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Theoretical aspects of relativistic spectral features
Author(s) -
Karas V.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/asna.200610672
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , relativistic quantum chemistry , astronomy , theoretical physics , classical mechanics , nuclear physics
The inner parts of black‐hole accretion discs shine in X‐rays which can be monitored and the observed spectra can be used to trace strong gravitational fields in the place of emission and along paths of light rays. This paper summarizes several aspects of how the spectral features are influenced by relativistic effects. We focus our attention onto variable and broad emission lines, origin of which can be attributed to the presence of orbiting patterns – spots and spiral waves in the disc. We point out that the observed spectrum can determine parameters of the central black hole provided the intrinsic local emissivity is constrained by theoretical models. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)