A physical basis for the timing properties of X-ray binaries

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• Adam Ingram, University of Durham
• Wednesday 16 September 2009, 14:45-15:00
• Sackler Lecture Theatre, IoA.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Alexander Blustin.

The low frequency Quasi Periodic Oscillation has been known in black hole binaries and neutron stars for over 20 years but there is still no consensus in the literature as to its physical origin. I show how this can be naturally interpreted in the context of the truncated disc/hot inner flow models designed to explain the spectral evolution. Lense-Thirring (vertical) precession of the hot inner flow can explain the QPO frequencies and their observed correlation with spectral softness. It also explains the why the QPO spectrum is hard as the modulation is of the Comptonised emission from the hot flow rather than the thin disc. I then show how this model can be tested in atoll sources and extended to produce the broad band continuum noise from MRI fluctuations in the hot flow. This gives the first complete model for the power spectral components seen in black hole binaries and neutron stars.

This talk is part of the New Results in X-ray Astronomy 2009 series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Combined External Astrophysics Talks DAMTP
• Cosmology, Astrophysics and General Relativity
• Institute of Astronomy One-day Meetings
• Institute of Astronomy Talk Lists
• New Results in X-ray Astronomy 2009
• Sackler Lecture Theatre, IoA

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