scholarly journals The connection between the UV/optical and X-ray emission in the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary Aql X-1

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (1) ◽  
pp. 940-951
Author(s):  
E López-Navas ◽  
N Degenaar ◽  
A S Parikh ◽  
J V Hernández Santisteban ◽  
J van den Eijnden
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
Optical Observations ◽  
Electromagnetic Spectrum ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Soft State ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Hysteresis Behaviour

ABSTRACT Accreting neutron stars and black holes in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) radiate across the electromagnetic spectrum. Linking the emission produced at different wavelengths can provide valuable information about the accretion process and any associated outflows. In this work, we study simultaneous X-ray and ultraviolet (UV)/optical observations of the neutron star LMXB Aql X-1, obtained with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory during its 2013, 2014, and 2016 accretion outbursts. We find that the UV/optical and X-ray emission are strongly correlated during all three outbursts. For the 2013 and 2014 episodes, which had the best Swift sampling, we find that the correlation between the UV/optical and X-ray fluxes is significantly steeper during the decay (soft state) of the outburst than during the rise (hard-to-soft state). We observe a UV/optical hysteresis behaviour that is likely linked to the commonly known X-ray spectral hysteresis pattern. For the decays of the three outbursts, we obtain a correlation index that cannot be directly explained by any single model. We suspect that this is a result of multiple emission processes contributing to the UV/optical emission, but we discuss alternative explanations. Based on these correlations, we discuss which mechanisms are likely dominating the UV/optical emission of Aql X-1.

scholarly journals Hard-tail emission in the soft state of low-mass X-ray binaries and their relation to the neutron star magnetic field

2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Kazumi Asai ◽  
Tatehiro Mihara ◽  
Masaru Mastuoka ◽  
Mutsumi Sugizaki
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Soft State ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

4U 1608–52 as a quasi-persistent X-ray source

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vojtěch Šimon
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Time Segment ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Band Emission ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Soft State ◽  
Cyclic Variations ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Disk Region

Abstract 4U 1608–52 is a soft X-ray transient. The analysis presented here of a particular part of its X-ray activity uses observations of RXTE/ASM and Swift/BAT. We show a time segment (MJD 54262–MJD 55090) (828 d) in which 4U 1608–52 behaved as a quasi-persistent X-ray source with a series of bumps, with a complicated relation between the evolution of fluxes in the soft (1.5–12 keV) and the hard (15–50 keV) X-ray regions. We ascribe these bumps to a series of propagations of heating and cooling fronts over the inner disk region without any transitions to the true quiescence. 4U 1608–52 oscillated around the boundary between the dominance of the Comptonized component and the dominance of the multicolor accretion disk in its luminosity. Only some of the bumps in this series were accompanied by a transition from the hard to the soft state; if it occurred, it displayed a strong hysteresis effect. The hard-band emission with the dominant Comptonized component was present for most of this active state and showed a cycle of about 40 d. We argue that the cyclic variations of flux come from the inner disk region, not, e.g., from a jet. We also discuss the observed behavior of 4U 1608–52 in the context of other quasi-persistent low-mass X-ray binaries.

scholarly journals The study of multipeaked type-I X-ray bursts in the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636 − 536 with RXTE

2020 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-178
Author(s):  
Chen Li ◽  
Guobao Zhang ◽  
Mariano Méndez ◽  
Jiancheng Wang ◽  
Ming Lyu
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Flux Ratio ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Type I ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Soft State ◽  
Peak Flux ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Two Peaks ◽  
Second Peak

ABSTRACT We have found and analysed 16 multipeaked type-I bursts from the neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636 − 53 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). One of the bursts is a rare quadruple-peaked burst that was not previously reported. All 16 bursts show a multipeaked structure not only in the X-ray light curves but also in the bolometric light curves. Most of the multipeaked bursts appear in observations during the transition from the hard to the soft state in the colour–colour diagram. We find an anticorrelation between the second peak flux and the separation time between two peaks. We also find that in the double-peaked bursts the peak-flux ratio and the temperature of the thermal component in the pre-burst spectra are correlated. This indicates that the double-peaked structure in the light curve of the bursts may be affected by enhanced accretion rate in the disc, or increased temperature of the neutron star.

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 Hardness Ratio in Evolving Low-Mass X-ray Binary Systems

1987 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 199-199
Author(s):  
J. Shaham ◽  
M. Tavani
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Binary Systems ◽  
Spectral Component ◽  
Soft Component ◽  
Hard Component ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
X Ray Binaries

Spectral observations of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) show that the soft component usually dominates over the hard one. These results provide additional support to an interpretation based on models of LMXBs in which the neutron star while, on the average, spinning up, is also experiencing a spinning down torque. Under these conditions, a fraction of the luminosity associated with the gravitational release of energy on the surface of the accreting neutron star may manifest itself as luminosity originating in the inner part of the accretion disk. It is probably possible to separate the two contributions; the stellar luminosity can be associated with the hard component of the spectrum and the disk luminosity, related to the exchange of energy due to the torque between the rapidly spinning neutron star and the accretion disk, can be associated with the soft spectral component.

scholarly journals Spectroscopic modelling of four neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries usingcloudy

2019 ◽  
Vol 486 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gargi Shaw ◽  
Sudip Bhattacharyya
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

scholarly journals The Beat-Frequency Interpretation of Kilohertz Quasi-periodic Oscillations in Neutron Star Low-Mass X-Ray Binaries

1998 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. L95-L99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Psaltis ◽  
Mariano Méndez ◽  
Rudy Wijnands ◽  
Jeroen Homan ◽  
Peter G. Jonker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Periodic Oscillations ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Frequency Interpretation ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

scholarly journals Neutron star QPOs from oscillating, precessing hot, thick flow

2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (3) ◽  
pp. 3245-3250
Author(s):  
P Chris Fragile
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Outer Radius ◽  
Horizontal Branch ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Best Fitting ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
The Moment ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Simultaneous Oscillation

ABSTRACT Across black hole (BH) and neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), there appears to be some correlation between certain high- and low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). In a previous paper, we showed that for BH LMXBs, this could be explained by the simultaneous oscillation and precession of a hot, thick, torus-like corona. In the current work, we extend this idea to NS LMXBs by associating the horizontal branch oscillations (HBOs) with precession and the upper-kiloHertz (ukHz) QPO with vertical epicyclic motion. For the Atoll source 4U 1608-52, the model can match many distinct, simultaneous observations of the HBO and ukHz QPO by varying the inner and outer radius of the torus, while maintaining fixed values for the mass (MNS) and spin (a*) of the NS. The best-fitting values are MNS = 1.38 ± 0.03 M⊙ and a* = 0.325 ± 0.005. By combining these constraints with the measured spin frequency, we are able to obtain an estimate for the moment of inertia of INS = 1.40 ± 0.02 × 1045 g cm2, which places constraints on the equation of state. The model is unable to fit the lower-kHz QPO, but evidence suggests that QPO may be associated with the boundary layer between the accretion flow and the NS surface, which is not treated in this work.

scholarly journals Jets in the soft state in Cyg X-3 caused by advection of the donor magnetic field and unification with low-mass X-ray binaries

2019 ◽  
Vol 492 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinwu Cao ◽  
Andrzej A Zdziarski
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Vertical Magnetic Field ◽  
Subsequent Formation ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Soft State ◽  
Hard State ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

ABSTRACT The high-mass accreting binary Cyg X-3 is distinctly different from low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) in having powerful radio and γ-ray emitting jets in its soft spectral state. However, the transition from the hard state to the soft one is first associated with quenching of the hard-state radio emission, as in LMXBs. The powerful soft-state jets in Cyg X-3 form, on average, ∼50 d later. We interpret the initial jet quenching as due to the hard-state vertical magnetic field quickly diffusing away in the thin disc extending to the innermost stable circular orbit in the soft state, or, if that field is produced in situ, also cessation of its generation. The subsequent formation of the powerful jets occurs due to advection of the magnetic field from the donor. We find this happens only above certain threshold accretion rate associated with appearance of magnetically driven outflows. The ∼50 d lag is of the order of the viscous time-scale in the outer disc, while the field advection is much faster. This process does not happen in LMXBs due to the magnetic fluxes available from their donors being lower than that for the wind accretion from the Wolf–Rayet donor of Cyg X-3. In our model, the vertical magnetic field in the hard state, required to form the jets both in Cyg X-3 and LMXBs, is formed in situ rather than advected from the donor. Our results provide a unified scenario of the soft and hard states in both Cyg X-3 and LMXBs.

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