Hysteresis of spectral evolution in the soft state of black-hole binary LMC X-3

Abstract

We report the discovery of hysteresis between the x-ray spectrum and luminosity of black-hole binary LMC X-3. Our observations, with the Proportional Counter Array on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, took place entirely within the soft spectral state, dominated by a spectral component that was fitted well with a multicolor disk blackbody. A power-law component was seen only during times when the luminosity of the disk blackbody was declining. The x-ray luminosity at these times was comparable to that seen in transient systems (x-ray novae) when they return to the hard state at the end of an outburst. Our observations may represent partial transitions to the hard state; complete transitions have been seen in this system by Wilms et al. (2001). If they are related to the soft-to-hard transition in transients, then they demonstrate that hysteresis effects can appear without a full state transition. We discuss these observations in the context of earlier observations of hysteresis within the hard state of binaries 1E 1740.7-2942 and GRS 1758-258 and in relation to published explanations of hysteresis in transients.

arXiv comment14 pages, 6 figures, accepted by The Astrophysical Journal

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• Prototyping non-equilibrium viscous-timescale accretion theory using LMC X-3
• The Nature and Cause of Spectral Variability in LMC X-1
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• Accretion-ejection in rotating black holes: a model for `outliers' track of radio-X-ray correlation in X-ray binaries
• Evidence for a change in the radiation mechanism in the hard state of GRO J1655-40. Hysteresis in the broad-band noise components
• X-ray spectral and flux variability of the microquasar GRS 1758-258 on timescales from weeks to years
• X-ray stellar population of the LMC
• Accretion Geometry of Black Hole X-ray Binaries: Insights from X-ray Observations
• Smearing of mass accretion rate variation by viscous processes in accretion disks in compact binary systems
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• Multi-mission view of extragalactic black hole X-ray binaries LMC X-1 and LMC X-3: evolution of broadband spectral features