X-ray/gamma-ray spectra of Cygnus X-1 from Ginga and OSSE and their theoretical implications

Marek Gierlinski1, Andrzej A. Zdziarski2

1Astronomical Observatory, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
2Copernicus Astronomical Center, Bartycka 18, 00-716 Warsaw, Poland


We present the results of 4 simultaneous observations of Cygnus X-1 by Ginga and OSSE. The X-ray/gamma-ray spectra can be described by an intrinsic continuum and a component due to Compton reflection including an iron K-alpha line. The intrinsic spectrum at X-ray energies is a power law with a photon spectral index of Gamma 1.6. However, the broad-band intrinsic spectrum cannot be described in terms of neither an exponentially cut-off power law, nor thermal Comptonization. Some distribution of plasma temperature and optical thickness is required. We have found a good approximation of the intrinsic continuum by a two-temperature model in which emission comes predominantly from the optically thin tau ~ 0.4 plasma of kTe ~ 150 keV, with an addition from optically thick plasma of kTe ~ 50 keV.