A disk wind interpretation of the strong Fe K{\alpha} features in 1H 0707-495

TL;DR

The paper proposes that the X-ray spectral features of 1H 0707-495 are better explained by absorption in a disk wind rather than extreme relativistic effects, challenging previous interpretations of its spectrum.

Contribution

It demonstrates that a wind absorption model can successfully fit the spectrum of 1H 0707-495, reducing the need for extreme relativistic smearing and supersolar iron abundance assumptions.

Findings

Wind model fits 1H 0707-495 spectrum well

Absorption in a wind explains spectral features without extreme relativistic effects

Model matches NuSTAR data at higher energies

Abstract

1H 0707-495 is the most convincing example of a supermassive black hole with an X-ray spectrum being dominated by extremely smeared, relativistic reflection, with the additional requirement of strongly supersoler iron abundance. However, here we show that the iron features in its 2--10 keV spectrum are rather similar to the archetypal wind dominated source, PDS 456. We fit all the 2--10 keV spectra from 1H 0707-495 using the same wind model as used for PDS 456, but viewed at higher inclination so that the iron absorption line is broader but not so blueshifted. This gives a good overall fit to the data from 1H 0707-495, and an extrapolation of this model to higher energies also gives a good match to the NuSTAR data. Small remaining residuals indicate that the iron line emission is stronger than in PDS 456. This is consistent with the wider angle wind expected from a continuum driven wind from the super-Eddington mass accretion rate in 1H 0707-495, and/or the presence of residual reflection from the underlying disk though the presence of the absorption line in the model removes the requirement for highly relativistic smearing, and highly supersoler iron abundance. We suggest that the spectrum of 1H 0707-495 is sculpted more by absorption in a wind than by extreme relativistic effects in strong gravity.