The 590 Day Long-Term Periodicity of the Microquasar GRS 1915+105
Abstract
We report on the discovery of a 590 day long-term periodicity in the hard X-ray component of the microquasar GRS 1915+105 found from a comprehensive study of more than 4 years of Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer observations. The periodicity is also observed in the hard X-ray flux observed by BATSE and in the radio flux as seen with the Green Bank Interferometer and the Ryle Telescope. We discuss various possible explanations, including the precession of a radiation-induced warped accretion disk.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 2003
- DOI:
- 10.1086/376683
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0305106
- Bibcode:
- 2003ApJ...590L..37R
- Keywords:
-
- Accretion;
- Accretion Disks;
- X-Rays: Binaries;
- X-Rays: Individual: Alphanumeric: GRS 1915+105;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 6 pages, 4 figuers, accepted for publication as ApJ Letter