Reflection Spectra of the Black Hole Binary Candidate MAXI J1535-571 in the Hard State Observed by NuSTAR

TL;DR

This study presents NuSTAR observations of the black hole candidate MAXI J1535-571 in the hard state, revealing detailed reflection features, a high black hole spin, and a compact corona, indicating a non-truncated accretion disk.

Contribution

First detailed spectral analysis of MAXI J1535-571 in the hard state using NuSTAR, measuring black hole spin and corona geometry with relativistic reflection modeling.

Findings

Black hole spin measured as >0.84.

Inner disk radius within 2.01 times the ISCO.

Corona height estimated at approximately 7 gravitational radii.

Abstract

We report on a NuSTAR observation of the recently discovered bright black hole candidate MAXI J1535-571. NuSTAR observed the source on MJD 58003 (five days after the outburst was reported). The spectrum is characteristic of a black hole binary in the hard state. We observe clear disk reflection features, including a broad Fe K$\alpha$ line and a Compton hump peaking around 30 keV. Detailed spectral modeling reveals narrow Fe K$\alpha$ line complex centered around 6.5 keV on top of the strong relativistically broadened Fe K$\alpha$ line. The narrow component is consistent with distant reflection from moderately ionized material. The spectral continuum is well described by a combination of cool thermal disk photons and a Comptonized plasma with the electron temperature $kT_{\rm e}=19.7\pm{0.4}$ keV. An adequate fit can be achieved for the disk reflection features with a self-consistent relativistic reflection model that assumes a lamp-post geometry for the coronal illuminating source. The spectral fitting measures a black hole spin $a>0.84$, inner disk radius $R_{\rm in}<2.01~r_{\rm ISCO}$, and a lamp-post height $h=7.2^{+0.8}_{-2.0} r_{\rm g}$ (statistical errors, 90% confidence), indicating no significant disk truncation and a compact corona. Although the distance and mass of this source are not currently known, this suggests the source was likely in the brighter phases of the hard state during this NuSTAR observation.