Chandra/HETGS observations of SMC X-3 in the Super Eddington phase.
Abstract
Recent work has revealed three ultra luminous X-rays sources (ULXs) to be powered by accretion onto a high B-field neutron star. These results suggest that neutron stars contribute to a large fraction of the observed ULX population and has re-invigorated interest in the super Eddington accretion phenomenon. The population of local high magnetic field neutron stars present an opportunity to study such high luminosity accretion flows. The Be/X-ray binary systems are excellent targets, with large magnetic fields (> 1e12 G) and quasi-regular outbursts that reach values far in excess of the Eddington limit for a canonical neutron star (Lx > 2e38 erg/s). We will present the results of a high spectral resolution Chandra/HETGS observation of the Small Magellanic Cloud Be/X-ray binary SMC X-3 during a giant/type-II outburst in 2016. The source was observed at a luminosity of Lx ~ 2e39 erg/s or approximately 10 times the Eddington limit. The high quality grating data reveal numerous highly ionized emission lines. We will discuss the constraints the observed lines place on our understanding of models for super Eddington accretion inflow/outflow onto a highly magnetized neutron star.
- Publication:
-
AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #16
- Pub Date:
- August 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017HEAD...1610830R