X-Ray Pulses From Accretion Columns

Ute Kraus, Universität Tübingen

Abstract: Accreting X-ray pulsars display a large variety of pulse shapes which are in general energy-dependent and change with the luminosity of the source. I present model calcuations which demonstrate
the impact of different mechanisms and parameters on the pulse shape. Starting with a simple column model, the model is refined step by step to include relativistic light deflection, a halo on the neutron star surface, scattering in the upper accretion stream, a hollow column geometry, a sectional hollow column geometry, and displaced poles. Simulation results (MPEG movies) and sample pulse shapes are provided at each step.

Poster presented at the workshop "Topics in X-ray Astronomy".