Ionized Reflection Spectra from Accretion Disks Illuminated by X-Ray Pulsars

Abstract

X-ray reflection signatures are observed around multiple classes of accreting compact objects. Modeling these features yields important constraints on the physics of accretion disks, motivating the development of X-ray reflection models appropriate for a variety of systems and illumination conditions. Here, constant density ionized X-ray reflection models are presented for a disk irradiated with a very hard power-law X-ray spectrum (Γ < 1) and a variable high-energy cutoff. These models are then applied to the Suzaku data of the accreting X-ray pulsar LMC X-4, where very good fits are obtained with a highly ionized reflector responsible for both the broad Fe Kα line and the soft excess. The ionized reflector shows strong evidence for significant Doppler broadening and is redshifted by ~10⁴ km s^-1. These features indicate that the reflecting material is associated with the complex dynamics occurring at the inner region of the magnetically truncated accretion disk. Thus, reflection studies of X-ray pulsar spectra may give important insights into the accretion physics at the magnetospheric radius.