Evolution of low-mass X-ray binaries: dependence on the mass of the compact object

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1417-1426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Xu ◽  
Tao Li ◽  
Xiang-Dong Li
Keyword(s):  
Compact Object ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

scholarly journals A Machine Learning Approach For Classifying Low-mass X-ray Binaries Based On Their Compact Object Nature

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Pattnaik ◽  
K Sharma ◽  
K Alabarta ◽  
D Altamirano ◽  
M Chakraborty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Average Accuracy ◽  
Machine Learning Approach ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

Abstract Low Mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are binary systems where one of the components is either a black hole or a neutron star and the other is a less massive star. It is challenging to unambiguously determine whether a LMXB hosts a black hole or a neutron star. In the last few decades, multiple observational works have tried, with different levels of success, to address this problem. In this paper, we explore the use of machine learning to tackle this observational challenge. We train a random forest classifier to identify the type of compact object using the energy spectrum in the energy range 5-25 keV obtained from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer archive. We report an average accuracy of 87±13% in classifying the spectra of LMXB sources. We further use the trained model for predicting the classes for LMXB systems with unknown or ambiguous classification. With the ever-increasing volume of astronomical data in the X-ray domain from present and upcoming missions (e.g., SWIFT, XMM-Newton, XARM, ATHENA, NICER), such methods can be extremely useful for faster and robust classification of X-ray sources and can also be deployed as part of the data reduction pipeline.

scholarly journals A Strong Variation of Accretion Disc Corona Size with Luminosity in LMXB

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 140-143
Author(s):  
M. J. Church
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Emission ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Spectral Form ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Radial Extent ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Rule Out ◽  
The Continuum

AbstractThe controversy that has existed for many years over the nature of the continuum X-ray emission components in X-ray binaries is reviewed, in which workers have been polarized between the Eastern model with a small central Comptonizing region around the compact object and alternative models. We present measurements of the radial extent of the Comptonizing ADC in low mass X-ray binaries which rule out the Eastern model and show that, the ADC is extended (the Birmingham model). Dip ingress timing shows conclusively that the ADC radial extent varies from 7% of the accretion disc radius in faint sources, to 65% in bright sources. Remarkably, the size depends strongly on the source luminosity suggesting that the ADC is formed by irradiation of the disc by the neutron star and the hot inner disc. These results have fundamental implications for the correct description of Comptonization in X-ray binaries, and the spectral form is derived for the Comptonized emission of an extended ADC led by soft, seed photons from the underlying disc which differs substantially from that of the Eastern model. Measured ADC electron températures provide values of the Compton radius in broad agreement with measured values of the radial extent of the ADC. Finally, we show that the results are inconsistent with the non-thermal emission being produced in a jet, and so provide evidence against the recent suggestion that all LMXB have jets.

scholarly journals Measuring the Masses of Compact Objects in Low-Mass X-Ray Binaries

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 214-214
Author(s):  
Dawn M. Gelino
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Orbital Inclination ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Secondary Star ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
The Masses ◽  
X Ray Binaries

Low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) contain compact, black hole (BH) or neutron star (NS) primaries, and cool, low-mass secondary stars. We measure the orbital inclination of the system in quiescence by modeling infrared (IR) ellipsoidal variations from the secondary star in order to determine the compact object mass. I present our results for a few LMXBs, including the first BH that appears to conclusively fall in the 3-5 M⊙ range.

scholarly journals Pulsational Instability of Accretion Disks around Compact Objects

1993 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 361-364
Author(s):  
T. Okuda ◽  
S. Mineshige
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disks ◽  
Cataclysmic Variables ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Linear Analysis ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Periodic Oscillations ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Axisymmetric Perturbation ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractLinear analysis shows that radial oscillations in accretion disks around compact object are overstable to axisymmetric perturbation under a variety of conditions. Furthermore, numerical simulations confirm that the radial oscillations induce quasi-periodic modulations of the disk luminosity. The disk oscillation model may be responsible for quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), cataclysmic variables (CVs), and other compact objects.

scholarly journals Simulations of flux variability of oscillating accretion fluid tori around Kerr black holes

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S313) ◽  
pp. 380-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel Bakala ◽  
Kateřina Goluchová ◽  
Eva Šrámková ◽  
Andrea Kotrlová ◽  
Gabriel Török ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
Kerr Black Hole ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Vertical Oscillation ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Oscillation Modes ◽  
Flux Variability ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractHigh frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) are observed in the X-ray power-density spectra (PDS) of several microquasars and low mass X-ray binaries. Many proposed QPO models are based on oscillations of accretion toroidal fluid structures orbiting in the vicinity of a compact object. We study oscillating accretion tori orbiting in the vicinity of a Kerr black hole. We demonstrate that significant variation of the observed flux can be caused by the combination of radial and vertical oscillation modes of a slender, polytropic, perfect fluid, non-self-graviting torus with constant specific angular momentum. We investigate two combinations of the oscillating modes corresponding to the direct resonance QPO model and the modified relativistic precession QPO model.

Iron K-Line Emission from X-Ray Binaries

1988 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 47-50
Author(s):  
K. Masai ◽  
S. Hayakawa ◽  
F. Nagase
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Radiative Recombination ◽  
Characteristic Temperature ◽  
Line Emission ◽  
Ionization Front ◽  
Continuum Radiation ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractEmission mechanisms of the iron Kα-lines in X-ray binaries are discussed in relation with the characteristic temperature Txof continuum radiation thereof. The 6.7 keV line is ascribed to radiative recombination followed by cascades in a corona of ∼ 100 eV formed above the accretion disk. This mechanism is attained for Tx≲ 10 keV as observed for low mass X-ray binaries. The 6.4 keV line observed for binary X-ray pulsars with Tx> 10 keV is likely due to fluorescence outside the He II ionization front.

scholarly journals X-Ray Determination of the Black-Hole Mass in Cygnus X-1

1998 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 388-389
Author(s):  
A. Kubota ◽  
K. Makishima ◽  
T. Dotani ◽  
H. Inoue ◽  
K. Mitsuda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Optical Observations ◽  
Black Hole Mass ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Supergiant Star ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Two Bodies

About 10 X-ray binaries in our Galaxy and LMC/SMC are considered to contain black hole candidates (BHCs). Among these objects, Cyg X-1 was identified as the first BHC, and it has led BHCs for more than 25 years(Oda 1977, Liang and Nolan 1984). It is a binary system composed of normal blue supergiant star and the X-ray emitting compact object. The orbital kinematics derived from optical observations indicates that the compact object is heavier than ~ 4.8 M⊙ (Herrero 1995), which well exceeds the upper limit mass for a neutron star(Kalogora 1996), where we assume the system consists of only two bodies. This has been the basis for BHC of Cyg X-1.

scholarly journals QPOs in compact binaries from small scale eruptions in an inner magnetized disk

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Scepi ◽  
Mitchell C Begelman ◽  
Jason Dexter
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Heating ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Type B ◽  
Periodic Oscillations ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Compact Binaries ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Standard Disk

Abstract Dwarf novæ (DNe) and low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are compact binaries showing variability on time scales from years to less than seconds. Here, we focus on explaining part of the rapid fluctuations in DNe, following the framework of recent studies on the monthly eruptions of DNe that use a hybrid disk composed of an outer standard disk and an inner magnetized disk. We show that the ionization instability, that is responsible for the monthly eruptions of DNe, is also able to operate in the inner magnetized disk. Given the low density and the fast accretion time scale of the inner magnetized disk, the ionization instability generates small, rapid heating and cooling fronts propagating back and forth in the inner disk. This leads to quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) with a period of the order of 1000 s. A strong prediction of our model is that these QPOs can only develop in quiescence or at the beginning/end of an outburst. We propose that these rapid fluctuations might explain a subclass of already observed QPOs in DNe as well as a, still to observe, subclass of QPOs in LMXBs. We also extrapolate to the possibility that the radiation pressure instability might be related to Type B QPOs in LMXBs.

scholarly journals Drifts of the marginally stable burning frequency in the X-ray binaries 4U 1608–52 and Aql X–1

2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (2) ◽  
pp. 1856-1863
Author(s):  
G C Mancuso ◽  
D Altamirano ◽  
M Méndez ◽  
M Lyu ◽  
J A Combi
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Drift ◽  
Soft Or ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Intermediate States ◽  
Source State ◽  
Nuclear Burning ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Stable Burning

ABSTRACT We detect millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (mHz QPOs) using the Rossi X-ray Time Explorer (RXTE) from the atoll neutron-star (NS) low-mass X-ray binaries 4U 1608–52 and Aql X–1. From the analysis of all RXTE observations of 4U 1608–52 and Aql X–1, we find mHz QPOs with a significance level >3σ in 49 and 47 observations, respectively. The QPO frequency is constrained between ∼4.2 and 13.4 mHz. These types of mHz QPOs have been interpreted as being the result of marginally stable nuclear burning of He on the NS surface. We also report the discovery of a downward frequency drift in three observations of 4U 1608–52, making it the third source that shows this behaviour. We only find strong evidence of frequency drift in one occasion in Aql X–1, probably because the observations were too short to measure a significant drift. Finally, the mHz QPOs are mainly detected when both sources are in the soft or intermediate states; the cases that show frequency drift only occur when the sources are in intermediate states. Our results are consistent with the phenomenology observed for the NS systems 4U 1636–53 and EXO 0748–676, suggesting that all four sources can reach the conditions for marginally stable burning of He on the NS surface. These conditions depend on the source state in the same manner in all four systems.

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