GRS 1915+105 between complexity and simplicity
Abstract
The X-ray variability of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 is probably the most complex and structured ever observed from X-ray binaries. Despite its complexity, however, more than three years of observations with RXTE showed that certain basic patterns repeat. The complexity is reduced even more when turning to color-color and spectral analysis. We present the results of the analysis of 163 light curves and color-color diagrams, integrated with selected spectral fitting. We find that all observations can be reduced to the alternating occurrence of three basic states. The physical nature of these states and of the transitions between them are examined.
- Publication:
-
AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #4
- Pub Date:
- April 1999
- Bibcode:
- 1999HEAD....4.1104B