The observations of the X-ray source HZ Her/Her X-1.

Davis, R. J.; Howarth, I. D.; Hammerschlag-Hensberge, G.; Willis, A. J.; Wilson, R.; Dupree, A. K.; Hartmann, L. W.; Lamers, H. J. G. L. M.; Raymond, J.; van den Heuvel, E. P. J.; Burger, M.; Gursky, H.; Sandford, M. C. W.; Black, J.; Matilsky, T. A.; vanden Bout, P.; Sanner, F.; De Loore, C.

United States, United Kingdom

Abstract

The results of a campaign of monitoring HZ Her with the IUE satellite are presented. The spectrum and light variation outside of eclipse are consistent with the Milgrom and Salpeter model for emission from the X-ray heated photosphere of the primary. Near eclipse there is UV flux in excess of the prediction of the heated photosphere model, which shows significant 35 day variations and is consistent with an origin in a precessing disk, as described by Gerend and Boynton. The spectrum shows the strong emission lines of N V and C IV, which generally vary in the sense of the continuum. The N V/C IV ratio is greater than 2 near orbital phase 0.5 and approaches unity near eclipse. It is suggested that these emission lines are optically thick and arise from both the heated photosphere and the accretion disk.

1980 The Astrophysical Journal
IUE 26