The last three outbursts of H 1743-322 observed by RXTE in its latest service phase

TL;DR

This study analyzes the last three outbursts of H 1743-322 observed by RXTE, focusing on spectral transitions and their implications for understanding outburst success and failed states in black hole binaries.

Contribution

It provides detailed spectral and timing analysis of recent outbursts, expanding the sample to better understand conditions for state transitions and failed outbursts.

Findings

Spectral transitions to high-soft state define a specific region in hardness-intensity diagram.

The 2008 outburst is near the successful group but classified as failed, suggesting it as an almost successful outburst.

The results inform models of outburst evolution and the conditions necessary for state transitions.

Abstract

After 2010, three outbursts of H 1743-322 were detected by RXTE. We have carried out timing and spectral analysis of the data, emphasizing on the two with relatively complete evolution history presented in the RXTE/PCA observations. We then constitute an enlarged outburst sample for H 1743-322 which allows to investigate the spectral transitions in more details. We find that the spectral transitions to high-soft state constrain a region for four outbursts in hardness-intensity diagram. An extension of the region locates in the vicinity of the failed outburst in 2008, and excludes it from a successful group. We therefore suggest the failed outburst in 2008 may present the first almost successful outburst sample, which is important for modelling the outburst, especially upon the conditions required for transition to high-soft state.