scholarly journals Torque Reversals in Disk Accreting Pulsars

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-253
Author(s):  
Jianke Li ◽  
Dayal T. Wickramasinghe
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Binary System ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Past ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Coherent Picture

AbstractX-ray binaries in which the accreting component is a neutron star commonly exhibit significant changes in their spin. In the system Cen X-3, a disk accreting binary system, the pulsar was observed to spin up at a rate ḟ = 8 × 10−13 Hz s−1 when averaged over the past twenty years, but significant fluctuations were observed above this mean. Recent BASTE observations have disclosed that these fluctuations are much larger than previously noted, and appeared to be a system characteristic. The change in the spin state from spin-up to spin-down or vice-versa occurs on a time scale that is much shorter than the instrument can resolve (≤1 d), but appears always to be a similar amplitude, and to occur stochastically. These observations have posed a problem for the conventional torque–mass accretion relation for accreting pulsars, because in this model the spin rate is closely related to the accretion rate, and the latter needs to be finely tuned and to change abruptly to explain the observations. Here we review recent work in this direction and present a coherent picture that explains these observations. We also draw attention to some outstanding problems for future studies.

scholarly journals Probing the X-ray Variability of X-ray Binaries

2003 ◽  
Vol 214 ◽  
pp. 236-239
Author(s):  
Wenfei Yu
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Light Curve ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
The Other ◽  
Periodic Oscillations ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Orbital Frequency ◽  
X Ray Binaries

Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) has been regarded as representing the Keplerian frequency at the inner disk edge in the neutron star X-ray binaries. The so-called “parallel tracks” on the plot of the kHz QPO frequency vs. X-ray flux in neutron star X-ray binaries, on the other hand, show the correlation between the kHz QPO frequency and the X-ray flux on time scales from hours to days. This is suspected as caused by the variations of the mass accretion rate through the accretion disk surrounding the neutron star. We show here that by comparing the correlation between the kHz QPO frequency and the X-ray count rate on a certain QPO time scale observed approximately simultaneous in the Fourier power spectra of the X-ray light curve, we have found evidences that the X-ray flux of millihertz QPOs in neutron star X-ray binaries is generated inside the inner disk edge if adopting that the kilohertz QPO frequency is an orbital frequency at the inner disk edge.

Clumpy wind accretion in Supergiant X-ray Binaries

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S346) ◽  
pp. 34-39
Author(s):  
Ileyk El Mellah ◽  
Andreas A. C. Sander ◽  
Jon O. Sundqvist ◽  
Rony Keppens
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Recent Analysis ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Mass Accretion Rate ◽  
Accretion Process ◽  
The Impact ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractSupergiant X-ray Binaries host a compact object, generally a neutron star, orbiting an evolved O/B star. Mass transfer proceeds through the intense radiatively-driven wind of the stellar donor, a fraction of which is captured by the gravitational field of the neutron star. The subsequent accretion process onto the neutron star is responsible for the abundant X-ray emission from those systems. They also display variations in time of the X-ray flux by a factor of a few 10, along with changes in the hardness ratios believed to be due to varying absorption along the line-of-sight. We used the most recent results on the inhomogeneities (aka clumps) in the non-stationary wind of massive hot stars to evaluate their impact on the time-variable accretion process. We ran three-dimensional simulations of the wind in the vicinity of the accretor to witness the formation of the bow shock and follow the inhomogeneous flow over several spatial orders of magnitude, down to the neutron star magnetosphere. In particular, we show that the impact of the clumps on the time-variability of the intrinsic mass accretion rate is severely damped by the crossing of the shock, compared to the purely ballistic Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton estimation. We also account for the variable absorption due to clumps passing by the line-of-sight and estimate the final effective variability of the mass accretion rate for different orbital separations. These results are confronted to recent analysis of Vela X-1 observations with Chandra by Grinberg et al. (2017). It shows that clumps account well for time-variability at low luminosity but can not generate, per se, the high luminosity activity observed.

scholarly journals Super-Eddington accretion discs with advection and outflows around magnetized neutron stars

2019 ◽  
Vol 626 ◽  
pp. A18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Chashkina ◽  
Galina Lipunova ◽  
Pavel Abolmasov ◽  
Juri Poutanen
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Accretion Discs ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Radial Profiles ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Eddington Limit

We present a model for a super-Eddington accretion disc around a magnetized neutron star taking into account advection of heat and the mass loss by the wind. The model is semi-analytical and predicts radial profiles of all the basic physical characteristics of the accretion disc. The magnetospheric radius is found as an eigenvalue of the problem. When the inner disc is in radiation-pressure-dominated regime but does not reach its local Eddington limit, advection is mild, and the radius of the magnetosphere depends weakly on the accretion rate. Once it approaches the local Eddington limit the disc becomes advection-dominated, and the scaling for the magnetospheric radius with the mass accretion rate is similar to the classical Alfvén relation. Allowing for the mass loss in a wind leads to an increase in the magnetospheric radius. Our model can be applied to a wide variety of magnetized neutron stars accreting close to or above their Eddington limits: ultra-luminous X-ray pulsars, Be/X-ray binaries in outbursts, and other systems. In the context of our model we discuss the observational properties of NGC 5907 X-1, the brightest ultra-luminous pulsar currently known, and NGC 300 ULX1, which is apparently a Be/X-ray binary experiencing a very bright super-Eddington outburst.

scholarly journals Evolving neutron star+helium star systems to intermediate-mass binary pulsars

2019 ◽  
Vol 490 (1) ◽  
pp. 752-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Tang ◽  
D Liu ◽  
B Wang
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Intermediate Mass ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Binary Pulsars ◽  
Orbital Periods ◽  
Helium Star ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Better Than

ABSTRACT Intermediate-mass binary pulsars (IMBPs) are composed of neutron stars (NSs) and CO/ONe white dwarfs (WDs). It is generally suggested that IMBPs evolve from intermediate-mass X-ray binaries (IMXBs). However, this scenario is difficult to explain the formation of IMBPs with orbital periods (Porb) less than 3 d. It has recently been proposed that a system consisting of an NS and a helium (He) star can form IMBPs with Porb less than 3 d (known as the NS+He star scenario), but previous works can only cover a few observed sources with short orbital periods. We aim to investigate the NS+He star scenario by adopting different descriptions of the Eddington accretion rate ($\skew4\dot{M}_{\rm Edd}$) for NSs and different NS masses (MNS) varying from $1.10$ to $1.80\, \rm M_{\odot }$. Our results can cover most of the observed IMBPs with short orbital periods and almost half of the observed IMBPs with long orbital periods. We found that $\skew4\dot{M}_{\rm Edd}$ ∝ MNS−1/3 could match the observations better than a specific value for all NSs. We also found that the final spin periods of NSs slightly decrease with the initial MNS. The observed parameters of PSR J0621+1002, which is one of the well-observed IMBPs whose pulsar mass has been precisely measured, can be reproduced by this work.

QUASI PERIODIC OSCILLATIONS IN X-RAY NEUTRON STAR AND PROBES OF PERIHELION PRECESSION OF GENERAL RELATIVITY

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (04) ◽  
pp. 503-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. ZHANG
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Second Harmonic ◽  
Harmonic Frequency ◽  
Periodic Oscillations ◽  
Perihelion Precession ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Outer Disk ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

We ascribe the twin kilohertz Quasi Periodic Oscillations (kHz QPOs) of X-ray spectra of Low Mass X-Ray Binaries (LMXBs) to the pseudo-Newtonian Keplerian frequency and the apogee and perigee precession frequency of the same matter in the inner disk, and ascribe 15–60 Hz QPO (HBO) to the apogee (or perigee) precession and its second harmonic frequency to both apogee and perigee precession in the outer disk boundary of the neutron star (NS) magnetosphere. The radii of the inner and outer disks are correlated each other by a factor of two is assumed. The obtained conclusions include: all QPO frequencies increase and frequency difference of twin kHz QPOs decreases with increasing the accretion rate. The obtained theoretical relations between HBO frequency and twin kHz QPOs are simlilar to the measured empirical formula. Further, the theo-retical formula to calculate the NS mass by the twin kHz QPOs is proposed, and the resultant values are in the range of 1.4 to 1.8 M⊙. QPOs from LMXBs likely provide an accurate laboratory for a strong gravitational field, by which a new method to determine the NS masses of LMXBs is suggested.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of X-ray reprocessing and irradiation in the anomalous bright optical outbursts of A0538−66

2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. A9 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Ducci ◽  
S. Mereghetti ◽  
K. Hryniewicz ◽  
A. Santangelo ◽  
P. Romano
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Binary System ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
Uv Emission ◽  
Radial Density Distribution ◽  
Spherical Cloud ◽  
Gas Cloud ◽  
X Ray Binaries

Context. In 1981, the Be/X-ray binary A0538−66 showed outbursts characterized by high peak luminosities in the X-ray (Lx ≈ 1039 erg s−1) and optical (Lopt ≈ 3 × 1038 erg s−1) bands. The bright optical outbursts were qualitatively explained as X-ray reprocessing in a gas cloud surrounding the binary system. Aims. Since then, further important information about the properties of A0538−66 have been obtained, and sophisticated photoionization codes have been developed to calculate the radiation emerging from a gas nebula illuminated by a central X-ray source. In the light of the new information and tools available, we considered it was worth studying again the enhanced optical emission displayed by A0538−66 to understand the mechanisms responsible for these unique events among the class of Be/X-ray binaries. Methods. We performed about 105 simulations of a gas envelope surrounding the binary system photoionized by an X-ray source. We assumed for the shape of the gas cloud either a sphere or a circumstellar disc observed edge-on. We studied the effects of varying the main properties of the envelope (shape, density, slope of the power law density profile, size) and the influence of different input X-ray spectra and X-ray luminosity on the optical/UV emission emerging from the photoionized cloud. We determined the properties of the cloud and the input X-ray emission by comparing the computed spectra with the IUE spectrum and photometric UBV measurements obtained during the outburst of 29 April 1981. We also explored the role played by the X-ray heating of the surface of the donor star and the accretion disc irradiated by the X-ray emission of the neutron star. Results. We found that reprocessing in a spherical cloud with a shallow radial density distribution and size of about 3 × 1012 cm can reproduce the optical/UV emission observed on 29 April 1981. To our knowledge, this configuration has never been observed either in A0538−66 during other epochs or in other Be/X-ray binaries. We found, contrary to the case of most other Be/X-ray binaries, that the optical/UV radiation produced by the X-ray heating of the surface of the donor star irradiated by the neutron star is non-negligible, due to the particular orbital parameters of this system that bring the neutron star very close to its companion.

scholarly journals Big Game Hunting in the Andromeda Galaxy: Identifying and Weighing Black Holes in Low Mass X-Ray Binaries

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 71-72
Author(s):  
R. Barnard
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Power Density Spectrum ◽  
Density Spectrum ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractWe have devised a new technique for identifying stellar mass black holes in low mass X-ray binaries, and have applied it to XMM-Newton observations of two X-ray sources in M31. In particular we search for low accretion rate power density spectra; these are very similar for all LMXB, whether the primary is a black hole or a neutron star. Galactic neutron star LMXB exhibit these distinctive PDS at very low luminosities (~ 1036 erg s–1) while black hole LMXB can exhibit them at luminosities > 1038 erg s–1! Following the work of van der Klis (1994), we assume a maximum accretion rate (as a fraction of the Eddington limit) for low accretion rate PDS that is constant for all LMXB, and obtain an empirical value of ~10% Eddington. We have so far discovered two candidate black hole binaries in M31, exhibiting low accretion rate PDS at up to 3 x 1038 and 5 x 1037 erg s–1. If we assume that they are at <10% Eddington, they have minimum masses of 20 and 4 M⊙ respectively. Furthermore, any LMXB exhibiting a low accretion rate power density spectrum at a luminosity > 5 x 1037 erg s–1 is likely to have a black hole primary.

scholarly journals Jets from neutron star X-ray binaries: towards a unified scheme

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S275) ◽  
pp. 233-241
Author(s):  
Simone Migliari
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Black Holes ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Multi Wavelength ◽  
Observational Knowledge ◽  
Low Magnetic Field ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractSystematic multi-wavelength studies of neutron stars (NSs) have shown a jet and disk-jet coupling phenomenology which resembles, although with some important differences, that observed in black holes; ultra-relativistic transient ejection, steady compact jets, accretion-ejection cycles are indeed observed in NSs. I will review our observational knowledge of jet in NS X-ray binaries, focusing on the role of the parameters of the system which might be involved in the production of jets. First, I will discuss the role of the accretion rate, presenting a unified scheme for accretion-jet production throughout the different sub-classes of low-magnetic field NSs. Then, I will attempt to (make the first steps to) quantify the role of spin and magnetic field in powering the jet.

scholarly journals X-ray Bursts

1995 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 308-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan van Paradijs ◽  
Walter H.G. Lewin
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Sudden Increase ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Global Properties ◽  
Thermonuclear Burning ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Typical Distances ◽  
X Ray Binaries

An X-ray burst is a sudden increase (rise time of order seconds) of the X-ray brightness of an X-ray source, which after reaching its peak decays, generally within a minute. The sky distribution of X-ray burst sources indicates that they are galactic objects (see Fig. 1); their concentration to the direction of the galactic center tells us that they lie at typical distances of ∼ 8 kpc, with corresponding peak luminosities of order 1038 erg s−1. The X-ray and optical properties of the persistent emission of X-ray burst sources show that they are low-mass X-ray binaries, in which mass is transferred from a rather normal low-mass (< 1 M⊙) star to a neutron star. The persistent emission is caused by the conversion of kinetic energy of the transferred matter into heat, at a rate of ∼ GM/R (∼ 0.1c2) per gram of accreted matter. The bursts are caused by unstable thermonuclear burning of material that has accumulated on the neutron star (‘thermonuclear flash’).The global properties of X-ray bursts, in particular their dependence on the mass accretion rate, are fairly well understood. Different from the case of γ-ray bursts (see the contributions by Fishman, Hartmann and Kouveliotou to this Colloquium) the relevant question about X-ray bursts is not ‘What are they?’, but rather ‘What use are they?’. As we will argue here, X-ray bursts may provide us information on the mass and radius of a neutron star. This usefulness of X-ray bursts derives from the fact that the burst emission originates from the surface of the neutron star, unlike the persistent emission caused by mass accretion, of which we only know that it comes from the neutron star’s near vicinity.

scholarly journals IGR J17329-2731: The birth of a symbiotic X-ray binary

2018 ◽  
Vol 613 ◽  
pp. A22 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Bozzo ◽  
A. Bahramian ◽  
C. Ferrigno ◽  
A. Sanna ◽  
J. Strader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Strong Absorption ◽  
Emission Lines ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
The Past ◽  
X Ray Binaries

We report on the results of the multiwavelength campaign carried out after the discovery of the INTEGRAL transient IGR J17329-2731. The optical data collected with the SOAR telescope allowed us to identify the donor star in this system as a late M giant at a distance of 2.7-1.2+3.4 kpc. The data collected quasi-simultaneously with XMM–Newton and NuSTAR showed the presence of a modulation with a period of 6680 ± 3 s in the X-ray light curves of the source. This unveils that the compact object hosted in this system is a slowly rotating neutron star. The broadband X-ray spectrum showed the presence of a strong absorption (≫1023 cm−2) and prominent emission lines at 6.4 keV, and 7.1 keV. These features are usually found in wind-fed systems, in which the emission lines result from the fluorescence of the X-rays from the accreting compact object on the surrounding stellar wind. The presence of a strong absorption line around ~21 keV in the spectrum suggests a cyclotron origin, thus allowing us to estimate the neutron star magnetic field as ~2.4 × 1012 G. All evidencethus suggests IGR J17329-2731 is a symbiotic X-ray binary. As no X-ray emission was ever observed from the location of IGR J17329-2731 by INTEGRAL (or other X-ray facilities) during the past 15 yr in orbit and considering that symbiotic X-ray binaries are known to be variable but persistent X-ray sources, we concluded that INTEGRAL caught the first detectable X-ray emission from IGR J17329-2731 when the source shined as a symbiotic X-ray binary. The Swift XRT monitoring performed up to ~3 months after the discovery of the source, showed that it maintained a relatively stable X-ray flux and spectral properties.

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