Comparing Spectral Models for ULXs with NGC 4517 ULX1

TL;DR

This study compares spectral models for the ULX NGC 4517 ULX1 using high-quality XMM-Newton data, highlighting how different models fit the data and discussing future observations to distinguish them.

Contribution

It provides a direct comparison of disc reflection and Comptonisation models for ULX spectra, analyzing their physical implications and observational distinguishability.

Findings

Both models fit the data statistically equally well.

Reflection model requires super-solar iron abundance.

Comptonisation model involves low-temperature, optically thick corona.

Abstract

We present the previously unanalysed high quality XMM-Newton spectrum of an ultraluminous X-ray source candidate in NGC 4517. As with other high quality ULX spectra, a downturn in the spectrum is observed at ~6 keV. Both of the recent disc reflection and Comptonisation interpretations of this feature are applied, in order to present a direct comparison, and are found to provide statistically equivalent representations of the current data. We find that the reflection model requires the accretion disc to have a highly super-solar iron abundance, while the Comptonisation model requires low temperature Comptonising electrons, and for the corona to be optically thick. These physical requirements are discussed in detail, and physically motivated scenarios are highlighted in which each model can be considered a viable explanation for the observed emission. By extending our consideration of these two interpretations to high energies, we demonstrate that observations of ULXs at energies above ~10 keV should be extremely useful when attempting to distinguish between them. With current instrumentation, it is only viable to perform these observations for M82 X-1, but future high angular resolution hard X-ray imaging spectrometers, such as the Hard X-ray Imaging System due to fly on Astro-H, should go a long way to resolving this issue.