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Author: Wilms, J. × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2010 × WGL Institute: AIP ×

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Synthetic simulations of the extragalactic sky seen by eROSITA : I. Pre-launch selection functions from Monte-Carlo simulations
    (Les Ulis : EDP Sciences, 2018) Clerc, N.; Ramos-Ceja, M.E.; Ridl, J.; Lamer, G.; Brunner, H.; Hofmann, F.; Comparat, J.; Pacaud, F.; Käfer, F.; Reiprich, T.H.; Merloni, A.; Schmid, C.; Brand, T.; Wilms, J.; Friedrich, P.; Finoguenov, A.; Dauser, T.; Kreykenbohm, I.
    Context. Studies of galaxy clusters provide stringent constraints on models of structure formation. Provided that selection effects are under control, large X-ray surveys are well suited to derive cosmological parameters, in particular those governing the dark energy equation of state. Aims. We forecast the capabilities of the all-sky eROSITA (extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array) survey to be achieved by the early 2020s. We bring special attention to modelling the entire chain from photon emission to source detection and cataloguing. Methods. The selection function of galaxy clusters for the upcoming eROSITA mission is investigated by means of extensive and dedicated Monte-Carlo simulations. Employing a combination of accurate instrument characterisation and a state-of-the-art source detection technique, we determine a cluster detection efficiency based on the cluster fluxes and sizes. Results. Using this eROSITA cluster selection function, we find that eROSITA will detect a total of approximately 105 clusters in the extra-galactic sky. This number of clusters will allow eROSITA to put stringent constraints on cosmological models. We show that incomplete assumptions on selection effects, such as neglecting the distribution of cluster sizes, induce a bias in the derived value of cosmological parameters. Conclusions. Synthetic simulations of the eROSITA sky capture the essential characteristics impacting the next-generation galaxy cluster surveys and they highlight parameters requiring tight monitoring in order to avoid biases in cosmological analyses.
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    A multi-model approach to X-ray pulsars: Connecting spectral and timing models to pin down the intrinsic emission characteristics of magnetized, accreting neutron stars
    (Les Ulis : EDP Sciences, 2014) Schönherr, G.; Schwarm, F.; Falkner, S.; Becker, P.; Wilms, J.; Dauser, T.; Wolff, M.T.; Wolfram, K.; West, B.; Pottschmidt, K.; Kretschmar, P.; Ferrigno, C.; Klochkov, D.; Nishimura, O.; Kreykenbohm, I.; Caballero, I.; Staubert, R.
    The emission characteristics of X-ray pulsars are governed by magnetospheric accretion within the Alfvén radius, leading to a direct coupling of accretion column properties and interactions at the magnetosphere. The complexity of the physical processes governing the formation of radiation within the accreted, strongly magnetized plasma has led to several sophisticated theoretical modelling efforts over the last decade, dedicated to either the formation of the broad band continuum, the formation of cyclotron resonance scattering features (CRSFs) or the formation of pulse profiles. While these individual approaches are powerful in themselves, they quickly reach their limits when aiming at a quantitative comparison to observational data. Too many fundamental parameters, describing the formation of the accretion columns and the systems' overall geometry are unconstrained and different models are often based on different fundamental assumptions, while everything is intertwined in the observed, highly phase-dependent spectra and energy-dependent pulse profiles. To name just one example: the (phase variable) line width of the CRSFs is highly dependent on the plasma temperature, the existence of B-field gradients (geometry) and observation angle, parameters which, in turn, drive the continuum radiation and are driven by the overall two-pole geometry for the light bending model respectively. This renders a parallel assessment of all available spectral and timing information by a compatible across-models-approach indispensable. In a collaboration of theoreticians and observers, we have been working on a model unification project over the last years, bringing together theoretical calculations of the Comptonized continuum, Monte Carlo simulations and Radiation Transfer calculations of CRSFs as well as a General Relativity (GR) light bending model for ray tracing of the incident emission pattern from both magnetic poles. The ultimate goal is to implement a unified fitting model for phase-resolved spectral and timing data analysis. We present the current status of this project.
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    Luminosity dependent accretion state change in GRO J1008-57
    (Les Ulis : EDP Sciences, 2014) Kühnel, M.; Müller, S.; Kreykenbohm, I.; Fürst, F.; Pottschmidt, K.; Rothschild, R.E.; Caballero, I.; Grinberg, V.; Schönherr, G.; Shrader, C.; Klochkov, D.; Staubert, R.; Ferrigno, C.; Torrejón, J.-M.; Martínez-Núñez, S.; Wilms, J.
    In a former publication, we have analyzed the transient neutron star X-ray binary GRO J1008-57 using all available RXTE-, Swift-, and Suzaku-data. As we have found, the source's spectral components, i.e., a power-law with high exponential cutoff and a black-body, are strongly correlated with the hard X-ray flux (15-50 keV). We update the analytical description of these dependence, including a change in the photon index behaviour from a flat to a logarithmic function. The flux, where the change occurs, is consistent with the onset of the black-body emission. Thus, a change of the accretion state always occurs in GRO J1008-57 at a particular flux level.
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    Simulation of cyclotron resonant scattering features: The effect of bulk velocity
    (Les Ulis : EDP Sciences, 2014) Schwarm, F.-W.; Schönherr, G.; Kühnel, M.; Wilms, J.
    X-ray binary systems consisting of a mass donating optical star and a highly magnetized neutron star, under the right circumstances, show quantum mechanical absorption features in the observed spectra called cyclotron resonant scattering features (CRSFs). We have developed a simulation to model CRSFs using Monte Carlo methods. We calculate Green's tables which can be used to imprint CRSFs to arbitrary X-ray continua. Our simulation keeps track of scattering parameters of individual photons, extends the number of variable parameters of previous works, and allows for more flexible geometries. Here we focus on the influence of bulk velocity of the accreted matter on the CRSF line shapes and positions.