2011/12/05 by Joey Neilsen, Joseph Neilsen, Andrew J. Petschek +1 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Accretion (finance) #Accretion disc #Astronomy #Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations #Astrophysics #Galaxy #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Ionization #Luminosity #Physics #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #astro-ph.HE
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2011.20329.x
Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 11 pages, 7 figures, uses mn2e.cls. Comments welcome
arxiv created 2011/12/05 · openalex publication_date 2012/01/01 · arxiv updated 2015/06/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Continuing our study of the role and evolution of accretion disc winds in the microquasar GRS 1915+105, we present high-resolution spectral variability analysis of the β and γ states with the Chandra High-Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer. By tracking changes in the absorption lines from the accretion disc wind, we find new evidence that radiation links the inner and outer accretion discs on a range of time-scales. As the central X-ray flux rises during the high-luminosity γ state, we observe the progressive overionization of the wind. In the β state, we argue that changes in the inner disc leading to the ejection of a transient ‘baby jet’ also quench the highly ionized wind from the outer disc. Our analysis reveals how the state, structure and X-ray luminosity of the inner accretion disc all conspire to drive the formation and variability of highly ionized accretion disc winds.