Disk-instability model for soft-X-ray transients containing black holes

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167701· OSTI ID:5595533

Mineshige, S; Wheeler, J C ^[1]

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1. Texas Univ., Austin (USA)

Consideration is given to the time-dependent behavior of the accretion disks in low-mass X-ray binaries as a model for soft X-ray transients. The thermal stability and vertical structure properties of the disk are studied in the range between 10 to the 7th and 10 to the 8th cm. An Eulerian time-dependent thin disk model is used to show that, for relevant accretion rates, the disk suffers a thermal instability leading to intermittent accretion onto the central compact object. The disk instability model reproduces the basic features of outbursts of soft X-ray transients. Also, the physical state of quiescence of the binary A0620-00 is examined, focusing on the possible existence of a black hole. It is suggested that the modulation of the accretion flow in the inner disk may be responsible for the bimodal behavior observed in the spectra of black hole candidates such as Cyg X-1, GX 339-4, and A0620-00. 72 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5595533
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 343; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ACCRETION DISKS
BINARY STARS
BLACK HOLES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MASS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
RADIATIONS
SOFT X RADIATION
STABILITY
STARS
TIME DEPENDENCE
X RADIATION