# Evolution of broad-band SED during outburst rise in NS X-ray Nova Aql X-1

## TL;DR

This study analyzes the evolution of the broad-band spectral energy distribution in NS X-ray Nova Aql X-1 during an outburst, revealing complex accretion disc heating mechanisms and state transition effects not explained by standard models.

## Contribution

It introduces a detailed interpretation of SED evolution during state transitions, emphasizing the role of hard X-ray scattering and screening effects in accretion disc heating.

## Key findings

- SED evolves from a single-temperature blackbody to a multi-colour disc.
- NUV correlates with soft X-ray flux, while NIR correlates with hard X-ray flux.
- Screening of UV-emitting regions by the corona affects heating during state transitions.

## Abstract

The observed evolution of the broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED) in NS X-ray Nova Aql X-1 during the rise phase of a bright FRED-type outburst in 2013 can be understood in the framework of thermal emission from unstationary accretion disc with temperature radial distribution transforming from a single-temperature blackbody emitting ring into the multi-colour irradiated accretion disc. SED evolution during the hard to soft X-ray state transition looks curious, as it can not be repro- duced by the standard disc irradiation model with a single irradiation parameter for NUV, Optical and NIR spectral bands. NIR (NUV) band is correlated with soft (hard) X-ray flux changes during the state transition interval, respectively. In our interpreta- tion, at the moment of X-ray state transition UV-emitting parts of the accretion disc are screened from direct X-ray illumination from the central source and are heated primary by hard X-rays (E > 10 keV), scattered in the hot corona or wind possibly formed above the optically-thick outer accretion flow; the outer edge of multi-colour disc, which emits in Optical-NIR, can be heated primary by direct X-ray illumination. We point out that future simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of X-ray Nova systems during the fast X-ray state transition interval are of great importance, as it can serve as 'X-ray tomograph' to study physical conditions in outer regions of accretion flow. This can provide an effective tool to directly test the energy-dependent X-ray heating efficiency, vertical structure and accretion flow geometry in transient LMXBs.