AGingaObservation of the X‐Ray Pulsar 4U 0352+30

1996

4U 0352 + 30 (X Persei) is a low-luminosity binary X-ray pulsar with a pulse period of 835 s. We present timing and spectral analysis of a Ginga observation of X Persei from 1990 January 26 to January 29. The observation shows the peculiar spectral behavior of X Persei: the pulse-averaged hardness ratio exhibits a sharp hardening episode at phase minimum of the light curve. In order to explain the shape of the observed hardness ratio, we discuss the possible geometry of the emitting region. Simple models of fan emission from a hollow accretion column can reproduce the qualitative features of the observed light curve and hardness ratio.