Timing and spectral properties of Vela X-1 with ASTROSAT-LAXPC
Abstract
Vela X-1 is an eclipsing and persistent yet highly variable HMXB. It's variability, which is often attributed to the presence of clumpy winds around it, places it as a link between classical HMXBs and supergiant fast X-ray transients. We present a detailed timing and spectral analysis of the persistent yet highly variable HMXB 'Vela X-1' from LAXPC observations onboard ASTROSAT over wide energy band of 3-80 keV. The X-ray spectrum of Vela X-1 hosts several interesting features like the evidence of a cyclotron line at 25 keV. It is for the first time that this object has been studied with a single instrument in such a wide energy range. We report significant variations in the spectral parameters with different pulse phases and discuss them in terms of the accretion mechanism and stellar wind properties of this accreting pulsar. In addition, for the first time, we also detect pulsations upto 80 keV for this source.
- Publication:
-
41st COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- July 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016cosp...41E1588P