X-ray observations of the Intermediate Polar TX Col

TL;DR

This paper analyzes X-ray timing data of TX Col from multiple observatories over several years, revealing changes in its accretion geometry between disc and stream dominance.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive timing analysis across different epochs, demonstrating the variability in accretion modes of TX Col using data from Chandra, Swift, and Suzaku.

Findings

Spin modulation was dominant in Chandra data.

Orbital and beat modulations were dominant in Swift and Suzaku data.

TX Col switches between disc and stream accretion modes.

Abstract

We present the timing analysis of the intermediate polar TX Col in the X-ray band using the observations made by Chandra, Swift, and Suzaku during the years 2000, 2007, and 2009, respectively. The spin, orbital, and beat periods derived from these data are consistent with the earlier findings. We found that the spin modulation was dominant during the Chandra observation, whereas both orbital and beat modulations were dominant during the Swift and Suzaku observations. These findings and past X-ray observations indicate that TX Col is changing its accretion geometry from disc dominance to stream dominance and vice versa.