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Multi-Temperature Blackbody Spectrum of a Thin Accretion Disk around a Kerr Black Hole: Model Computations and Comparison with Observations

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arxiv astro-ph/0411583 v2 pith:XQO3PUIZ submitted 2004-11-19 astro-ph

classification astro-ph
keywords blackdiskholespectrumaccretionmodelx-rayaround
verification ladder T0 review T1 audit T2 compute T3 formal
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We use a ray-tracing technique to compute the observed spectrum of a thin accretion disk around a Kerr black hole. We include all relativistic effects such as frame-dragging, Doppler boost, gravitational redshift, and bending of light by the gravity of the black hole. We also include self-irradiation of the disk as a result of light deflection. Assuming that the disk emission is locally blackbody, we show how the observed spectrum depends on the spin of the black hole, the inclination of the disk, and the torque at the inner edge of the disk. We find that the effect of a nonzero torque on the spectrum can, to a good approximation, be absorbed into a zero-torque model by adjusting the mass accretion rate and the normalization. We describe a computer model, called KERRBB, which we have developed for fitting the spectra of black hole X-ray binaries. Using KERRBB within the X-ray data reduction package XSPEC, and assuming a spectral hardening factor f_col = 1.7, we analyze the spectra of three black hole X-ray binaries: 4U1543-47, XTE J1550-564, and GRO J1655-40. We estimate the spin parameters of the black holes in 4U1543-47 and GRO J1655-40 to be a/M ~ 0.6 and ~ 0.6-0.7, respectively. If f_col ~ 1.5-1.6, as in a recent study, then we find a/M ~ 0.7-0.8 and ~ 0.8-0.9, respectively. These estimates are subject to additional uncertainties in the assumed black hole masses, distances and disk inclinations.

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Cited by 6 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score. Full citation record

  1. Relativistic Scattering in the Funnel of Cygnus X-3

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    A relativistic funnel scattering model with variable bulk velocity reproduces the ~23% hard-state and ~12% soft-state polarization in Cygnus X-3 at low inclination using half-opening angles of 13-16 degrees.

  2. Stepping Up Superradiance Constraints on Axions

    hep-ph 2024-12 conditional novelty 7.0 of 10

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  3. Construction of an analytic multi-component accretion environment and its application to Kerr black hole imaging

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