Accretion geometry of the black hole binary MAXI J1820+070 probed by frequency-resolved spectroscopy

Abstract

The geometry of the inner accretion flow in the hard and hard-intermediate states of X-ray binaries remains controversial. Using NICER observations of the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070 during the rising phase of its 2018 outburst, we study the evolution of the timing properties, in particular the characteristic variability frequencies of the prominent iron K$\alpha$ line. Using frequency-resolved spectroscopy, we find that reflection occurs at large distances from the Comptonizing region in the bright hard state. During the hard- to soft transition, the variability properties suggest the reflector moves closer to the X-ray source. In parallel, the peak of the iron line shifts from 6.5 to ~7 keV, becoming consistent with that expected of from a highly inclined disc extending close to the black hole. We additionally find significant changes in the dependence of the root-mean-square (rms) variability on both energy and Fourier frequency as the source softens. The evolution of the rms-energy dependence, the line profile, and the timing properties of the iron line as traced by the frequency-resolved spectroscopy all support the picture of a truncated disc/inner flow geometry.

10 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to MNRAS

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Cited by in corpus (16)

• A full spectral-timing model to map the accretion flow in black hole binaries: the low/hard state of MAXI J1820+070
• Analytical techniques for polarimetric imaging of accretion flows in Schwarzschild metric
• The comptonizing medium of the black-hole X-ray binary MAXI~J1535$-$571 through type-C quasi-periodic oscillations
• MAXI J1820+070 X-ray spectral-timing reveals the nature of the accretion flow in black hole binaries
• Insight-HXMT, NuSTAR and INTEGRAL Data Show Disk Truncation in the Hard State of the Black-Hole X-Ray Binary MAXI J1820+070
• Black holes: Timing and spectral properties and evolution
• Accretion Scenario of MAXI J1820+070 during 2018 Outbursts with Multi-mission Observations
• A multi-wavelength study of the hard and soft states of MAXI J1820+070 during its 2018 outburst
• A possible overall scenario for the outburst evolution of MAXI J1820+070 revealed by Insight-HXMT
• A rapid optical and X-ray timing study of the neutron star X-ray binary Swift J1858.6-0814
• Evidence for a dynamic corona in the short-term time lags of black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070
• Intermittent QPO properties of MAXI J1820+070 revealed by Insight-HXMT
• X-ray time lag evaluation of MAXI J1820+070 with a differential cross-correlation analysis
• Tracking the evolution of the accretion flow in MAXI J1820+070 during its hard state with the JED-SAD model
• Large optical modulations during 2018 outburst of MAXI J1820+070 reveal evolution of warped accretion disc through X-ray state change
• Evolution of X-ray and optical rapid variability during the low/hard state in the 2018 outburst of MAXI J1820+070 = ASASSN-18ey