Super-Eddington Accretion onto the Neutron Star NGC 7793 P13: Broadband X-ray Spectroscopy and Ultraluminous X-ray Sources
Date Issued
2018
Author(s)
Walton, D. J.
•
Fuerst, F.
•
Harrison, F. A.
•
Stern, D.
•
•
Barret, D.
•
Brightman, M.
•
Fabian, A. C.
•
Middleton, M. J.
•
Ptak, A.
•
Tao, L.
Abstract
We present a detailed, broadband X-ray spectral analysis of the ULX pulsar
NGC 7793 P13, a known super-Eddington source, utilizing data from the
$XMM$-$Newton$, $NuSTAR$ and $Chandra$ observatories. The broadband
$XMM$-$Newton+NuSTAR$ spectrum of P13 is qualitatively similar to the rest of
the ULX sample with broadband coverage, suggesting that additional ULXs in the
known population may host neutron star accretors. Through time-averaged,
phase-resolved and multi-epoch studies, we find that two non-pulsed thermal
blackbody components with temperatures $\sim$0.5 and $\sim$1.5 keV are required
to fit the data below 10 keV, in addition to a third continuum component which
extends to higher energies and is associated with the pulsed emission from the
accretion column. The characteristic radii of the thermal components appear to
be similar, and are too large to be associated with the neutron star itself, so
the need for two components likely indicates the accretion flow outside the
magnetosphere is complex. We suggest a scenario in which the thick inner disc
expected for super-Eddington accretion begins to form, but is terminated by the
neutron star's magnetic field soon after its onset, implying a limit of $B
\lesssim 6 \times 10^{12}$ G for the dipolar component of the central neutron
star's magnetic field. Evidence of similar termination of the disc in other
sources may offer a further means of identifying additional neutron star ULXs.
Finally, we examine the spectrum exhibited by P13 during one of its unusual
'off' states. These data require both a hard powerlaw component, suggesting
residual accretion onto the neutron star, and emission from a thermal plasma,
which we argue is likely associated with the P13 system.
Volume
473
Issue
4
Start page
4360
Issn Identifier
0035-8711
Ads BibCode
2018MNRAS.473.4360W
Rights
open.access
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
stx2650.pdf
Description
Pdf editoriale
Size
1.69 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
90aa0499a68179b2464a81e05ec84cbe