The nature of spectral transitions in accreting black holes - The case of CYG X-1

• Accreting black holes radiate in one of several spectral states, switching from one to another for reasons that are as yet not understood. Using the best-studied example, Cyg X-1, we identify the geometry and physical conditions characterizing these states. In particular, we show that in the hard state most of the accretion energy is dissipated in a corona-like structure which fills the inner few tens of gravitational radii around the black hole and has Compton optical depth of order unity. In this state, an optically thick accretion disk extends out to greater distance, but penetrates only a short way into the coronal region. In the soft state, the optically thick disk moves inward and receives the majority of the dissipated energy, while the ’corona’ becomes optically thin and extends around much of the inner disk. The mass-accretion rate in both states is about 1 x 10 exp -8 solar mass/yr.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

ACCRETION DISKS

BLACK HOLES (ASTRONOMY)

STELLAR SPECTRA

X RAY STARS

MASS TRANSFER

GAMMA RAYS

TRANSITION

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)