Broad Iron Lines in Low-Mass X-ray Binaries
Abstract
A large number of black hole and neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) display broad Fe K emission lines in their X-ray spectra. Fe K emission originating from the inner part of the accretion disk, close to the compact object, is subject to extreme Doppler shifts and gravitational redshifts that act to shape the line. The strength of these effects depends on the proximity of the disk to the compact object, and thus the shape of the Fe K line can be used to probe the inner radius of the accretion disk. It is there a powerful tool for measuring black hole spin and constraining neutron star radii. Here, I will review the observations of broad iron lines in LMXBs with a particular emphasis on Chandra's contribution to this field.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #218
- Pub Date:
- May 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011AAS...21820102C