RXTE-PCA observations of 1A 1118--61: timing and spectral studies during an outburst

TL;DR

This paper presents detailed timing and spectral analysis of RXTE-PCA observations during an outburst of the transient X-ray pulsar 1A 1118--61, revealing pulse profile evolution, energy-dependent QPOs, and spectral features.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the timing and spectral behavior of 1A 1118--61 during outburst, including QPO detection and magnetic field estimation.

Findings

Detection of QPO at 0.07--0.09 Hz with energy-dependent rms.

Evolution of pulse profile from double to single peak with energy.

Spectral fitting indicating partial covering power-law with cutoff and iron line.

Abstract

We report detailed timing and spectral analysis of RXTE-PCA data obtained from observations during the outburst of a transient X-ray pulsar 1A 1118--61 in January 2009. The pulse profile showed significant evolution during the outburst and also significant energy dependence - a double peaked profile upto 10 keV and a single peak at higher energy. We have also detected quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) at 0.07--0.09 Hz. The rms value of the QPO is 5.2% and it shows a significant energy dependence with highest rms of 7% at 9 keV. The QPO frequency changed from 0.09 Hz to 0.07 Hz within 10 days. The magnetic field strength calculated using the QPO frequency and the X-ray luminosity is in agreement with the magnetic field strength measured from the energy of the cyclotron absorption feature detected in this source. The 3-30 keV energy spectrum over the 2009 outburst of 1A 1118--61 can be well fitted with a partial covering power-law model with a high energy cutoff and an iron fluorescence line emission. The pulse phase resolved spectral analysis shows that the partial covering and high energy cutoff model parameters have significant changes with the pulse phase.