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Preprint 11b/00

MORE REALISTIC CYCLOTRON LINE MODELS FOR ACCRETING PULSAR SPECTRA

P. Kretschmar (1,3), R. A. Araya­Gochez (2), I. Kreykenbohm (3), J. Wilms (3), R. Staubert (3), W. A. Heindl (4), R. E. Rothschild (4), and D. E. Gruber (4)

(1) INTEGRAL Science Data Centre, Versoix, Switzerland
(2) LAR, University of Costa Rica
(3) Institut für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Astronomie, Universität Tübingen, Waldhäuser Str. 64, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
(4) Center for Astrophysics & Space Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA

To appear in: ESA-SP

Abstract. We present first results of a project to analyze spectra of accreting X­ray pulsars modeling the cyclotron line features in a more realistic manner than customary.
Our model spectra are based on results of Monte­Carlo simulations, using relativistic Compton­scattering cross sections, including natural line widths and considering up to four harmonic photons in two idealized limiting cases of "plasma geometry": plane parallel and cylindrical. These model spectra are compared with RXTE spectra showing cyclotron line features.
We discuss implications for the determination of field strengths from cyclotron features and the possibilities that INTEGRAL will open for this kind of analysis.

Key words: Key words: X­rays: stars; stars: neutron; magnetic fields; line: formation; radiative transfer

Paper (41k gzip'ed Postscript including figures)

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