Accretion geometry of the black hole binary MAXI J1820+070 probed by frequency-resolved spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study uses frequency-resolved spectroscopy of MAXI J1820+070 to investigate the accretion flow geometry, revealing a truncated disc that moves inward during the state transition, with reflection regions changing location.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the accretion geometry by tracking the evolution of reflection and variability properties during the outburst transition.

Findings

Reflection occurs at large distances in the hard state.

The reflector moves closer during the transition.

Iron line profile shifts indicating disc extension near the black hole.

Abstract

The geometry of the inner accretion flow in the hard and hard-intermediate states of X-ray binaries remains controversial. Using NICER observations of the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1820+070 during the rising phase of its 2018 outburst, we study the evolution of the timing properties, in particular the characteristic variability frequencies of the prominent iron K$\alpha$ line. Using frequency-resolved spectroscopy, we find that reflection occurs at large distances from the Comptonizing region in the bright hard state. During the hard- to soft transition, the variability properties suggest the reflector moves closer to the X-ray source. In parallel, the peak of the iron line shifts from 6.5 to ~7 keV, becoming consistent with that expected of from a highly inclined disc extending close to the black hole. We additionally find significant changes in the dependence of the root-mean-square (rms) variability on both energy and Fourier frequency as the source softens. The evolution of the rms-energy dependence, the line profile, and the timing properties of the iron line as traced by the frequency-resolved spectroscopy all support the picture of a truncated disc/inner flow geometry.