Publication Date:
2019-06-27
Description:
During the summer of 1978 the recurrent transient X-ray source, Aquila X-1, underwent its first major outburst in two years. This paper presents the results of extensive X-ray and optical observations of this event, which lasted for about two months. The peak X-ray luminosity was about 1.3 times that of the Crab and exhibited spectrum-dependent flickering on time scales of about 5 minutes. In addition, one very large flare was observed about one month after maximum that was also correlated with spectral changes. During this flare the previously identified optical counterpart brightened from V = 19 to a peak of V = 14.8, where it was distinctly blue (U - B = 0.4), and then reddened during the decay. These observations are interpreted in terms of a standard accretion disk model with particular emphasis on the similarities to Sco -1 and other dwarf X-ray systems.
Keywords:
ASTROPHYSICS
Type:
Astrophysical Journal; vol. 237
Format:
text
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