Inversion of the decay of the cyclotron line energy in Hercules X-1

Recent observations of Her X-1 with NuSTAR and INTEGRAL in 2016 have provided evidence that the 20-year decay of the cyclotron line energy found between 1996 and 2015 has ended and that an inversion with a new increase, possibly similar to the one observed around 1990–1993, has started. We consider...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 2017-10, Vol.606, p.L13
Main Authors: Staubert, R., Klochkov, D., Fürst, F., Wilms, J., Rothschild, R. E., Harrison, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accretion
binaries: eclipsing
Cyclotrons
Decay
Deposition
Energy
Inversion
line: formation
magnetic fields
Pulsars
radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
stars: neutron
X-rays: general
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Summary:Recent observations of Her X-1 with NuSTAR and INTEGRAL in 2016 have provided evidence that the 20-year decay of the cyclotron line energy found between 1996 and 2015 has ended and that an inversion with a new increase, possibly similar to the one observed around 1990–1993, has started. We consider this a strong motivation for further observations and for enhanced efforts to significantly improve our theoretical understanding of the accretion process in binary X-ray pulsars. We speculate about the physics behind the long-term decay and its inversion, a possible cyclic behavior, and correlations with other variable observables.
ISSN:0004-6361
1432-0746
DOI:10.1051/0004-6361/201731927