Abstract Details

Name: Gayathri Raman
Affiliation: IIT Bombay
Conference ID: ASI2021_418
Title : Detection of thermonuclear X-ray bursts in Cyg X-2 using AstroSat
Authors and Co-Authors : Gayathri Raman (IITB), Jincy Devasia (Henry Baker College, Kottayam) and Biswajit Paul (RRI)
Abstract Type : Poster
Abstract Category : Stars, ISM and Galaxy
Abstract : Accreting compact objects are some of the brightest galactic X-ray emitters. In particular, weakly magnetized neutron stars, accreting from a low mass companion, are observed to undergo tremendously luminous flashes known as thermonuclear X-ray bursts. In my talk, I will present our latest results on the detection of six X-ray bursts from the low mass X-ray binary system, Cyg X-2, using AstroSat instruments. Detailed energy resolved burst analysis indicates that the bursts were Helium fueled flashes. We infer that during these observations, Cyg X-2 was present in an early Flaring Branch (FB) with a puffed up accretion disk and a clumpy coronal structure while undergoing medium-to-high levels of accretion. I will further discuss the implications of these results on our current understanding of accretion state transitions and thermonuclear detonation in Low Mass X-ray Binaries (LMXBs).