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Eclipse Does Not Hide What It Occults: Insights into X-ray reprocessing in eclipsing X-ray Binaries with XMM-Newton
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- Journal:
- Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union / Volume 21 / Issue S398 / September 2025
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 October 2026, pp. 48-52
- Print publication:
- September 2025
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- Article
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X-ray reprocessing offers valuable insight into the environments of X-ray binaries, but direct emission from the compact star often obscures it. Eclipsing systems provide a unique advantage, as the eclipse blocks primary X-rays, isolating reprocessed emission. Using XMM-Newton EPIC pn data, we analyzed eclipse and out-of-eclipse spectra from 9 High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs) and 4 Low-Mass X-ray Binaries (LMXBs). In HMXBs, continuum flux decreased by factors of
$\sim$8-237 during eclipse, while iron lines fell only by factors of 2.5-4.3, yielding large equivalent widths and indicating extended line-emitting regions. System-specific features included hydrogen-like iron in LMC X-4 and persistent soft emission in 4U 1538
$-$522. LMXBs showed stronger relative reprocessing, with unique signatures such as warped disks in EXO 0748
$-$676 and unusually high flux ratios in XTE J1710
$-$281. Overall, lower flux ratios in LMXBs suggest more efficient reprocessing, governed by accretion disk geometry and scale height, highlighting the diagnostic potential of eclipse spectroscopy.
