Papers

Peer-reviewed
Oct, 2017

A Semi-analytical Model for Wind-fed Black Hole High-mass X-Ray Binaries: State Transition Triggered by Magnetic Fields from the Companion Star

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
  • Kentaro Yaji
  • ,
  • Shinya Yamada
  • ,
  • Kuniaki Masai

Volume
847
Number
2
First page
129
Last page
Language
English
Publishing type
Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI
10.3847/1538-4357/aa88d3
Publisher
IOP PUBLISHING LTD

We propose a mechanism of state transition in wind-fed black hole (BH) binaries (high-mass X-ray binaries) such as Cyg X-1 and LMC X-1. Modeling a line-driven stellar wind from the companion by two-dimensional hydrodynamical calculations, we investigate the processes of wind capture by, and accretion onto, the BH. We assume that the wind acceleration is terminated at the He II ionization front because ions responsible for line-driven acceleration are ionized within the front, i.e., the He III region. It is found that the mass accretion rate inferred from the luminosity is remarkably smaller than the capture rate. Considering the difference, we construct a model for the state transition based on the accretion flow being controlled by magnetorotational instability. The outer flow is torus-like, and plays an important role to trigger the transition. The model can explain why state transition does occur in Cyg X-1, while not in LMC X-1. Cyg X-1 exhibits a relatively low luminosity, and then the He II ionization front is located and can move between the companion and BH, depending on its ionizing photon flux. On the other hand, LMC X-1 exhibits too high luminosity for the front to move considerably; the front is too close to the companion atmosphere. The model also predicts that each state of high-soft or low-hard would last fairly long because the luminosity depends weakly on the wind velocity. In the context of the model, the state transition is triggered by a fluctuation of the magnetic field when its amplitude becomes comparable to the field strength in the torus-like outer flow.

Link information
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aa88d3
Web of Science
https://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=JSTA_CEL&SrcApp=J_Gate_JST&DestLinkType=FullRecord&KeyUT=WOS:000416699000020&DestApp=WOS_CPL
URL
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/#abs/2017ApJ...847..129Y
ID information
  • DOI : 10.3847/1538-4357/aa88d3
  • ISSN : 0004-637X
  • eISSN : 1538-4357
  • Web of Science ID : WOS:000416699000020

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