Accretion disk coronae and Cygnus X-1

Journal Article · Tue Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/155677· OSTI ID:5339046

Liang, E P.T.; Price, R H

It is plausible that an accretion disk pumps energy into an outer tenuous layer of its atmosphere to form a high-tmeperature corona analogous to the solar corona. General features of such a corona, not specific to any model, are discussed, and order-of-magnitude estimates are made for the physical parameters of a corona on the Cygnus X-1 disk. It is shown that a corona with a strong ''wind'' (mass loss flux) can produce hard (> or approx. =100 keV) X-rays if it is cooled by inverse Compton scattering. An observational test for the presence of such a corona is suggested.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of Utah
• OSTI ID: 5339046
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 218:1; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
BINARY STARS
COOLING
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY BALANCE
ENERGY TRANSPORT
HARD X RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MASSLESS PARTICLES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHOTONS
RADIATIONS
RADIATIVE COOLING
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STAR MODELS
STARS
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
X RADIATION