accretion flow properties of the source. Spectral analysis is done…
This work presents timing and spectral analysis of 4U 2206+54 using data obtained from LAXPC instrument onboard India's AstroSat mission. This source was observed with AstroSat in September 2016 and October 2016. We report detection of $5648 (4)$ s pulsations at MJD 57669 in the latter observation of 4U 2206+54. The pulse profile is sinusoidal and the inherent shape is independent of energy up to 30 keV. The pulse fraction increases with energy from $\sim 0.5$% to $\sim 0.8$%. We report an updated spin down rate of $2.95 (14) \times 10^{-7}$ s s$^{-1}$. This is about 0.40 times smaller than th…
SwiftJ0243.6+6124, the first Galactic ultra-luminous X-ray pulsar, was observed during its 2017-2018 outburst with \emph{AstroSat} at both sub- and super-Eddington levels of accretionwith X-ray luminosities of $L_{X}{\sim}7{\times}10^{37}$ and $6{\times}10^{38}$$ergs^{-1}$, respectively.Our broadband timing and spectral observations show that X-ray pulsations at ${\sim}9.85\rm{s}$ have been detected up to 150keV when the source was accreting at the super-Eddington level.The pulse profiles are a strong function of both energy and source luminosity,showing a double-peaked profile with pulse frac…
We analyse the aperiodic flaring features, also known as shots, observed in Cyg X-1 in the 0.1-80 keV energy band using a 6.39 ks simultaneous observation with AstroSat and NICER. We detect 49 simultaneous shots in the soft and hard X-ray bands with NICER and AstroSat-LAXPC, respectively. We observe the shot profile for the first time in soft X-rays (0.1-3 keV), which shows a spectral peak at $\sim$2 keV. Using time-averaged spectroscopy, we measured the truncation of the inner accretion disk at $6.7\pm0.2$ gravitational radii. The shot-phase resolved spectroscopy allowed us to identify the or…
Probing accretion dynamics and spin evolution in the X-ray pulsar RX J0520.5-6932 during its 2024 Outburst
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)（大学间天文学与天体物理学中心）；Raman Research Institute（拉曼研究所）；Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali（印度科学教育与研究学院穆扎法尔纳加尔分校）；School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Southampton（南安普顿大学物理与天文学院）；Indian Institute of Astrophysics（印度天体物理研究所）；Universitá degli Studi di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Fisica（卡利亚里大学物理系）；Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik（马克斯·普朗克地外物理研究所）；National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院国家天文台）；School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院大学天文与空间科学学院）
We present broadband X-ray spectral analysis of the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1348--630, performed using five AstroSat observations. The source was in the soft spectral state for the first three and in the hard state for the last two observations. The three soft state spectra were modelled using a relativistic thin accretion disc with reflection features and thermal Comptonization. Joint fitting of the soft state spectra constrained the spin parameter of the black hole $a_*$ $>$ 0.97 and the disc inclination angle $i$ = 32.9$\substack{+4.1 \\ -0.6}$ degrees. The bright and faint hard state…
We report the results of AstroSat and NuSTAR observations of the Be/X-ray binary pulsar SXP 15.3 in the Small Magellanic Cloud during its outburst in late 2017, when the source reached a luminosity level of ~ 10^{38} erg s^{-1}, close to the Eddington limit. The unprecedented broadband coverage of the source allowed us to perform timing and spectral analysis between 3 and 80 keV. The pulse profile exhibits a significant energy dependence, and morphs from a double peaked profile to a single broad pulse at energies >15 keV. This can be explained by a spectral hardening during an intensity dip se…
ASTROSAT is an astronomy satellite designed for simultaneous multi-wavelength studies in the Optical/UV and a broad X-ray energy range. With four X-ray instruments and a pair of UV-Optical telescopes, ASTROSAT will provide unprecendented opportunity for simultaneous multi-wavelength observations, which is of immense value in study of highly variable sources, especially X-ray binaries and Active Galactic Nuclei. The Large Area X-ray Proportional Counters (LAXPC) of ASTROSAT, which has the largest effective area in the hard X-ray band compared to all previous X-ray missions, will enable high tim…
In this paper, we employ Machine Learning algorithms on multi-mission observations for the classification of accretion states of outbursting Black hole X-ray binaries for the first time. Archival data from RXTE, Swift, MAXI and AstroSat observatories are used to generate the hardness intensity diagrams (HIDs) for outbursts of the sources XTE J1859+226 (1999 outburst), GX 339-4 (2002, 2004, 2007 and 2010 outbursts), IGR J17091-3624 (2016 outburst), and MAXI J1535-571 (2017 outburst). Based on variation of X-ray flux, hardness ratios, presence of various types of Quasi-periodic Oscillations (QPO…
We present the spectro-timing analysis of the black hole binary system GX 339-4 using AstroSat data extracted at the beginning of outbursts in 2017 and 2019. The joint spectral fitting of LAXPC and SXT data revealed that the source was in a faint low/hard state for both 2017 and 2019 observations with a nearly equal photon index of $\sim$1.57 and $\sim$1.58 and with Eddington ratio, $L/L_{Edd}$, of 0.0011 and 0.0046 respectively. The addition of a reflection component into the spectral modelling improved the fit ($Δχ^2$ $\approx~6$ for 2017 and $Δχ^2$ $\approx~7$ for 2019), pointing towards th…
We present a comprehensive multi-frequency study of the HBL 1ES 1959+650 using data from various facilities during the period 2016-2017, including X-ray data from {\it AstroSat} and {\it Swift} during the historically high X-ray flux state of the source observed until February 2021. The unprecedented quality of X-ray data from high cadence monitoring with the {\it AstroSat} during 2016-2017 enables us to establish a detailed description of X-ray flares in 1ES 1959+650. The synchrotron peak shifts significantly between different flux states, in a manner consistent with a geometric (changing Dop…
We report results obtained from the optical and X-ray studies of the Be/X-ray binary 1A 0535+262/HD 245770 during the 2020 October giant X-ray outburst, using the 1.2 m telescope at Mount Abu Infrared observatory and AstroSat, respectively. The peak flux of the outburst was recorded to be around 11 Crab in the 15-50 keV range, the highest ever observed from the pulsar. We performed optical observations in the 6000-7200 angstroms band before, during, and after the outburst to investigate the evolution of the circumstellar disc of the Be star between 2020 February and 2022 February. Our optical …
We present results from an observation of the Low Mass X-ray Binary 4U 1636-536 obtained with the LAXPC instrument aboard AstroSat. The observations of 4U 1636-536 made during the performance verification phase of AstroSat showed seven thermonuclear X-ray bursts in a total exposure of ~ 65 ks over a period of about two consecutive days. Moreover, the light curve of 4U 1636-536 revealed the presence of a rare triplet of X-ray bursts, having a wait time of about 5.5 minutes between second and the third bursts. We also present results from time-resolved spectroscopy performed during these seven X…
We present the results from the multi-wavelength monitoring observations of the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 335 with AstroSat. We analysed both the X-ray (SXT & LAXPC) and UV (UVIT) data of the source at two epochs, separated by ~18 days. The source was in a low flux state during the observations, and the X-ray spectra were found to be harder than usual. The presence of soft X-ray excess was identified in the observations, and the broadband X-ray continuum was modelled with power-law and blackbody (modified by intrinsic absorption) and a distant neutral reflection component. We did not fi…
We study accretion disk-corona connection in Seyfert 1 galaxies using simultaneous UV/X-ray observations of NGC 4593 (July 14-18, 2016) and NGC 7469 (October 15-19, 2017) performed with AstroSat. We use the X-ray (0.5-7.0 keV) data acquired with the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) and the UV (FUV: 130-180 nm, NUV: 200-300 nm) data obtained with the Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT). We also use the contemporaneous Swift observations of NGC 4593 and demonstrate AstroSat's capability for X-ray/UV correlation studies. We performed UV/X-ray cross-correlation analysis using the Interpolated and the …
We study the spectral and temporal properties of MAXI J0637-430 during its 2019-2020 outburst using \textit{NICER}, \textit{AstroSat} and \textit{Swift-XRT} data. The source was in a disc dominant state within a day of its detection and traces out a `c' shaped profile in the HID, similar to the `mini'-outbursts of the recurrent BHB 4U 1630-472. Energy spectrum is obtained in the $0.5-10$ keV band with \textit{NICER} and \textit{Swift-XRT}, and $0.5-25$ keV with \textit{AstroSat}. The spectra can be modelled using a multicolour disc emission (\textit{diskbb}) convolved with a thermal Comptonisa…
We present the results of Target of Opportunity (ToO) observations made with AstroSat of the newly discovered black hole binary MAXI J1535-571. We detect prominent C-type Quasi-periodic Oscillations (QPOs) of frequencies varying from 1.85 Hz to 2.88 Hz, along with distinct harmonics in all the AstroSat observations. We note that while the fundamental QPO is seen in the 3 - 50 keV energy band, the harmonic is not significant above ~ 35 keV. The AstroSat observations were made in the hard intermediate state, as seen from state transitions observed by MAXI and Swift. We attempt spectral modelling…
We present a study of far and near-ultraviolet emission from the accretion disk in a powerful Seyfert 1 galaxy IC4329A using observations performed with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard AstroSat. These data provide the highest spatial resolution and deepest images of IC4329A in the far and near UV bands acquired to date. The excellent spatial resolution of the UVIT data has allowed us to accurately separate the extended emission from the host galaxy and the AGN emission in the far and near UV bands. We derive the intrinsic AGN flux after correcting for the Galactic and internal…
We present the results obtained from broadband X-ray timing and spectral analysis of black hole candidate MAXI J1803-298 using an AstroSat observation on May 11-12, 2021. Four periodic absorption dips with a periodicity of $7.02 \pm 0.18$ hour are detected in the light curve. AstroSat observe the source when it was undergoing a transition from hard-intermediate state to soft-intermediate state. Our timing analysis reveals the presence of a sharp type-C quasi periodic oscillation (QPO) in the power density spectra (PDS) with an evolving QPO frequency ranging from $5.31 \pm 0.02$ Hz to $7.61\pm …
We report the results of the analysis of an AstroSat observation of the Black Hole candidate MAXI J1535-571 during its Hard Intermediate state. We studied the evolution of the spectral and timing parameters of the source during the observation. The observation covered a period of $\sim$5 days and consisted of 66 continuous segments, corresponding to individual spacecraft orbits. Each segment was analysed independently. The source count rate increased roughly linearly by $\sim$30 %. We modelled the spectra as a combination of radiation from a thermal disk component and a power-law. The timing a…
We present here the results of the first broadband simultaneous spectral and temporal studies of the newly detected black hole binary MAXI J1820+070 as seen by SXT and LAXPC on-board AstroSat.The observed combined spectra in the energy range 0.7-80 keV were well modeled using disk black-body emission, thermal Comptonization and a reflection component. The spectral analysis revealed that the source was in its hard spectral state (Gamma=1.61) with a cool disk (kTin=0.22 keV). We report the energy dependent time-lag and root mean squared (rms) variability at different frequencies in the energy ra…
