Power Colours: Power Spectral Classification without Fitting
Low mass black hole binaries (LMXBs) are transient X-ray sources, going through several state transitions during an outburst. These states are classified using both the energy spectral and temporal properties within each observation, and are remarkably similar from source to source, despite differences in mass, inclination angle and binary separation. I will present a model independent method of characterising the variability properties throughout an outburst, by comparing ratios of temporal power over different frequency ranges. We can use this to demonstrate not only the similarities between all of the the LMXBs, but also the persistent High Mass X-ray binary Cygnus X-1. I'll then explain how this method could be used to both aid state classification for faint sources and help expand our understanding of power spectral components in well observed galactic objects.
Lucy Heil
Thursday 25 April 2013, 12:00
Location: C4.174