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We study the spectral properties and accretion flow behavior of an ultraluminous X-ray source M82 X-1 using NuSTAR observations. We use the physical two-component advective flow (TCAF) model to fit the data and to derive the accretion flow properties of the source. From the model fitted parameters, we found that M82 X-1 is harboring an intermediate mass black hole at its centre, where the mass varies from 156. 04 - 15.30 + 13.51 to 380. 96 - 29.76 + 28.38 M ⊙ . The error weighed average mass of the black hole is 273 ± 43 M ⊙ , which accreted in nearly super-Eddington rate. The Compton cloud was compact with a size of ∼ 13 r g and the shock compression ratio had nearly intermediate values except for the epoch four. These indicate a possible significant mass outflow from the inner region of the disk. The quasi periodic oscillation (QPO) frequencies estimated from the model fitted parameters can reproduce the observed QPOs. The robustness of the model parameters is verified by drawing the confidence contours among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016–17, the Galactic transient black hole candidate GRS 1716-249 exhibited an outburst event after a long quiescence period of almost 23 years. The source remained in the outbursting phase for almost 9 months. We study the spectral and temporal properties of the source during this outburst using archival data from four astronomy satellites, namely MAXI, Swift, NuSTAR and AstroSat. Initial spectral analysis is done using combined disk black body and power-law models. For a better understanding of the accretion flow properties, we studied spectra with the physical two component advective flow (TCAF) model. Accretion flow parameters are extracted directly from the spectral fits with the TCAF model. Low frequency quasi periodic oscillations are also observed in the Swift/XRT and AstroSat/LAXPC data. From the spectral fit, we also estimate the probable mass of GRS 1716-249 to be in the range of 4.50– 5.93 M ⊙ or 5.01 − 0.51 + 0.92 M ⊙ . Refitting of all spectra is done by freezing the mass at its average value. An insignificant deviation of the TCAF model parameters is observed. From the nature of the variation of the newly fitted spectral and temporal properties, we find that the source stays in only the harder (hard and hard-intermediate) states during the outburst. It does not make a transition to the softer states which makes it a 'failed' outburst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the C-type low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) and associated time lag in transient black hole sources as a function of time can be explained by variation of the Compton cloud size in a two-component advective flow solution. A similar study of a persistent source, GRS 1915+105, has not been attempted. We fit the evolution of QPOs with propagatory oscillating shock solution for two sets of so-called χ-state observations and find that the shock steadily recedes with almost constant velocity when QPO frequency is decreasing and the spectrum is hardening. The shock moves inwards swith constant velocities $v$ 0 = 473.0 cm s−1 and $v$ 0 = 400.0 cm s−1, respectively, in these two cases, when the QPO frequency is increasing and the spectrum softens. This behaviour is similar to what was observed in XTE J1550−564 during the 1998 outburst. The time lag measured at the QPO frequency varies in a similar way as the size of the Compton cloud. Most interestingly, in both the cases, the lag switches sign (hard lag to soft lag) at a QPO frequency of ∼2.3−2.5 Hz irrespective of the energy of photons. We find, at very low frequencies <1 Hz, the Comptonizing efficiency (CE) increases with QPO frequency and at higher QPO frequencies the trend is opposite. The time lags become mostly positive at all energies when CE is larger than ${\sim } 0.85{{\rm \,per\,cent}}$ for both the sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray time lag of black hole candidates contains important information regarding the emission geometry. Recently, study of time lags from observational data revealed very intriguing properties. To investigate the real cause of this lag behavior with energy and spectral states, we study photon paths inside a two-component advective flow (TCAF) which appears to be a satisfactory model to explain the spectral and timing properties. We employ the Monte Carlo simulation technique to carry out the Comptonization process. We use a relativistic thick disk in Schwarzschild geometry as the CENtrifugal pressure supported BOundary Layer (CENBOL) which is the Compton cloud. In TCAF, this is the post-shock region of the advective component. Keplerian disk on the equatorial plane which is truncated at the inner edge i.e. at the outer boundary of the CENBOL, acts as the soft photon source. Ray-tracing code is employed to track the photons to a distantly located observer. We compute the cumulative time taken by a photon during Comptonization, reflection and following the curved geometry on the way to the observer. Time lags between various hard and soft bands have been calculated. We study the variation of time lags with accretion rates, CENBOL size and inclination angle. Time lags for different energy channels are plotted for different inclination angles. The general trend of variation of time lag with QPO frequency and energy as observed in satellite data is reproduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore spectral properties of a two-component advective flow around a neutron star. We compute the effects of thermal Comptonization of soft photons emitted from a Keplerian disc and the boundary layer of the neutron star by the post-shock region of a sub-Keplerian flow, formed due to the centrifugal barrier. The shock location Xs is also the inner edge of the Keplerian disc. We compute a series of realistic spectra assuming a set of electron temperatures of the post-shock region TCE, the temperature of the Normal BOundary Layer (NBOL) TNS of the neutron star and the shock location Xs. These parameters depend on the disc and halo accretion rates (ṁd and ṁh, respectively) that control the resultant spectra. We find that the spectrum becomes harder when ṁh is increased. The spectrum is controlled strongly by TNS due to its proximity to the Comptonizing cloud since photons emitted from the NBOL cool down the post-shock region very effectively. We also show the evidence of spectral hardening as the inclination angle of the disc is increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entangled magnetic fields entering into an accretion flow would very soon be stretched into a dominant toroidal component due to strong differentially rotating motion inside the accretion disc. This is particularly true forweakly viscous, lowangular momentum transonic or advective discs. We study the trajectories of toroidal flux tubes inside a geometrically thick flow that undergoes a centrifugal force supported shock. We also study effects of these flux tubes on the dynamics of the inflow and the outflow. We use a finite difference method (total variation diminishing) for this purpose and specifically focused on whether these flux tubes significantly affect the properties of the outflows such as its collimation and the rate. It is seen that depending upon the cross-sectional radius of the flux tubes that control the drag force, these field lines may move towards the central object or oscillate vertically before eventually escaping out of the funnel wall (pressure zero surfaces) along the vertical direction. A comparison of results obtained with and without flux tubes show these flux tubes could play a pivotal role in collimation and acceleration of jets and outflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-component advective flow (TCAF) successfully explains spectral and timing properties of black hole candidates. We study the nature of photon trajectories in the vicinity of a Schwarzschild black hole and incorporate this in predicting images of TCAF with a black hole at the Centre. We also compute the emitted spectra. We employ a Monte Carlo simulation technique to achieve our goal. For accurate prediction of the image and the spectra, null trajectories are generated without constraining the motion to any specific plane. Redshift, bolometric flux and corresponding temperature have been calculated with appropriate rela- tivistic consideration. The CENtrifugal pressure supported BOundary Layer or CENBOL near the inner region of the disc, which acts as the Compton cloud, is appropriately modelled as a thick accretion disc in Schwarzschild geometry for the purpose of imaging and computing spectra. The variations of spectra and image with physical parameters such as the accretion rate (...) and inclination angle are presented. We show that the gravitational bending effects of photons do change the spectral shape to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been proposed that low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in stellar-mass black holes or their equivalents in supermassive black holes are the result of resonances between infall and cooling timescales. We explicitly compute these two timescales in a generic situation to show that resonances are easily achieved. During an outburst of a transient black hole candidate, the accretion rate of the Keplerian disc as well as the geometry of the Comptonizing cloud change very rapidly. During some period, a resonance condition between the cooling timescale (predominantly by Comptonization) and the infall timescale of the Comptonizing cloud is roughly satisfied. This leads to low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (LFQPOs) of the Compton cloud and the consequent oscillation of hard X-rays. In this paper, we explicitly follow black hole candidate H1743-322 during its 2010 outburst. We compute the Compton cooling time and infall time over several days and show that QPOs take place when these two roughly agree within ~50 percent, i.e., the resonance condition is generally satisfied. We also confirm that for the sharper LFQPOs (i.e. higher Q-factors) the ratio of the two timescales is very close to 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study spectral properties of GX 339-4 during its 2010-11 outburst with two component advective flow (TCAF) model after its inclusion in XSPEC as a table model.We compare results fitted by TCAF model with combined disc blackbody and power-law model. For a spectral fit, we use 2.5-25 keV spectral data of the Proportional Counter Array instrument onboard RXTE satellite. From our fit, accretion flow parameters such as Keplerian (disc) rate, sub- Keplerian (halo) rate, location and strength of shock are extracted. We quantify how the disc and the halo rates vary during the entire outburst.We study how the halo to disc accretion rate ratio (ARR), quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs), shock locations and its strength vary when the system passes through hard, hard-intermediate, soft-intermediate and soft states. We find pieces of evidence of monotonically increasing and decreasing nature of QPO frequencies depending on the variation of ARR during rising and declining phases. Interestingly, on days of transition from hard state to hard-intermediate spectral state (during the rising phase) or vice-versa (during decline phase), ARR is observed to be locally maximum. Non-constancy of ARR while obtaining reasonable fits points to the presence of two independent components in the flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Galactic black hole candidate H 1743-322 exhibited two X-ray outbursts in rapid succession: one in August 2010 and the other in April 2011. We analyze archival data of this object from the PCA instrument on board RXTE (2–25keV energy band) to study the evolution of its temporal and spectral characteristics during both the outbursts, and hence to understand the behavioral change of the accretion flow dynamics associated with the evolution of the various X-ray features. We study the evolution of QPO frequencies during the rising and the declining phases of both the outbursts. We successfully fit the variation of QPO frequency using the Propagating Oscillatory Shock (POS) model in each of the outbursts and obtain the accretion flow parameters such as the instantaneous shock locations, the shock velocity and the shock strength. Based on the degree of importance of the thermal (disk black body) and the non-thermal (power-law) components of the spectral fit and properties of the QPO (if present), the entire profiles of the 2010 and 2011 outbursts are subdivided into four different spectral states: hard, hard-intermediate, soft-intermediate and soft. We attempt to explain the nature of the outburst profile (i.e., hardness-intensity diagram) with two different types of mass accretion flow. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We study self-consistently the hydrodynamic and spectral properties of a general class of steady-state accretion discs where we couple both the hydrodynamics and the radiative transfer. We consider a two-component accretion flow in which the Keplerian disc is immersed inside an accreting low angular momentum flow (halo) around a black hole. The injected soft photons from the Keplerian disc are reprocessed by the electrons in the halo. We study the transonic properties of such a Comptonized flow. We use the Rankine–Hugoniot relation to obtain the shock locations in the disc and compute the radiated spectrum from this shocked disc. We identify the boundary of the parameter space spanned by the specific energy and angular momentum which allows the formation of the standing shocks. We show how the boundary changes in the presence of Compton cooling. Due to the radiative loss, some energy is removed from the accreting matter and the shock moves towards the black hole to maintain the pressure balance condition. We solve the two-temperature equations with Coulomb energy exchange between the protons and the electrons, and the radiative processes such as the bremsstrahlung and thermal Comptonization. We study the variation of the hydrodynamical and spectral properties as a function of the accretion rates of the Keplerian and sub-Keplerian components. Ours is the most accurate transonic solution of an inviscid flow around a black hole to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Galactic microquasar GRS 1915 + 105 exhibits various types of light curves. There is, however, no understanding of when a certain type of light curve will be exhibited and only in a handful of cases, the transitions from one type to another have actually been observed. We study the detailed spectral properties in these cases to show that different classes have different ratio of the power-law photon and the blackbody photon. Since the power-law photons are from the Compton cloud, and the intensity of the power-law photon component depends on the degree of interception of the soft photons by the Compton cloud, we conclude that not only the accretion rate, but the accretion flow geometry must also change during a class transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the properties of a steady, multi-species, low angular momentum accretion flow around a Schwarzschild black hole. Each species is described by a relativistic equation of state. We find that the transonic properties depend strongly on the composition of the flow. We find that an electron-positron pair plasma is the least relativistic one. This flow produces only one sonic point very close to the event horizon and does not show multiple critical points for any angular momentum or energy. When the baryons are present, the number of critical points depend on the specific energy content. Since the number of critical points decide whether the flow will have nonlinearities or shock waves, our results imply that whether standing shocks will form or not depends on the flow composition. Thus, for instance, a pure electron-positron pair plasma will never undergo a shock transition, while mixing it with some baryons (common in outflows and jets, for example) as in a completely ionized gas, will have shocks. We study in detail how the baryon loading affects the shock properties and discuss the implications in astrophysical observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In outburst sources, quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) frequency is known to evolve in a certain way: in the rising phase, it monotonically goes up until a soft intermediate state is achieved. In the propagating oscillatory shock model, oscillation of the Compton cloud is thought to cause QPOs. Thus, in order to increase QPO frequency, the Compton cloud must collapse steadily in the rising phase. In decline phases, the exact opposite should be true. We investigate cause of this evolution of the Compton cloud. The same viscosity parameter that increases the Keplerian disk rate also moves the inner edge of the Keplerian component, thereby reducing the size of the Compton cloud and reducing the cooling timescale. We show that cooling of the Compton cloud by inverse Comptonization is enough for it to collapse sufficiently so as to explain the QPO evolution. In the two-component advective flow configuration of Chakrabarti-Titarchuk, centrifugal force-induced shock represents the boundary of the Compton cloud. We take the rising phase of 2010 outburst of Galactic black hole candidate H 1743-322 and find an estimation of variation of the α parameter of the sub-Keplerian flow to be monotonically rising from 0.0001 to 0.02, well within the range suggested by magnetorotational instability. We also estimate the inward velocity of the Compton cloud to be a few meters per second, which is comparable to what is found in several earlier studies of our group by empirically fitting the shock locations with the time of observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform a comparative spectro-temporal analysis on the variability classes of GRS 1915+105 and IGR J17091-3624 to draw inferences regarding the underlying accretion flow mechanism. The ν , as well as C2 class Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observation, have been considered for analysis. We investigate the intensity variation of the source in different energy domains that correspond to different components of the accretion flow and infer the relative dominance of these flow components during the dip/flare events. We correlate the dependence of the dynamic photon index (Θ) with intensities in different energy bands and comment on the transition of the source to hard/soft phases during soft dips/flares. We also report the presence of sharp QPOs at ∼ 7.1 Hz corresponding to both softer and harder domain in the case of ν variability class of GRS 1915+105 and discuss the possible accretion flow configuration it suggests. Sharp QPO around ∼ 20 mHz is observed in ν and C2 classes of IGR J17091-3624 in low and mid energy band (2.0–6.0 keV and 6.0–15.0 keV), but remains undetected in high energy (15.0–60.0 keV). The 2.5–25.0 keV background-subtracted spectra have also been fitted with TCAF along with a Compton reflection component. A plausible accretion flow mechanism in order to explain the observed variability has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]