Spectral variability in Cygnus X-3
arXiv:0810.1685 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.14036.x
Abstract
We model the broad-band X-ray spectrum of Cyg X-3 in all states displayed by this source as observed by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. From our models, we derive for the first time unabsorbed spectral shapes and luminosities for the full range of spectral states. We interpret the unabsorbed spectra in terms of Comptonization by a hybrid electron distribution and strong Compton reflection. We study the spectral evolution and compare with other black hole as well as neutron star sources. We show that a neutron star accretor is not consistent with the spectral evolution as a function of Ledd and especially not with the transition to a hard state. Our results point to the compact object in Cyg X-3 being a massive, ~30 Msun black hole.
14 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS
References in corpus (8)
- Modelling the behaviour of accretion flows in X-ray binaries
- On IC 10 X-1, the Most Massive Known Stellar-Mass Black Hole
- The Orbital Period of the Wolf-Rayet Binary IC 10 X-1; Dynamic Evidence that the Compact Object is a Black Hole
- Analysing the atolls: X-ray spectral transitions of accreting neutron stars
- Effects of the stellar wind on X-ray spectra of Cygnus X-3
- The nature of the hard state of Cygnus X-3
- A 33 hour period for the Wolf-Rayet/black hole X-ray binary candidate NGC 300 X-1
- A Wolf-Rayet/black-hole X-ray binary candidate in NGC 300