Hercules X-1 hard X-ray pulsations observed from HEAO 1
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Abstract
The 1.24-sec pulsations of Her X-1 in the energy range 13-75 keV have been analyzed in data obtained from the UCSD/MIT experiment on HEAO 1 during observations of the source on three dates in February 1978 and three in August 1978. Observational results are (1) the main pulse broadens somewhat with increasing energy; (2) the pulsation light curve undergoes pronounced changes at the leading edge of the main pulse from day to day; (3) spectral hardening within the main pulse is confirmed; (4) a 40-60 keV spectral feature in the spectrum is confirmed; (5) this feature is resolved, the pulse width broadening is greater than 20%, and its centroid varies with pulsation phase; and (6) the 13-75 keV spectrum does not noticeably vary from day to day, except for an overall intensity factor. Some implications of these results for the prevailing models of Her X-1 and the HZ Her-Her X-1 system are briefly discussed.