X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations in Lense-Thirring precession model -- II. variability of relativistic iron K$\alpha$ line

Abstract

Reprocessing of primary X-ray emission in the accretion disk of black hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs) produces the reflection spectrum, with the characteristic Fe K$\alpha$ fluorescence line. Strong low frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are observed from BHXRBs, and the dependence of QPO properties (e.g., phase-lag) on the inclination angle suggests that the observed QPO may be associated with a geometrical effect, e.g., the precession of the X-ray source due to frame-dragging near the spining black hole. Here, in the scenario of Lense-Thirring precession of the X-ray source, we use a Monte-Carlo simulation of radiative transfer to study the irradiation/reflection and the resultant spectral properties including the Fe K$\alpha$ line, as a function of precession phase (time). We found that the reflection fraction, i.e., the ratio of the incident flux towards the disk and the direct flux towards to the observer at infinity, is modulated with the precession phase, which depends on the truncation radius (i.e., the spectral state in the truncated disk model) and the inclination angle. The Fe K$\alpha$ line profile also changes as the primary X-ray source precesses, with the line luminosity and the flux-weighted centroid energy varying with the precession phase. The periodically modulated 2-10 keV continuum flux could apparently lag the line luminosity in phase, if the truncation radius is small enough for Doppler effects due to disk orbital motion to significantly affect the observed radiation.

12 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ. Animations of the simulation results can be downloaded from: http://202.127.29.4/AGN/beiyou/QPO/index_QPO.html

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• Hilbert-Huang Transform analysis of quasi-periodic oscillations in MAXI J1820+070
• Wavelet analysis of the transient QPOs in MAXI J1535$-$571 with Insight-HXMT
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• Trace the Accretion Geometry of H 1743--322 with Type C Quasi-periodic Oscillations in Multiple Outbursts
• The evolution of the high-frequency variability in the black hole candidate GRS 1915+105 as seen by RXTE
• A broadband spectral-timing study of QPOs in the bright black hole X-ray binary Swift J1727.8-1613
• Correlations between QPO frequencies and spectral parameters of GRS 1915+105 using AstroSat observations
• The Luminous, Hard State Can't Be MAD
• Evidence for a dynamic corona in the short-term time lags of black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070
• Reflection Spectra of Accretion Disks Illuminated by an Off-Axis Corona
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