A XRISM View of Relativistic Reflection in Cygnus X-1

Abstract We present the first high-resolution XRISM/Resolve view of the relativistically broadened Fe K line in Cygnus X-1. The data clearly separate the relativistic broad line from the underlying continuum and from narrow emission and absorption features in the Fe band. The unprecedented spectral resolution in the Fe K band clearly demonstrates that the flux excess can be attributed to a single, broad feature, as opposed to a superposition of previously unresolved narrow features. This broad feature can be best interpreted as emission consistent with an origin near the innermost stable circular orbit around a rapidly rotating black hole. By modeling the shape of the broad line, we find a black hole spin of a ≃ 0.98 and an inclination of the inner accretion disk of θ ≃ 63 ∘ . The spin is consistent with prior reflection studies, reaffirming the robustness of past spin measurements using the relativistic reflection method. The measured inclination provides reinforcing evidence of a disk-orbit misalignment in Cygnus X-1. These results highlight the unique abilities of XRISM in separating overlapping spectral features and providing constraints on the geometry of accretion in X-ray binaries.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Published
2025-12-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ae2276
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.15
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article

A XRISM View of Relativistic Reflection in Cygnus X-1

Erin Kara, Oluwashina Adegoke, J. M. Mïller, Javier A. García et al.
1 citations
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
1.15
article

A XRISM View of Relativistic Reflection in Cygnus X-1

Erin Kara, Oluwashina Adegoke, J. M. Mïller, Javier A. García, E. Costantini, Paul A. Draghis
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Abstract We present the first high-resolution XRISM/Resolve view of the relativistically broadened Fe K line in Cygnus X-1. The data clearly separate the relativistic broad line from the underlying continuum and from narrow emission and absorption features in the Fe band. The unprecedented spectral resolution in the Fe K band clearly demonstrates that the flux excess can be attributed to a single, broad feature, as opposed to a superposition of previously unresolved narrow features. This broad feature can be best interpreted as emission consistent with an origin near the innermost stable circular orbit around a rapidly rotating black hole. By modeling the shape of the broad line, we find a black hole spin of a ≃ 0.98 and an inclination of the inner accretion disk of θ ≃ 63 ∘ . The spin is consistent with prior reflection studies, reaffirming the robustness of past spin measurements using the relativistic reflection method. The measured inclination provides reinforcing evidence of a disk-orbit misalignment in Cygnus X-1. These results highlight the unique abilities of XRISM in separating overlapping spectral features and providing constraints on the geometry of accretion in X-ray binaries.

The Astrophysical Journal LettersVol. 995(1)
Openalex Percentile: Top 14%
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
1.15
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