Change in spin-down rate and detection of emission line in HMXB 4U 2206+54 with AstroSat observation

TL;DR

This study analyzes AstroSat observations of HMXB 4U 2206+54, revealing pulsations, a change in spin-down rate, and a broad emission line at 7 keV, enhancing understanding of its timing and spectral properties.

Contribution

First detection of a broad emission line at 7 keV and updated spin-down rate for 4U 2206+54 using AstroSat data, providing new insights into its emission mechanisms.

Findings

Detected 5648 s pulsations with sinusoidal profile.

Updated spin-down rate of 2.95 x 10^-7 s s^-1, smaller than previous estimates.

Identified a broad emission line at 7 keV with ~0.4 keV equivalent width.

Abstract

This work presents timing and spectral analysis of 4U 2206+54 using data obtained from LAXPC instrument onboard India's AstroSat mission. This source was observed with AstroSat in September 2016 and October 2016. We report detection of $5648 (4)$ s pulsations at MJD 57669 in the latter observation of 4U 2206+54. The pulse profile is sinusoidal and the inherent shape is independent of energy up to 30 keV. The pulse fraction increases with energy from $\sim 0.5$% to $\sim 0.8$%. We report an updated spin down rate of $2.95 (14) \times 10^{-7}$ s s$^{-1}$. This is about 0.40 times smaller than the previously reported long term value. The energy spectrum is best modelled with an absorbed power-law with high energy exponential cut-off. We have detected presence of broad emission line in 4U 2206+54 at an energy of $7$ keV with equivalent width of $\sim 0.4$ keV.