A New Algorithm for Detecting X-Ray Shots in Cyg X-1
The short-term X-ray variability of Cyg X-1 can be interpreted as a random occurrence of mini-flares known as the shots, whose physical nature is still unclear. We propose a new algorithm for shot identification in the X-ray light curve, based on baseline detection and template fitting. Compared wit...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada774 |
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| author | Jin Qin Hua Feng Lian Tao |
| author_facet | Jin Qin Hua Feng Lian Tao |
| author_sort | Jin Qin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The short-term X-ray variability of Cyg X-1 can be interpreted as a random occurrence of mini-flares known as the shots, whose physical nature is still unclear. We propose a new algorithm for shot identification in the X-ray light curve, based on baseline detection and template fitting. Compared with previous techniques, our algorithm allows us to detect shots with lower amplitudes and shorter time separations. With NICER observations, we find that, after correction for detection sensitivity, both the shot amplitude and recurrence rate are positively scaled with the mean count rate, while the recurrence rate has a much higher dependence on the count rate. These suggest that a higher mass accretion rate will drive more and slightly larger shots. We also find that the abrupt hardening near the shot peak found in previous studies is attributed to different shot profiles in different energy bands; there is no need to involve a rapid physical process to suddenly harden the emitting spectrum. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-147bc7c67b4d4c39af1b38bc30944899 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-147bc7c67b4d4c39af1b38bc309448992025-08-20T02:14:38ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-0198111710.3847/1538-4357/ada774A New Algorithm for Detecting X-Ray Shots in Cyg X-1Jin Qin0Hua Feng1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7584-6236Lian Tao2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2705-4338Department of Astronomy, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, People’s Republic of ChinaKey Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People’s Republic of China ; hfeng@ihep.ac.cnKey Laboratory of Particle Astrophysics, Institute of High Energy Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People’s Republic of China ; hfeng@ihep.ac.cnThe short-term X-ray variability of Cyg X-1 can be interpreted as a random occurrence of mini-flares known as the shots, whose physical nature is still unclear. We propose a new algorithm for shot identification in the X-ray light curve, based on baseline detection and template fitting. Compared with previous techniques, our algorithm allows us to detect shots with lower amplitudes and shorter time separations. With NICER observations, we find that, after correction for detection sensitivity, both the shot amplitude and recurrence rate are positively scaled with the mean count rate, while the recurrence rate has a much higher dependence on the count rate. These suggest that a higher mass accretion rate will drive more and slightly larger shots. We also find that the abrupt hardening near the shot peak found in previous studies is attributed to different shot profiles in different energy bands; there is no need to involve a rapid physical process to suddenly harden the emitting spectrum.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada774Stellar mass black holesHigh mass x-ray binary stars |
| spellingShingle | Jin Qin Hua Feng Lian Tao A New Algorithm for Detecting X-Ray Shots in Cyg X-1 The Astrophysical Journal Stellar mass black holes High mass x-ray binary stars |
| title | A New Algorithm for Detecting X-Ray Shots in Cyg X-1 |
| title_full | A New Algorithm for Detecting X-Ray Shots in Cyg X-1 |
| title_fullStr | A New Algorithm for Detecting X-Ray Shots in Cyg X-1 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A New Algorithm for Detecting X-Ray Shots in Cyg X-1 |
| title_short | A New Algorithm for Detecting X-Ray Shots in Cyg X-1 |
| title_sort | new algorithm for detecting x ray shots in cyg x 1 |
| topic | Stellar mass black holes High mass x-ray binary stars |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ada774 |
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