Flux variability of the ``10 keV feature'' of 4U 0115+63

X-ray spectra of accretion-powered X-ray pulsars can often be described using a power-law continuum with a high-energy cutoff, which might be further modified by additional spectral components. The Be X-ray binary system 4U,0115+63 is well known for having one of the highest numbers of detected harmonics of its cyclotron resonant scattering features (CRSFs), a pronounced spectral component known as the ``10,keV feature,'' and quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) with a period of about 500,s during outbursts. The changes in count rate by a factor of two during the ∼500,s QPOs allow us to probe the variation in the spectral components with flux. We study the ``10,keV feature'' in emission, aiming to disentangle it from the broadband continuum and CRSFs and investigate its origin. We focus on the flux-dependent behavior of the CRSF and its harmonics, and particularly the contribution of the ``10,keV feature,'' as seen in the flux-resolved analysis of two NuSTAR observations of the 2015 outburst. Comparing the flux-resolved spectra of a given observation with the respective total dataset revealed a distinct change in overall spectral shape at the position of the ``10,keV feature'' but no comparable deviation at the energies of the harmonic CRSFs. The change associated with the ``10,keV feature'' does not seem to involve its centroid energy, which remains constant within a given observation. We find indications for an anticorrelation between the continuum flux and the ratio of the ``10,keV feature'' flux to the continuum flux within each observation. The analysis strengthens previous claims that the ``10,keV feature'' shows some independence from the remaining features. This result supports the interpretation that the ``10,keV feature'' has a different formation mechanism than the continuum emission, although its origin lies within the same physical environment.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Published
2026-02-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202555804/pdf
Primary Topic
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Flux variability of the ``10 keV feature'' of 4U 0115+63

Brent West, E. Sokolova-Lapa, P. Thalhammer, Peter A. Becker et al.
Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
article

Flux variability of the ``10 keV feature'' of 4U 0115+63

Brent West, E. Sokolova-Lapa, P. Thalhammer, Peter A. Becker, A. Zainab, Joel B. Coley, Ralf Ballhausen, Nicolas Zalot, Katrin Berger, Felix Fürst, Alicia Rouco-Escorial, Richard E. Rothschild, Jörn Wilms, Pragati Pradhan, Peter Kretschmar, Katja Pottschmidt, Carlo Ferrigno
article en

Abstract

X-ray spectra of accretion-powered X-ray pulsars can often be described using a power-law continuum with a high-energy cutoff, which might be further modified by additional spectral components. The Be X-ray binary system 4U,0115+63 is well known for having one of the highest numbers of detected harmonics of its cyclotron resonant scattering features (CRSFs), a pronounced spectral component known as the ``10,keV feature,'' and quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) with a period of about 500,s during outbursts. The changes in count rate by a factor of two during the ∼500,s QPOs allow us to probe the variation in the spectral components with flux. We study the ``10,keV feature'' in emission, aiming to disentangle it from the broadband continuum and CRSFs and investigate its origin. We focus on the flux-dependent behavior of the CRSF and its harmonics, and particularly the contribution of the ``10,keV feature,'' as seen in the flux-resolved analysis of two NuSTAR observations of the 2015 outburst. Comparing the flux-resolved spectra of a given observation with the respective total dataset revealed a distinct change in overall spectral shape at the position of the ``10,keV feature'' but no comparable deviation at the energies of the harmonic CRSFs. The change associated with the ``10,keV feature'' does not seem to involve its centroid energy, which remains constant within a given observation. We find indications for an anticorrelation between the continuum flux and the ratio of the ``10,keV feature'' flux to the continuum flux within each observation. The analysis strengthens previous claims that the ``10,keV feature'' shows some independence from the remaining features. This result supports the interpretation that the ``10,keV feature'' has a different formation mechanism than the continuum emission, although its origin lies within the same physical environment.

Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 43%
Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.