X-ray spectral and timing evolution during the 2018 outburst of MAXI J1820+070

TL;DR

This study analyzes the spectral and timing evolution of MAXI J1820+070 during its 2018 outburst using high-cadence X-ray observations, revealing unique spectral state transitions, correlations between QPOs and spectral parameters, and jet ejection timing.

Contribution

It provides detailed insights into the spectral-timing evolution and the coupling between QPO properties and Comptonization processes in a black hole X-ray binary during outburst.

Findings

The HID shows a 'q'-like track with a unique loop in the hard state.

A negative correlation between QPO frequency and optical depth was observed.

The last QPO detection coincides with a transient jet ejection within one hour.

Abstract

We made use high-cadence observations from the $Insight$-HXMT and $NICER$ to scrutinize the spectral and timing evolution during the 2018 outburst of the black hole X-ray binary (BHXRB) MAXI J1820+070. It's hardness-intensity diagram (HID) displays a ``q''-like track including all the spectral states, along a unique loop in the hard state. The tracks observed in the HID is anticipated in the evolution of the components responsible for Compton and reflection emission. This is substantiated by the relationship between the X-ray luminosity $L_\mathrm{X}$ and photon index $\Gamma$ which exhibits a pattern reminiscent of HID. The distinctive evolution of the reflection component leads to the unique loop in the HID (also in the $L_\mathrm{X}$--$\Gamma$ plane) of hard state. Additionally, we found a negative correlation between frequency of the type-C quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) ($\nu_{\mathrm{C,QPO}}$) and the optical depth of the Compton emission ($\tau$), and a positive correlation between $\nu_{\mathrm{C,QPO}}$ and $\Gamma$. These correlations strongly suggest a coupling between the QPO properties and the underlying process responsible for Comptonization. We also found that the last detection of type-C QPO coincide with the transient jet ejection within a timescale of one hour.