Spectral Analysis of Cygnus X-3 Using Simultaneous AstroSat and Insight-HXMT Observations

We present the results from a spectral analysis of Cygnus X-3 using simultaneous data from AstroSat and Insight-HXMT during its soft state. A pure reflection spectrum, including emission lines of iron, silicon, and sulfur, provides a good fit to the spectral data. An orbital phase-resolved analysis...

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Main Authors: Suraj K. Chaurasia, Gitika Mall, Ruchika Dhaka, Ranjeev Misra, Amit Pathak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/add33f
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author Suraj K. Chaurasia
Gitika Mall
Ruchika Dhaka
Ranjeev Misra
Amit Pathak
author_facet Suraj K. Chaurasia
Gitika Mall
Ruchika Dhaka
Ranjeev Misra
Amit Pathak
author_sort Suraj K. Chaurasia
collection DOAJ
description We present the results from a spectral analysis of Cygnus X-3 using simultaneous data from AstroSat and Insight-HXMT during its soft state. A pure reflection spectrum, including emission lines of iron, silicon, and sulfur, provides a good fit to the spectral data. An orbital phase-resolved analysis shows no significant spectral parameter variations, except for the normalization. Leveraging IXPE polarization results, we model using a funnel-shaped geometry and estimate the scattered flux and observed polarization for various funnel parameters and observer inclinations. We consider two scenarios: reflection from the funnel walls and scattering by gas within the funnel. Our results reconfirm previous findings, showing that reflection can produce a high polarization degree (PD) of 23%, but not a low PD of 12%. Conversely, scattering can produce a PD of 10%–12%, but not as high as 23% for a fixed observer inclination of 30 ^∘ . The scattering results align with previous findings without absorption, but with absorption, PD drops significantly with increasing funnel opening angle. Thus, we can identify common funnel parameters that can produce the different observed PDs in the soft and hard states. The intrinsic luminosity of the source was estimated by comparing the results from a plane disk and the funnel model, which was found to be ∼7 × 10 ^40 erg s ^−1 for 12% PD (scattering) and ∼5 × 10 ^41 erg s ^−1 for 23% PD (reflection). However, for the reflection model, the luminosity may decrease to ∼ 10 ^40 erg s ^−1 when the 23% PD observed is taken as a lower limit.
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spelling doaj-art-475ecea0d2ac4f2487b1f0a79f25ec7f2025-08-20T02:35:33ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-0198619710.3847/1538-4357/add33fSpectral Analysis of Cygnus X-3 Using Simultaneous AstroSat and Insight-HXMT ObservationsSuraj K. Chaurasia0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9795-9820Gitika Mall1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2426-9808Ruchika Dhaka2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1404-8924Ranjeev Misra3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7609-2779Amit Pathak4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6328-4512Department of Physics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi 221005, IndiaCenter for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Center for Field Theory and Particle Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University , Shanghai 200438, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur , Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, IndiaInter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) , PB No. 4, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, IndiaDepartment of Physics, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi 221005, IndiaWe present the results from a spectral analysis of Cygnus X-3 using simultaneous data from AstroSat and Insight-HXMT during its soft state. A pure reflection spectrum, including emission lines of iron, silicon, and sulfur, provides a good fit to the spectral data. An orbital phase-resolved analysis shows no significant spectral parameter variations, except for the normalization. Leveraging IXPE polarization results, we model using a funnel-shaped geometry and estimate the scattered flux and observed polarization for various funnel parameters and observer inclinations. We consider two scenarios: reflection from the funnel walls and scattering by gas within the funnel. Our results reconfirm previous findings, showing that reflection can produce a high polarization degree (PD) of 23%, but not a low PD of 12%. Conversely, scattering can produce a PD of 10%–12%, but not as high as 23% for a fixed observer inclination of 30 ^∘ . The scattering results align with previous findings without absorption, but with absorption, PD drops significantly with increasing funnel opening angle. Thus, we can identify common funnel parameters that can produce the different observed PDs in the soft and hard states. The intrinsic luminosity of the source was estimated by comparing the results from a plane disk and the funnel model, which was found to be ∼7 × 10 ^40 erg s ^−1 for 12% PD (scattering) and ∼5 × 10 ^41 erg s ^−1 for 23% PD (reflection). However, for the reflection model, the luminosity may decrease to ∼ 10 ^40 erg s ^−1 when the 23% PD observed is taken as a lower limit.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/add33fHigh energy astrophysicsHigh mass x-ray binary stars
spellingShingle Suraj K. Chaurasia
Gitika Mall
Ruchika Dhaka
Ranjeev Misra
Amit Pathak
Spectral Analysis of Cygnus X-3 Using Simultaneous AstroSat and Insight-HXMT Observations
The Astrophysical Journal
High energy astrophysics
High mass x-ray binary stars
title Spectral Analysis of Cygnus X-3 Using Simultaneous AstroSat and Insight-HXMT Observations
title_full Spectral Analysis of Cygnus X-3 Using Simultaneous AstroSat and Insight-HXMT Observations
title_fullStr Spectral Analysis of Cygnus X-3 Using Simultaneous AstroSat and Insight-HXMT Observations
title_full_unstemmed Spectral Analysis of Cygnus X-3 Using Simultaneous AstroSat and Insight-HXMT Observations
title_short Spectral Analysis of Cygnus X-3 Using Simultaneous AstroSat and Insight-HXMT Observations
title_sort spectral analysis of cygnus x 3 using simultaneous astrosat and insight hxmt observations
topic High energy astrophysics
High mass x-ray binary stars
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/add33f
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