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
- Erin Kara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0172-0854)
- Oluwashina Adegoke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5966-4210)
- J. M. Mïller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2869-7682)
- Javier A. García (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3828-2448)
- E. Costantini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8470-749X)
- Paul A. Draghis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2218-2306)
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