Different types of class transitions of GRS 1915+105 using IXAE data

Asit K. Choudhury1*, Achintya K. Chatterjee1,2 , Anuj Nandi3
1 Centre For Space Physics, Malda Branch, Atul Market, Malda 732101, India
2 Malda Col lege, Malda 732101, India
3 Centre For Space Physics, Chalantika 43, Garia Station Rd, Kolkata 700084, India

Abstract. The microquasar GRS 1915+105 exhibits at least 13 distinct classes of light curves. We observed different types of class transitions of light curves of GRS 1915+105 by analyzing the data obtained from the Indian X-ray Astronomy Experiment (IXAE) instrument aboard the Indian satellite IRS-P3 and with data from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) archives. We show seven different types of class transitions in the data obtained from IXAE. It is also observed that the QPO frequencies are changing during the transitions. Assuming that the transitions are caused by variations in the accretion rates, implies that a significant fraction of the matter must be nearly freely falling in order to have such transitions.

Keywords: Stars: individual: GRS 1915+105 - X-rays: stars - stars: binaries: general - stars: activity

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