Suzaku observation of the black hole candidate MAXI J1836-194 in a hard/intermediate spectral state

Abstract

We report on a Suzaku observation of the newly discovered X-ray binary MAXI J1836-194. The source is found to be in the hard/intermediate spectral state and displays a clear and strong relativistically broadened iron emission line. We fit the spectra with a variety of phenomenological, as well as physically motivated disk reflection models, and find that the breadth and strength of the iron line are always characteristic of emission within a few gravitational radii around a black hole. This result is independent of the continuum used and strongly points toward the central object in MAXI J1836-194 being a stellar mass black hole rotating with a spin of a = 0.88 ± 0.03 (90% confidence). We discuss this result in the context of spectral state definitions, physical changes (or lack thereof) in the accretion disk, and on the potential importance of the accretion disk corona in state transitions. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..