Iron Kalpha line widths in magnetic cataclysmic variables

Abstract

Following a recent report that AO Psc has broad iron Kalpha emission lines we have looked at the ASCA spectra of 15 magnetic cataclysmic variables. We find that half of the systems have Kalpha lines broadened by ~200 eV, while the remainder have narrow lines. We argue that the Doppler effect is insufficient to explain the finding and propose that the lines originate in accretion columns on the verge of optical thickness, where Compton scattering of resonantly-trapped line photons broadens the profile. We suggest that the broadening is a valuable diagnostic of conditions in the accretion column.