Doppler Tomography of X-ray binaries
Abstract
The Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on HST provides the first ultraviolet data that are of sufficient spectral and temporal resolution to generate Doppler tomograms of X-ray binaries. We show both optical and ultraviolet maps constructed for the intermediate mass system Hercules X-1/HZ Her and the massive wind-fed system SMC X-1/SK160. We have used the maps and corresponding lightcurves as diagnostics with which to test the validity of published models for Hercules X-1. We find that although the models are mostly able to explain the light curves they are not consistent with the full phase maps. We present simulations of Doppler maps of X-ray lines that will be possible with the spectral and temporal resolution and substantial effective area of the next major X-ray mission, Con-X.
- Publication:
-
Astronomische Nachrichten
- Pub Date:
- March 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1002/asna.200310233
- Bibcode:
- 2004AN....325..209V
- Keywords:
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- X-ray binaries;
- ultraviolet tomography;
- X-ray tomography