Abstract
We fit the broad-band X-ray/γ-ray spectrum (0.8-1000 keV) of the accreting black hole XTE J1550-564 in the very high state. The quasi-simultaneous data from ASCA, RXTE and OSSE (on CGRO) show that the disc is strongly Comptonized, with a high-energy tail extending out to several hundred keV. However, inverse Compton scattering by a purely thermal or purely power-law electron distribution cannot explain the observed spectrum. Instead, the data require a hybrid distribution, with both thermal and non-thermal electrons scattering the disc photons. This is very similar to the electron distribution inferred for other high and very high state black hole binaries, showing that it is a generic feature of high mass accretion rate black holes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1083-1092 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society |
| Volume | 342 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 11 Jul 2003 |
Keywords
- Accretion
- Accretion discs
- Radiation mechanisms: javascript:void(0);non-thermal
- X-rays: binaries
- X-rays: individual
- XTE J1550-564
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science
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