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Compton Scattering of Fe Kα Lines from Accreting White Dwarfs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2013

Zdenka Kuncic ,
Kinwah Wu  and
Jason G. Cullen
Zdenka Kuncic*
Affiliation:
School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
Kinwah Wu
Affiliation:
Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Holmbury St Mary, RH5 6NT, UK
Jason G. Cullen
Affiliation:
ADI Ltd, Canberra ACT 2612, Australia
*
DCorresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Compton scattering in the bulk accretion flow of the accretion column in magnetic cataclysmic variables can significantly shift photon energies in the X-ray emission lines resulting from accretion shocks. In particular, Compton recoil can potentially broaden the 6.7 and 6.97 keV Fe Kα emission lines produced in the post-shock region, and contaminate the fluorescent 6.4 keV neutral Fe Kα line reflected off the white dwarf surface. We present nonlinear Monte Carlo simulations demonstrating these effects, and we discuss the interpretation of observed Fe Kα linewidths in magnetic cataclysmic variables in light of these new results. The implications for other accreting compact objects are also discussed.

Keywords

accretionline: profilesscatteringbinaries: closewhite dwarfsX-rays
Type
Research Article
Information
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , 2005 , pp. 56 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 2005

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