BeppoSAX observations of the accretion-powered X-ray pulsar SMC X-1

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dc.creatorNaik, S.
dc.creatorPaul, B.
dc.date2004-02-04
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T02:12:07Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T02:12:07Z
dc.descriptionWe present here results obtained from three BeppoSAX observations of the accretion-powered X-ray pulsar SMC X-1 carried out during the declining phases of its 40--60 days long super-orbital period. Timing analysis of the data clearly shows a continuing spin-up of the neutron star. Energy-resolved timing analysis shows that the pulse-profile of SMC X-1 is single peaked at energies less than 1.0 keV whereas an additional peak, the amplitude of which increases with energy within the MECS range, is present at higher energies. Broad-band pulse-phase-averaged spectroscopy of the BeppoSAX data, which is done for the first time since its discovery, shows that the energy spectrum in the 0.1--80 keV energy band has three components, a soft excess that can be modeled as a thermal black-body, a hard power-law component with a high-energy exponential cutoff and a narrow and weak iron emission line at 6.4 keV. Pulse-phase resolved spectroscopy indicates a pulsating nature of the soft spectral component, as seen in a few other binary X-ray pulsars, with a certain phase offset with respect to the hard power-law component. Dissimilar shape and phase of the soft and hard X-ray pulse profiles suggest a different origin of the soft and hard components.
dc.description8 Pages, 6 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0402096
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0402096
dc.identifierAstron.Astrophys. 418 (2004) 655-661
dc.identifierdoi:10.1051/0004-6361:20040048
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/7347
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleBeppoSAX observations of the accretion-powered X-ray pulsar SMC X-1
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