scholarly journals A 2 day orbital period for a redback millisecond pulsar candidate in the globular cluster NGC 6397

Author(s):  
Manuel Pichardo Marcano ◽  
L E Rivera Sandoval ◽  
Thomas J Maccarone ◽  
Yue Zhao ◽  
Craig O Heinke

Abstract We report optical modulation of the companion to the X-ray source U18 in the globular cluster NGC 6397. U18, with combined evidence from radio and X-ray measurements, is a strong candidate as the second redback in this cluster, initially missed in pulsar searches. This object is a bright variable star with an anomalous red colour and optical variability (∼0.2 mag in amplitude) with a periodicity ∼1.96 days that can be interpreted as the orbital period. This value corresponds to the longest orbital period for known redback candidates and confirmed systems in Galactic globular clusters and one of the few with a period longer than 1 day.

1996 ◽  
Vol 165 ◽  
pp. 389-400
Author(s):  
Helen M. Johnston ◽  
Frank Verbunt ◽  
Günther Hasinger ◽  
Wolfram Bunk

X-ray sources in globular clusters fall into two categories: the “bright” sources, with LX ∼ 1036-1038 erg s−1, and the “dim” sources, with LX ≲ 1034.5 erg s−1. The bright sources are clearly associated with accreting neutron stars in binary systems. The nature of the dim sources, however, remains in doubt. We review recent observations of globular-cluster X-ray sources with the ROSAT satellite. ROSAT detected bright sources in M31 globular clusters and greatly increased the number of dim sources known in galactic globular clusters. We discuss what these new observations have taught us about the distribution and nature of such sources, their spectral properties, and their underlying luminosity function.


2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 73-74
Author(s):  
T. J. Maccarone ◽  
A Kundu ◽  
S. E. Zepf ◽  
T. H. Puzia

AbstractWe summarize the key observations made in recent observations of X-ray sources in early-type galaxies. Typically about half of the X-ray binaries in early-type galaxies are in globular clusters, they are preferentially found in metal rich globular clusters, and there is no indication that cluster-age is an important parameter. Theoretical challenges are presented by these results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (4) ◽  
pp. 6033-6049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhao ◽  
Craig O Heinke ◽  
Vlad Tudor ◽  
Arash Bahramian ◽  
James C A Miller-Jones ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Using a 16.2-h radio observation by the Australia Telescope Compact Array and archival Chandra data, we found >5σ radio counterparts to four known and three new X-ray sources within the half-light radius (rh) of the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6397. The previously suggested millisecond pulsar (MSP) candidate, U18, is a steep-spectrum (Sν ∝ να; $\alpha =-2.0^{+0.4}_{-0.5}$) radio source with a 5.5-GHz flux density of 54.7 ± 4.3 $\mu \mathrm{ Jy}$. We argue that U18 is most likely a ‘hidden’ MSP that is continuously hidden by plasma shocked at the collision between the winds from the pulsar and companion star. The non-detection of radio pulsations so far is probably the result of enhanced scattering in this shocked wind. On the other hand, we observed the 5.5-GHz flux of the known MSP PSR J1740−5340 (U12) to decrease by a factor of >2.8 during epochs of 1.4-GHz eclipse, indicating that the radio flux is absorbed in its shocked wind. If U18 is indeed a pulsar whose pulsations are scattered, we note the contrast with U12’s flux decreases in eclipse, which argues for two different eclipse mechanisms at the same radio frequency. In addition to U12 and U18, we also found radio associations for five other Chandra X-ray sources, four of which are likely background galaxies. The last, U97, which shows strong H α variability, is mysterious; it may be either a quiescent black hole low-mass X-ray binary or something more unusual.


1987 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 187-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Verbunt ◽  
Piet Hut

We discuss formation mechanisms for low-mass X-ray binaries in globular clusters. We apply the most efficient mechanism, tidal capture in close two-body encounters between neutron and main-sequence stars, to the clusters of our galaxy. The observed number of X-ray sources in these can be explained if the birth velocities of neutron stars are higher than estimated from velocity measurements of radiopulsars, or if the initial mass function steepens at high masses. We perform a statistical test on the distribution of X-ray sources with respect to the number of close encounters in globular clusters, and find satisfactory agreement between the tidal capture theory and observation, apart from the presence of low-mass X-ray binaries in four clusters with a very low encounter rate: Ter 1, Ter 2, Gr 1 and NGC 6712.EXOSAT observations indicate that some dim globular cluster sources may be less luminous than hitherto assumed, and support the view that the brighter dim sources may be soft X-ray transients in quiescence.


2005 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 205-205
Author(s):  
Yuexing Li ◽  
Mordecai-Mark Mac Low ◽  
Ralf S. Klessen

AbstractWe present preliminary results of a high resolution simulation of globular cluster formation in a galaxy merger using GADGET (Springel et al. 2001). A barotropic equation of state (Li et al 2003) is implemented to include effects of cooling and heating. After one orbital period, a dozen proto-globular clusters are identified in the tidal tails.


1988 ◽  
Vol 126 ◽  
pp. 585-586
Author(s):  
Michael M. Shara ◽  
Michael Potter ◽  
Anthony F. J. Moffat ◽  
Helen Sawyer Hogg ◽  
Amelia Wehlau

Although close binaries are believed to be of importance in the dynamical evolution of globular clusters, searches for such binaries have produced mostly negative results, aside from x-ray sources. Two dwarf novae which are possible cluster members are known (Margon and Downes 1983) and two classical nova candidates have been found. The crowded field around the nova observed in 1860 close to the center of M80 makes ground-based recovery of that star impossible with present techniques. Here we report on our attempt to recover the star which erupted in 1938 about 30″ (0.8 core radii) from the center of M14.


1988 ◽  
Vol 126 ◽  
pp. 347-366
Author(s):  
Jonathan E. Grindlay

X-ray binaries in globular clusters provide a powerful tool for the exploration of the evolution of compact binaries and their host globular clusters. Recent x-ray and optical studies of these systems have yielded long-sought binary periods and fundamental properties for two sources (in NGC 6624 and M 15). It appears that tidal capture formation of compact binaries in globular clusters can proceed by several different routes and lead to exotic systems such as the white dwarf-neutron star binary with an 11-minute period recently discovered in NGC 6624. Combined with previously reported long-term periods for several globular cluster (and field) x-ray sources, this suggests again that many of these systems may in fact be hierarchical triple systems. The prospects for forming these in the dense cores of clusters undergoing core collapse is discussed, and searches for color gradients in the cores of globular clusters showing cusps in their central surface brightness distribution are presented. A program to test for the high central density of binaries (and triples) expected in cusp clusters by searching for diffuse line emission from their constituent cataclysmic variables is briefly described. Finally, the case for globular cluster disruption and the formation of galactic x-ray burst source is reviewed in light of recent developments.


Author(s):  
Z. Wang ◽  
A. Tziamtzis ◽  
D. L. Kaplan ◽  
D. Chakrabarty

AbstractThe X-ray binary 4U 1543–624 has been provisionally identified as an ultra-compact system with an orbital period of ≃ 18 min. We have carried out time-resolved optical imaging of the binary to verify the ultra-short orbital period. Using 140 min of high-cadence r′-band photometry, we recover the previously-seen sinusoidal modulation and determine a period P = 18.20 ± 0.09 min. In addition, we also see a 7.0 × 10−4 mag min−1 linear decay, likely related to variations in the source's accretion activity. Assuming that the sinusoidal modulation arises from X-ray heating of the inner face of the companion star, we estimate a distance of 6.0–6.7 kpc and an inclination angle of 34°–61° (90% confidence) for the binary. Given the stability of the modulation, we can confirm that the modulation is orbital in origin and 4U 1543–624 is an ultra-compact X-ray binary.


2019 ◽  
Vol 621 ◽  
pp. L9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. X. Yap ◽  
K. L. Li ◽  
A. K. H. Kong ◽  
J. Takata ◽  
J. Lee ◽  
...  

We present optical observations of the redback millisecond pulsar PSR J1048+2339, which is a 4.66 ms radio pulsar in a compact binary with an orbital period of six hours. We obtained high-quality light curves of PSR J1048+2339 with the Lulin 1 m Telescope. The system shows two distinct six-hour orbital modulations, in which an ellipsoidal modulation changes into a sinusoidal-like profile in less than 14 days. In addition to the change, the brightness of the companion increased by one magnitude, suggesting that the latter type of modulation is caused by the pulsar wind heating of the companion and that the heating became dominant in the system. While the changes are not unexpected, such a timescale is the shortest among similar systems. We performed modeling analysis to extract the properties of the system. We obtained a derived pulsar mass of 2.1 M⊙ and a companion star mass of 0.4 M⊙ for the system. The irradiation power increased by a factor of 6 during which the pulsar wind heating dominates. We also report on the two archival Chandra X-ray observations and discuss several possibilities that might cause the varying heating on the companion.


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