X-RAY REFLECTION IN GALACTIC BLACK-HOLE CANDIDATES - SMEARED EDGE PROFILES AND RESONANT AUGER DESTRUCTION

We consider the spectra of Thomson-thick, geometrically thin accretion discs around Galactic black hole candidates in the reflection model a nd compute their iron K edges and iron K alpha lines. We compare the s meared iron K edge profiles that we compute with observation and find them to be a satisfactory description of the data. We find that a comb ination of Doppler broadening and resonant Auger destruction of line p hotons can make iron K alpha lines very difficult to detect in highly ionized inclined discs, We detail the physics of resonant Auger destru ction at the level at which it is currently understood and point out i ts implications.