Monte Carlo simulation of Comptonization in plasma accreting onto neutron stars

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169584· OSTI ID:6105189

Hanawa, Tomoyuki ^[1]

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1. Nagoya Univ. (Japan)

It is shown by Monte Carlo simulation that high-energy X-rays are produced through Compton scattering in plasma accreting onto neutron stars where the gas infalls radially. The neutron star surface is heated by the gravitational energy release of the accreting gas and radiates soft X-ray photons. The X-ray from the surface are scattered by electrons in the plasma accreting onto the star. Since the infalling velocity is nearly half light speed, the energy of the scattered X-ray changes by 50 percent. Some X-rays are scattered repeatedly between the star and the accreting gas and become high-energy X-rays. The scattered X-ray photons have a power-law spectrum in high-energy range. This model is applied to X-ray spectra of type II bursts from the rapid burster MXB 1730 - 335. 9 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6105189
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 366; 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
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COMPTON EFFECT
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY BURSTS
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON STARS
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
SCATTERING
SOFT X RADIATION
SPECTRA
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
STELLAR RADIATION
X RADIATION
X-RAY SPECTRA