A Super-Eddington, Compton-Thick Wind in GRO J1655-40?
Abstract
During its 2005 outburst, GRO J1655-40 was observed at high spectral resolution with the Chandra HETGS, revealing a spectrum rich with blueshifted absorption lines of elements ranging from oxygen to nickel, including exotic metals like titanium and scandium. It has been argued that magnetic fields must be responsible for the dense accretion disk wind that produces these deep absorption lines. But questions about this outburst remain, because the presence of this exotic wind coincides with extremely soft and curved X-ray spectra, remarkable X-ray variability, and bright, unexpected optical/infrared emission that varies on the orbital period. I will argue that the unusual features of this "hypersoft state" are natural consequences of a super-Eddington Compton-thick wind from the disk.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #227
- Pub Date:
- January 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016AAS...22721806N