scholarly journals Models for Compact Pulsing X-Ray Sources

1973 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 143-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremiah P. Ostriker ◽  
Kris Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Critical Value ◽  
Blackbody Radiation ◽  
Roche Lobe ◽  
Magnetic Pole ◽  
Solar Mass ◽  
Centrifugal Barrier ◽  
Companion Star ◽  
X Ray

Cen X-3 is probably a neutron star, releasing the infall energy of accreted matter. Sufficient material for accretion will be provided by a conventional stellar wind from its more massive companion star. That star is not likely to rotate synchronously; therefore a ‘Roche lobe’ analysis of the eclipses is not valid. A ‘tidal lobe’ analysis allows the neutron star to have a mass of the order of one solar mass. Overflow of the ‘Roche lobe’ is neither necessary as a source of mass nor probable in view of the observed stellar line widths of the two identified X-ray companions.The mass flow onto the condensed star is very small in all cases. It is limited, for an object of m solar masses by the Eddington Limiting Luminosity to Ṁac < 10–7.4m(M⊙ yr−1), which limit applies even if the accreting object contacts or traverses its companion star.The observed 4.84 s rotation period of the Cen X-3 neutron star is very simply explained as the critical value where a centrifugal barrier regulates the rate of infall to the surface. The X-ray spectrum is understood as blackbody radiation coming from a well-defined area near each magnetic pole of the neutron star.

scholarly journals Mass transfer on a nuclear timescale in models of supergiant and ultra-luminous X-ray binaries

2019 ◽  
Vol 628 ◽  
pp. A19 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Quast ◽  
N. Langer ◽  
T. M. Tauris
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Roche Lobe ◽  
High Mass ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Mass Ratios ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Eddington Limit

Context. The origin and number of the Galactic supergiant X-ray binaries is currently not well understood. They consist of an evolved massive star and a neutron star or black-hole companion. X-rays are thought to be generated from the accretion of wind material donated by the supergiant, while mass transfer due to Roche-lobe overflow is mostly disregarded because the high mass ratios of these systems are thought to render this process unstable. Aims. We investigate how the proximity of supergiant donor stars to the Eddington limit, and their advanced evolutionary stage, may influence the evolution of massive and ultra-luminous X-ray binaries with supergiant donor stars (SGXBs and ULXs). Methods. We constructed models of massive stars with different internal hydrogen and helium gradients (H/He gradients) and different hydrogen-rich envelope masses, and exposed them to slow mass-loss to probe the response of the stellar radius. In addition, we computed the corresponding Roche-lobe overflow mass-transfer evolution with our detailed binary stellar evolution code, approximating the compact objects as point masses. Results. We find that a H/He gradient in the layers beneath the surface, as it is likely present in the well-studied donor stars of observed SGBXs, can enable mass transfer in SGXBs on a nuclear timescale with a black-hole or a neutron star accretor, even for mass ratios in excess of 20. In our binary evolution models, the donor stars rapidly decrease their thermal equilibrium radius and can therefore cope with the inevitably strong orbital contraction imposed by the high mass ratio. We find that the orbital period derivatives of our models agree well with empirical values. We argue that the SGXB phase may be preceded by a common-envelope evolution. The envelope inflation near the Eddington limit means that this mechanism more likely occurs at high metallicity. Conclusion. Our results open a new perspective for understanding that SGBXs are numerous in our Galaxy and are almost completely absent in the Small Magellanic Cloud. Our results may also offer a way to find more ULX systems, to detect mass transfer on nuclear timescales in ULX systems even with neutron star accretors, and shed new light on the origin of the strong B-field in these neutron stars.

scholarly journals Effect of Compact Objects Near Be Stars

1987 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 516-518
Author(s):  
Krishna M.V. Apparao ◽  
S.P. Tarafdar
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Be Stars ◽  
Eccentric Orbit ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Be Star

Several Be stars are identified with bright X-ray sources. (Rappaport and Van den Heuvel, 1982). The bright X-ray emission and observed periodicities indicate the existence of compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars or black holes) near the Be stars. A prime example is the brightest X-ray source A0538-66 in LMC, which contains a neutron star with a rotation period of 59 ms. Apparao (1985) explained the X-ray emission, which occurs in periodic flares, by considering an inclined eccentric orbit for the neutron star around the assumed Be-star. The neutron star when it enters a gas ring (around the Be-star) accreting matter giving out X-rays.The X-ray emission from the compact objects, when the gas ring from the Be-star envelopes the objects, has interesting consequences. The X-ray emission produces an ionized region (compact object Stromgren sphere or COSS) in the gas surrounding the compact object (CO).

scholarly journals An Archival Study of HST Observations of Her X-1/HZ Her

1996 ◽  
Vol 158 ◽  
pp. 381-382
Author(s):  
F. H. Cheng ◽  
S. D. Vrtilek ◽  
J. C. Raymond
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Model Fitting ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Emission Lines ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Detailed Model ◽  
Companion Star ◽  
X Ray ◽  
First Time ◽  
Archival Study

Her X-1 is an X-ray pulsar with a rotation period of 1.24 s and a binary period of 1.7d (Tananbaum et al. 1972). The 1.7 d variations in optical and ultraviolet flux are attributed to X-ray heating of the companion star and disk (e.g. Howarth & Wilson 1983, hereafter HW83). The system displays a 35 d period, attributed to the effects of a tilted, precessing, accretion disk. Optical and ultraviolet flux variations continue unchanged throughout. This work is motivated by the following reasons:• The observed IUE spectra have significantly flatter slopes than those predicted by previous models (e.g. HW83).• The observed strength of the Balmer jump is anomalously low compared to that expected for a normal B star (Anderson et al. 1994).• HST observations obtained by Anderson et al. (1994) in order to study emission lines have yielded high quality spectra of the continuum emission from HZ Her, enabling for the first time detailed model fitting efforts.

High Speed Photometry at Mt Stromlo Observatory

1974 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 278-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Crab Nebula ◽  
Binary Star ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Radio Pulsars ◽  
X Ray ◽  
High Speed Photometry ◽  
The Crab Nebula

Important observations of X-ray sources and searches for the optical counterparts of X-ray and radio pulsars require a capability of detecting and analysing light variations with a time scale of milliseconds. X-ray sources in binary star systems are expected to be collapsed objects – neutron stars or black holes (Peterson 1973) – and are expected to produce light variations. In the case of a neutron star, pulses with the same period as the rotation period of the neutron star would be produced, and such have been observed from Cen X-3 (schreier et al. 1972) in the X-ray, and from Her X-1 (Middleditch and Nelson 1973) and the Crab Nebula pulsar (Cocke et al. 1969) in the X-ray optical.

Asymmetric X-ray Pulsar Beam Emission

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whayne E. P. Padden ◽  
Michelle C. Storey
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Magnetic Dipole ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Dipole Field ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Magnetic Dipole Field ◽  
Star Surface ◽  
Matter Transfer

AbstractMany of the X-ray pulsars for which X-ray lightcurves have been presented in the literature exhibit asymmetric emission beams. We postulate the existence of an off-centre magnetic dipole field embedded in the rotating neutron star and show that such a field leads to varying rates of matter transfer between an accretion dise and the neutron star surface, over a rotation period. Assuming that the accretion rate onto the surface is simply related to the luminosity, we show that most of the observed asymmetries can be accounted for by this mechanism.

scholarly journals Spectroscopy of the Stellar Wind in the Cygnus X-1 System

10.14311/1332 ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Miškovičová ◽  
M. Hanke ◽  
J. Wilms ◽  
M. A. Nowak ◽  
K. Pottschmidt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Binary System ◽  
Stellar Wind ◽  
Roche Lobe ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Lagrange Point ◽  
Companion Star ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Accretion Flow

The X-ray luminosity of black holes is produced through the accretion of material from their companion stars. Depending on the mass of the donor star, accretion of the material falling onto the black hole through the inner Lagrange point of the system or accretion by the strong stellar wind can occur. Cygnus X-1 is a high mass X-ray binary system, where the black hole is powered by accretion of the stellar wind of its supergiant companion star HDE226868. As the companion is close to filling its Roche lobe, the wind is not symmetric, but strongly focused towards the black hole. Chandra-HETGS observations allow for an investigation of this focused stellar wind, which is essential to understand the physics of the accretion flow. We compare observations at the distinct orbital phases of 0.0, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.75. These correspond to different lines of sight towards the source, allowing us to probe the structure and the dynamics of the wind.

scholarly journals The Optical Counterpart of SAX J1808.4-3658 in Quiescence: Evidence of an Active Radio Pulsar?

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 25-27
Author(s):  
L. Burderi ◽  
T. Di Salvo ◽  
F. D'Antona ◽  
N. R. Robba ◽  
V. Testa
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
Rotational Energy ◽  
Radio Pulsar ◽  
Optical Counterpart ◽  
Companion Star ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Optical Part ◽  
Intrinsic Emission

AbstractThe optical counterpart of the binary millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J 1808.4-3658 during quiescence was detected at V = 21.5 mag, inconsistent with intrinsic emission from the fain companion star. We propose that the optical emission from this system during quiescence is due to the irradiation of the companion star and a remnant accretion disk by the rotational energy released by the fast spinning neutron star, switched on, as magneto-dipole rotator (radio pulsar). In this scenario the companion behaves as a bolometer, reprocessing in optical part of the power emitted by the pulsar. The reprocessed fraction depends only on known binary parameters. Thus the blackbody temperature of the companion can be predicted and compared with the observations. Our computations indicate that the observed optical magnitudes are fully consistent with this hypothesis. In this case the observed optical luminosity may be the first evidence that a radio pulsar is active in this system in quiescence.

scholarly journals Spectral observations of X Persei: Connection between Hα and X-ray emission

2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A173 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Zamanov ◽  
K. A. Stoyanov ◽  
U. Wolter ◽  
D. Marchev ◽  
N. I. Petrov
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Emission Line ◽  
Equivalent Width ◽  
Roche Lobe ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Expansion Velocity ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Spectroscopic Observations ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Disc Size

We present spectroscopic observations of the Be/X-ray binary X Per obtained during the period 1999–2018. Using new and published data, we found that during “disc-rise” the expansion velocity of the circumstellar disc is 0.4–0.7 km s−1. Our results suggest that the disc radius in recent decades show evidence of resonant truncation of the disc by resonances 10:1, 3:1, and 2:1, while the maximum disc size is larger than the Roche lobe of the primary and smaller than the closest approach of the neutron star. We find correlation between equivalent width of Hα emission line (Wα) and the X-ray flux, which is visible when 15 Å < Wα ≤ 40 Å. The correlation is probably due to wind Roche lobe overflow.

scholarly journals A Millisecond Pulsar Progenitor to an Ultra-Compact Low-Mass X-ray Binary

1996 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
pp. 521-522
Author(s):  
S. C. Lundgren ◽  
E. Ergma ◽  
J. M. Cordes
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Gravitational Radiation ◽  
Roche Lobe ◽  
Millisecond Pulsar ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
Star Evolution ◽  
Orbital Decay ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Ultimate Fate

AbstractWe discuss a twist in binary neutron star evolution scenarios in which a millisecond pulsar system is actually aprogenitorfor a low-mass X-ray binary system. After 7 billion years of orbital decay due to gravitational radiation, the millisecond pulsar PSR J0751+1807 will enter a low-mass X-ray binary phase. When the orbital period reaches about 5 minutes, the white dwarf will overflow its Roche lobe, transferring mass to the neutron star. Its predicted observational X-ray parameters are very similar to the ultra-compact low-mass X-ray binary 1820–303. The ultimate fate of the system after Roche-lobe overflow is unknown. One possibility is that the companion may eventually tidally disrupt, leaving a disk of material which could form into planets.

scholarly journals Millisecond Time Variations of X-Ray Binaries

1998 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 107-110
Author(s):  
J. H. Swank
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Periodic Oscillation ◽  
Frequency Model ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
The Difference ◽  
X Ray Binaries

Millisecond time-scales are natural for some neutron star and black hole processes, although possibly difficult to observe. The Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) has found that for the neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXB) there are flux oscillations at high frequencies, with large amplitudes. Z sources and bursters tend to exhibit oscillations in the range 300-1200 Hz. Persistent emission may exhibit one or both of two features. In bursts from different bursters, a nearly coherent pulsation is seen, which may be the rotation period of the neutron star. For some the frequency equals the difference between the two higher frequencies, suggesting a beat frequency model, but in others it is twice the difference. The sources span two orders of magnitude in accretion rate, yet the properties are similar. The similar maximum frequencies suggests that it corresponds to the Kepler orbit frequency at the minimum stable orbit or the neutron star surface, either of which would determine the neutron star masses, radii and equation of state. Theories of accretion onto black holes predict a quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) related to the inner accretion disk. The two microquasar black hole candidates (BHCs) have exhibited candidates for this or related frequencies.

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