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.

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 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 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 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.

scholarly journals Theory of Accretion Disk Coronae

1990 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 187-196
Author(s):  
T. R. Kallman
Keyword(s):  
Active Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Cataclysmic Variables ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Spectral Signatures ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Absorption ◽  
X Ray Binaries ◽  
Theoretical Issues

AbstractAccretion disk coronae are likely to be the dominant site for X-ray absorption and reprocessed emission in low mass X-ray binaries, and may be present in other classes of compact X-ray sources such as active galactic nuclei and cataclysmic variables. In spite of this fact, and in spite of the observational evidence for their existence, there remain many uncertainties about the structure of accretion disk coronae. This paper will discuss the coronal structure and dynamics, their X-ray spectral signatures including coupling to the variability behavior of compact X-ray sources, and the major unsolved theoretical issues surrounding them.

scholarly journals Non-Linear Resonances in Accretion Disks and QPOs

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 128-129
Author(s):  
Włodek Kluźniak
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Accretion Disks ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Light Curves ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractNon-linear oscillations in the accretion disk are favored as an explanation of high-frequency QPOs observed in the light curves of low-mass X-ray binaries containing neutron stars, black holes, or white dwarfs.

scholarly journals Modeling He-Rich Disks in AM CVn Binaries

2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 228-228
Author(s):  
T. Nagel ◽  
S. Dreizler ◽  
T. Rauch ◽  
K. Werner
Keyword(s):  
Accretion Disk ◽  
Time Scales ◽  
Accretion Disks ◽  
White Dwarf ◽  
Cataclysmic Variables ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Synthetic Spectra ◽  
Pure Helium ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
X Ray Binaries

We have developed a new code for the calculation of synthetic spectra and vertical structures of accretion disks in cataclysmic variables and compact X-ray binaries. Here we present results for the CV system AM CVn.AM CVn stars are a special type of cataclysmic variables, also called helium cataclysmics. They are systems of interacting binary white dwarfs, consisting of a degenerate C-O white dwarf primary and a low mass semi-degenerate secondary. The secondary loses mass, almost, pure helium, to the primary, forming an accretion disk. They have all in common a helium-rich composition, analoguous to the hydrogen-rich cataclysmic variables. They show photometric variabilities on time scales of ~ 1000s, the prototype of the class, AM CVn, e.g. exhibits a variability of ~ 18 min (Nelemans et al. 2001).

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

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.

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