Berlin 2005 – scientific programme

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EP: Extraterrestrische Physik

EP 12: Astrophysik

EP 12.3: Talk

Tuesday, March 8, 2005, 14:45–15:00, TU BH349

Pulse Shape Formation in Accreting X-Ray Pulsars — •Ute Kraus — Theoretische Astrophysik, Uni Tübingen

The pulse shapes of accreting X-ray pulsars are complex: often strongly modulated, in general dependent on photon energy and on luminosity, and at the same time stable and characteristic of each source.

I present model calculations that show how geometric effects and relativistic effects in combination produce typical properties of X-ray pulsar profiles. Taking full account of gravitational light deflection near the neutron star, these models include shadowing, reprocessing regions and displaced magnetic poles. Filled, hollow and sectional hollow accretion funnels are studied. The resulting pulse shapes show asymmetry, an energy-dependent relative size of peaks and an energy-dependent degree of modulation.