Disk Reflection Signatures in the Spectrum of the Bright Z-Source GX 340+0

We present the preliminary results of a 50 ks long XMM-Newton observation of the bright Z-source GX 340+0. In this Letter, we focus on the study of a broad asymmetric emission line in the Fe Kα energy band, whose shape is clearly resolved and compatible with a relativistically smeared profile arising from reflection on a hot accretion disk extending close to the central accreting neutron star. By combining temporal and spectral analysis, we are able to follow the evolution of the source along its horizontal branch. However, despite a significant change in the continuum emission and luminosity, the line profile does not show any strong correlated variation. This broad line is produced by recombination of highly ionized iron (Fe XXV) at an inferred inner radius close to 13R _g, while the fit requires a high value for the outer disk radius. The inclination of the source is extremely well constrained at 35°, while the emissivity index is -2.50.

Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member States and NASA.