scholarly journals Modelling of 35-d superorbital cycle of B and V light curves of IMXB HZ Her/Her X-1

2020 ◽  
Vol 499 (2) ◽  
pp. 1747-1757
Author(s):  
D A Kolesnikov ◽  
N I Shakura ◽  
K A Postnov ◽  
I M Volkov ◽  
I F Bikmaev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Orbital Plane ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Free Precession ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Synchronization Mechanism ◽  
Gas Streams ◽  
Optical Flux

ABSTRACT The X-ray binary Her X-1 consists of an accreting neutron star and the optical component HZ Her. The 35-d X-ray superorbital variability of this system is known, since its discovery in 1972 by the Uhuru satellite and is believed to be caused by forced precession of a warped accretion disc tilted to the orbital plane. We argue that the observed features of the 35-d optical variability of HZ Her can be explained by free precession of the neutron star with a period close to that of the forced disc. The model parameters include (a) the X-ray luminosity of the neutron star; (b) the optical flux from the accretion disc; and (c) the tilt of the inner and outer edges of the accretion disc. A possible synchronization mechanism based on the coupling between the neutron star free precession and the dynamical action of non-stationary gas streams is discussed.

On the nature of the 35-day cycle in the X-ray binary Her X-1/HZ Her

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S346) ◽  
pp. 281-287
Author(s):  
N. Shakura ◽  
D. Kolesnikov ◽  
K. Postnov ◽  
I. Volkov ◽  
I. Bikmaev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Orbital Plane ◽  
Outer Edge ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Free Precession ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Synchronization Mechanism ◽  
Optical Star ◽  
Optical Flux

AbstractThe X-ray binary Her X-1 consists of an accreting neutron star and the optical companion HZ Her. The 35-day X-ray variability of this system is known since its discovery in 1972 by the UHURU satellite and is believed to be caused by forced precession of the warped accretion disk tilted to the orbital plane. We argue that the observed features of the optical variability of HZ Her can be explained by free precession of the neutron star with a period close to that of the forced disk precession. The model parameters include a) the intensity (power) of the stream of matter flowing out of the optical star; b) the X-ray luminosity of the neutron star; c) the optical flux of the accretion disk; d) the X-ray irradiation pattern on the donor star; e) the tilt of the inner and outer edge of the accretion disk. A possible synchronization mechanism based on the coupling between the neutron star free precession and the dynamical action of non-stationary gas streams is discussed shortly.

Study of Pulsations in the Nova-like Variable KR Aur and the Intermediate Polar BG CMi

1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-280
Author(s):  
J. Singh ◽  
P. C. Agrawal ◽  
M. V. K. Apparao ◽  
R. K. Manchanda ◽  
P. Vivekananda Rao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Pulsation Period ◽  
Variable Amplitude ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Photometric Observations ◽  
The Times ◽  
Made In

AbstractFast photometric observations of a nova-like variable KR Aurigae and the intermediate polar BG CMi (3A0729+103) were made in the B and U bands during 1984–89 to study pulsations in them. The light curves of KR Aur show large amplitude quasi-periodic pulsations with periods in the range 500–800s which can be ascribed to inhomogeneities in the accretion disc. The light curves of the X-ray emitting intermediate polar BG CMi show variable amplitude pulsations with 913s period. From the times of maxima of the pulsations obtained from observations over the period 1984–1989, the pulsation period is derived to be 0.010572966 ± 8 days and the spin-up rate to be (−5.7 ± 0.5) × 10−11 ss−1. The spin-up rate is consistent with the pulsating source being a white dwarf and not a neutron star.

scholarly journals A minimal timescale for the continuum in 4U 1608-52 and Aql X-1

2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (1) ◽  
pp. L72-L78
Author(s):  
K Mohamed ◽  
E Sonbas ◽  
K S Dhuga ◽  
E Göğüş ◽  
A Tuncer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
State Transitions ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
The Continuum

ABSTRACT Similar to black hole X-ray binary transients, hysteresis-like state transitions are also seen in some neutron-star X-ray binaries. Using a method based on wavelets and light curves constructed from archival Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations, we extract a minimal timescale over the complete range of transitions for 4U 1608-52 during the 2002 and 2007 outbursts and the 1999 and 2000 outbursts for Aql X-1. We present evidence for a strong positive correlation between this minimal timescale and a similar timescale extracted from the corresponding power spectra of these sources.

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 Accretion disc formation around the neutron star in Be/X-ray binaries

2004 ◽  
Vol 350 (3) ◽  
pp. 971-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimitake Hayasaki ◽  
Atsuo T. Okazaki
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
X Ray ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Disc Formation

scholarly journals Modelling decretion discs in Be/X-ray binaries

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
R O Brown ◽  
M J Coe ◽  
W C G Ho ◽  
A T Okazaki
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Orbital Period ◽  
Major Axis ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Be Stars ◽  
Semi Major Axis ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Smoothed Particle ◽  
X Ray Binaries

Abstract As the largest population of high mass X-ray binaries, Be/X-ray binaries provide an excellent laboratory to investigate the extreme physics of neutron stars. It is generally accepted that Be stars possess a circumstellar disc, providing an additional source of accretion to the stellar winds present around young hot stars. Interaction between the neutron star and the disc is often the dominant accretion mechanism. A large amount of work has gone into modelling the properties of these circumstellar discs, allowing for the explanation of a number of observable phenomena. In this paper, smoothed particle hydroynamics simulations are performed whilst varying the model parameters (orbital period, eccentricity, the mass ejection rate of the Be star and the viscosity and orientation of the disc). The relationships between the model parameters and the disc’s characteristics (base gas density, the accretion rate of the neutron star and the disc’s size) are presented. The observational evidence for a dependency of the size of the Be star’s circumstellar disc on the orbital period (and semi-major axis) is supported by the simulations.

scholarly journals Evidence for variability time-scale-dependent UV/X-ray delay in Seyfert 1 AGN NGC 7469

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (3) ◽  
pp. 4057-4068
Author(s):  
Mayukh Pahari ◽  
I M McHardy ◽  
Federico Vincentelli ◽  
Edward Cackett ◽  
Bradley M Peterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Curve ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Cross Correlation Analysis ◽  
Optical Continuum ◽  
Delay Prediction ◽  
Ngc 7469

ABSTRACT Using a month-long X-ray light curve from RXTE/PCA and 1.5 month-long UV continuum light curves from IUE spectra in 1220–1970 Å, we performed a detailed time-lag study of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469. Our cross-correlation analysis confirms previous results showing that the X-rays are delayed relative to the UV continuum at 1315 Å by 3.49 ± 0.22 d, which is possibly caused by either propagating fluctuation or variable Comptonization. However, if variations slower than 5 d are removed from the X-ray light curve, the UV variations then lag behind the X-ray variations by 0.37 ± 0.14 d, consistent with reprocessing of the X-rays by a surrounding accretion disc. A very similar reverberation delay is observed between Swift/XRT X-ray and Swift/UVOT UVW2, U light curves. Continuum light curves extracted from the Swift/GRISM spectra show delays with respect to X-rays consistent with reverberation. Separating the UV continuum variations faster and slower than 5 d, the slow variations at 1825 Å lag those at 1315 Å by 0.29 ± 0.06 d, while the fast variations are coincident (0.04 ± 0.12 d). The UV/optical continuum reverberation lag from IUE, Swift, and other optical telescopes at different wavelengths are consistent with the relationship: τ ∝ λ4/3, predicted for the standard accretion disc theory while the best-fitting X-ray delay from RXTE and Swift/XRT shows a negative X-ray offset of ∼0.38 d from the standard disc delay prediction.

scholarly journals Wave modes from the magnetorotational instability in accretion discs

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S290) ◽  
pp. 201-202
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Di Bernardo ◽  
Ulf Torkelsson
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
Accretion Discs ◽  
Magnetorotational Instability ◽  
Periodic Oscillations ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Black Hole Binaries ◽  
Angular Momentum Transport ◽  
Magnetohydrodynamic Simulations

AbstractThe magnetorotational instability (MRI) is widely believed to be the source of turbulence in accretion discs. This turbulence is responsible for the anomalous angular momentum transport in accretion discs. The turbulence will affect other aspects of the dynamics of the disc as well, and we will concentrate on two such issues: a) what kind of oscillations can be excited by the turbulence itself, and b) how the turbulence is interacting with modes that have been excited by some other agent. This is of interest in understanding the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) that have been observed in the X-ray light curves of accreting neutron star and black hole binaries. We carry out local three dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a keplerian differentially rotating accretion disc, using a shearing box configuration taking in account the effects of the vertical stratification.

scholarly journals Models of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations and black hole spin estimates in Galactic microquasars

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. A31
Author(s):  
A. Kotrlová ◽  
E. Šrámková ◽  
G. Török ◽  
K. Goluchová ◽  
J. Horák ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Accretion Disc ◽  
The Other ◽  
Periodic Oscillations ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Oscillation Modes

We explore the influence of nongeodesic pressure forces present in an accretion disc on the frequencies of its axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric epicyclic oscillation modes. We discuss its implications for models of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs), which have been observed in the X-ray flux of accreting black holes (BHs) in the three Galactic microquasars, GRS 1915+105, GRO J1655−40, and XTE J1550−564. We focus on previously considered QPO models that deal with low-azimuthal-number epicyclic modes, |m| ≤ 2, and outline the consequences for the estimations of BH spin, a ∈ [0, 1]. For four out of six examined models, we find only small, rather insignificant changes compared to the geodesic case. For the other two models, on the other hand, there is a significant increase of the estimated upper limit on the spin. Regarding the falsifiability of the QPO models, we find that one particular model from the examined set is incompatible with the data. If the spectral spin estimates for the microquasars that point to a >  0.65 were fully confirmed, two more QPO models would be ruled out. Moreover, if two very different values of the spin, such as a ≈ 0.65 in GRO J1655−40 and a ≈ 1 in GRS 1915+105, were confirmed, all the models except one would remain unsupported by our results. Finally, we discuss the implications for a model that was recently proposed in the context of neutron star (NS) QPOs as a disc-oscillation-based modification of the relativistic precession model. This model provides overall better fits of the NS data and predicts more realistic values of the NS mass compared to the relativistic precession model. We conclude that it also implies a significantly higher upper limit on the microquasar’s BH spin (a ∼ 0.75 vs. a ∼ 0.55).

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