X-ray Spectroscopy of the Dwarf Nova Z Chamaeleontis in Quiescence and Outburst Using the XMM-Newton Observatory

TL;DR

This study uses X-ray spectroscopy to analyze the plasma conditions of the dwarf nova Z Chamaeleontis during quiescence and outburst, revealing non-equilibrium, ADAF-like accretion flows and inhomogeneous density structures.

Contribution

First detailed X-ray spectral analysis of Z Chamaeleontis in different states, identifying non-equilibrium plasma and ADAF-like accretion flows with inhomogeneous density.

Findings

Quiescent plasma is non-collisional and not in ionization equilibrium.

Outburst plasma is more collisional and denser, yet still not in equilibrium.

Flow velocities are consistent with ADAF-like hot flows, not boundary layers.

Abstract

We present X-ray spectroscopy of the SU UMa-type dwarf nova (DN) Z Cha using the EPIC and RGS instruments onboard the XMM-Newton Observatory. The quiescent system can be modeled by collisional equilibrium or nonequilibrium plasma models, yielding a kT of 8.2-13.0 keV at a luminosity of (5.0-6.0)$\times$10$^{30}$ erg/s. The spectra yield better reduced $\chi^{2}$ using partial covering absorbers of cold and photoionized nature. The ionized absorber has an equivalent N$_H$=(3.4-5.9)$\times$10$^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$ and a log($\xi$)=3.5-3.7 with (50-60)% covering fraction when VNEI model (XSPEC) is used. The line diagnosis in quiescence shows no resonance lines with only detected forbidden lines of Ne, Mg, Si. The H-like C, O, Ne, and Mg are detected. The strongest line is O VIII with (2.7-4.6)$\times$10$^{-14}$ erg/s/cm$^2$. The quiescent X-ray emitting plasma is not collisional and not in ionization equilibrium which is consistent with hot ADAF-like accretion flows. The line diagnosis in outburst shows He-like O, and Ne with intercombination lines being the strongest along with weaker resonance lines. This indicates the plasma is more collisional and denser, but yet not in a collisional equilibrium, revealing ionization timescales of (0.97-1.4)$\times$10$^{11}$ s cm$^{-3}$. The R-ratios in outburst yield electron densities of (7-90)$\times$10$^{11}$ cm$^{-3}$ and the G-ratios yield electron temperatures of (2-3)$\times$10$^{6}$ K. The outburst luminosity is (1.4-2.5)$\times$10$^{30}$ erg/s. The flow is inhomogeneous in density. All detected lines are narrow with widths limited by the resolution of RGS yielding Keplerian rotational velocities $<$1000 km/s. This is too low for boundary layers, consistent with the nature of ADAF-like hot flows.