The Chandra HETGS and RXTE view of GRS 1915+105


Abstract in English

The Chandra AO1 HETGS observation of the micro-quasar GRS 1915+105 in the low hard state reveals (1) neutral K absorption edges from Fe, Si, Mg, and S in cold gas, and (2) highly ionized (Fe XXV and Fe XXVI) absorption attributed to a hot disk, disk wind, or corona. The neutral edges reveal anomalous Si and Fe abundances which we attribute to surrounding cold material in/near the environment of GRS 1915+105. We also point out the exciting possibility for the first astrophysical detection of XAFS attributed to material in interstellar grains. We place constraints on the ionization parameter, temperature, and hydrogen equivalent number density of the absorber near the accretion disk based on the detection of the H- and He-like Fe absorption. Observed spectral changes in the ionized lines which track the light curve point to changes in both the ionizing flux and density of the absorber, supporting the presence of a flow. Details can be found in Lee et al., 2002, ApJ., 567, 1102

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