Variabiity of the X‐ray broad iron spectral features in active galactic nuclei and black‐hole binaries

The “broad iron spectral features” are often seen in X-ray spectra of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and black-hole binaries (BHB). These features may be explained either by the “relativistic disc reflection” scenario or the “partial covering” scenario: It is hardly possible to determine which model is valid from time-averaged spectral analysis. Thus, X-ray spectral variability has been investigated to constrain spectral models. To that end, it is crucial to study iron structure of BHBs in detail at short time-scales, which is, for the first time, made possible with the Parallel-sum clocking (P-sum) mode of XIS detectors on board of Suzaku. This observational mode has a time-resolution of 7.8 ms as well as a CCD energyresolution. We have carried out systematic calibration of the P-sum mode, and investigated spectral variability of the BHB GRS 1915+105. Consequently, we found that the spectral variability of GRS 1915+105 does not show iron features at sub-seconds. This is totally different from variability of AGN such as 1H0707–495, where the variation amplitude significantly drops at the iron K-energy band. This difference can be naturally explained in the framework of the “partial covering” scenario. (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)