Timing Analysis of a New Black Hole Candidate MAXI J1803-298 with Insight-HXMT and NICER

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the timing properties of the black hole candidate MAXI J1803-298 during its 2021 outburst, revealing state transitions, QPO characteristics, and inclination estimates using Insight-HXMT and NICER data.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed timing analysis of MAXI J1803-298, identifying QPO evolution, state transitions, and inclination estimates, and discusses models explaining observed phenomena.

Findings

QPO frequencies increased from 0.16 to 2.6 Hz during outburst

Source likely has a high inclination angle

Type-B QPOs show a U-shaped lag spectrum

Abstract

We present the timing analysis results of MAXI J1803$-$298, a black hole candidate, during its 2021 outburst using data obtained from the \textit{Insight-}HXMT and \textit{NICER} telescopes. Our analysis reveals that the source undergoes a state transition from the low/hard state to the hard intermediate state, followed by the soft intermediate state, and ultimately reaching the high/soft state. We searched for the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) and studied the characteristics of the outburst. At the beginning of the outburst, the source was in the hard state, many type-C QPOs were seen in the \textit{Insight-}HXMT data, and the frequency of these QPOs increased from $\sim 0.16$ to $2.6$ Hz. Our analysis of the type-C QPOs' rms-frequency relationship indicates a turning point in the frequency. We also analyzed the phase lag versus frequency and energy relationship and deduced that the source likely has a high inclination angle, consistent with previous research. The observed rms and phase lag features in type-C QPOs could be explained by the Lense-Thirring precession model, while the alternatives would be still viable. The lag spectrum of type-B QPO exhibits a "\textit{U-shaped}" pattern similar to many other sources, and the type-B QPOs' rms increase as the energy rises. This phenomenon can be explained by the dual-corona model.