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Title: DIAGNOSING THE BURST INFLUENCE ON ACCRETION IN THE CLOCKED BURSTER GS 1826-238

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal
; ; ; ;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3];  [4]
  1. Laboratory for Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics, Beijing 100049 (China)
  2. Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), E-08010 Barcelona (Spain)
  3. European Space Astronomy Centre (ESA/ESAC), Science Operations Department, Villanueva de la Cañada (Madrid) (Spain)
  4. Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC–IEEC), Campus UAB, Carrer de Can Magrans, s/n E-08193, Barcelona (Spain)

Type I X-ray bursts on the surface of a neutron star are a unique probe into accretion in X-ray binary systems. However, we know little about the feedback of the burst emission on accretion. Hard X-ray shortages and enhancements of the persistent emission at soft X-rays have been observed. To put these findings in context with the aim of understanding the possible mechanism underneath, we investigated 68 bursts seen by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer from the clocked burster GS 1826-238. We diagnosed jointly the burst influence of both soft and hard X-rays, and we found that the observations can be described by the CompTT model with variable normalization, electron temperature, and optical depth. Putting these results in a scenario of coronal Compton cooling via the burst emission would lead to a shortage of cooling power, which may suggest that additional considerations, like the influence of the burst on corona formation, should be accounted for as well.

OSTI ID:
22522307
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 806, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English