scholarly journals A very rare triple-peaked type-I X-ray burst in the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636−53

2009 ◽  
Vol 398 (1) ◽  
pp. 368-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guobao Zhang ◽  
Mariano Méndez ◽  
Diego Altamirano ◽  
Tomaso M. Belloni ◽  
Jeroen Homan
Keyword(s):  
Type I ◽  
X Ray ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-178
Author(s):  
Chen Li ◽  
Guobao Zhang ◽  
Mariano Méndez ◽  
Jiancheng Wang ◽  
Ming Lyu

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.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-54
Author(s):  
P. A. Mason ◽  
E. L. Robinson ◽  
S. Gomez ◽  
J. V. Segura

We present new optical observations of V1408 Aql (= 4U 1957+115), the only low mass X-ray binary, black hole candidate known to be in a persistently soft state. We combine new broadband optical photometry with previously published data and derive a precise orbital ephemeris. The optical light curves display sinusoidal variations modulated on the orbital period as well as large night to night changes in mean intensity. The amplitude of the variations increases with mean intensity while maintaining sinusoidal shape. Considering the set of constraints placed by the X-ray and optical data we argue that V1408 Aql may harbor a very low mass black hole. Optical light curves of UW CrB display partial eclipses of the accretion disk by the donor star that vary both in depth and orbital phase. The new eclipses of UW CrB in conjunction with published eclipse timings are well fitted with a linear ephemeris. We derive an upper limit to the rate of change of the orbital period. By including the newly observed type I bursts with published bursts in our analysis, we find that optical bursts are not observed between orbital phases 0.93 and 0.07, i.e. they are not observable during partial eclipses of the disk.


2019 ◽  
Vol 490 (2) ◽  
pp. 2300-2314 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Marino ◽  
M Del Santo ◽  
M Cocchi ◽  
A D’Aì ◽  
A Segreto ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT 1RXS J180408.9–342058 is a low-mass X-ray binary hosting a neutron star, which shows X-ray activity at very different mass-accretion regimes, from very faint to almost the Eddington luminosity. In this work, we present a comprehensive X-ray study of this source using data from the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, NuSTAR, and INTEGRAL/JEM-X. In order to follow the spectral evolution, we analysed the 2015 outburst using Swift data and three NuSTAR observations. Besides the canonical hard and soft spectral states, we identified the rarely observed intermediate state. This was witnessed by the appearance of the accretion disc emission in the spectrum (at kTdisc ∼0.7 keV) and the simultaneous cooling of the hot corona. In addition, we also unveiled a hard tail above 30 keV in this state. In the hard state, a thermal Comptonization model with two seed photons populations (kTs,1 ∼ 1.5 keV and kTs,2 ∼ 0.4 keV, respectively) and a hot Comptonizing plasma, represents the physically best motivated scenario to describe the data. We also estimated a reflection fraction below 20 per cent in all states, while no constraints on the inclination and only lower limits on the inner disc radius could be inferred. Finally, we studied a number of type-I X-ray bursts displayed from the source, one of them at the Eddington limit (observed with JEM-X). Their characteristics, combined with the clocked behaviour observed during the intermediate state, point out H/He composition for the accreted material, which makes unlikely the helium dwarf nature for the companion.


Author(s):  
R M Arnason ◽  
H Papei ◽  
P Barmby ◽  
A Bahramian ◽  
M Gorski

Abstract Precise and accurate measurements of distances to Galactic X-ray binaries (XRBs) reduce uncertainties in the determination of XRB physical parameters. We have cross-matched the XRB catalogues of Liu et al. (2006, 2007) to the results of Gaia Data Release 2. We identify 86 X-ray binaries with a Gaia candidate counterpart, of which 32 are low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) and 54 are high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs). Distances to Gaia candidate counterparts are, on average, consistent with those measured by Hipparcos and radio parallaxes. When compared to distances measured by Gaia candidate counterparts, distances measured using Type I X-ray bursts are systematically larger, suggesting that these bursts reach only 50% of the Eddington limit. However, these results are strongly dependent on the prior assumptions used for estimating distance from the Gaia parallax measurements. Comparing positions of Gaia candidate counterparts for XRBs in our sample to positions of spiral arms in the Milky Way, we find that HMXBs exhibit mild preference for being closer to spiral arms; LMXBs exhibit mild preference for being closer to inter-arm regions. LMXBs do not exhibit any preference for leading or trailing their closest spiral arm. HMXBs exhibit a mild preference for trailing their closest spiral arm. The lack of a strong correlation between HMXBs and spiral arms may be explained by star formation occurring closer to the midpoint of the arms, or a time delay between star formation and HMXB formation manifesting as a spatial separation between HMXBs and the spiral arm where they formed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-268
Author(s):  
A C Albayati ◽  
D Altamirano ◽  
G K Jaisawal ◽  
P Bult ◽  
S Rapisarda ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT MAXI J1807+132 is a low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) first detected in outburst in 2017. Observations during the 2017 outburst did not allow for an unambiguous identification of the nature of the compact object. MAXI J1807+132 that was detected in outburst again in 2019 and was monitored regularly with Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer(NICER). In this paper, we report on 5 days of observations during which we detected three thermonuclear (Type-I) X-ray bursts, identifying the system as a neutron star LMXB. Time-resolved spectroscopy of the three Type-I bursts revealed typical characteristics expected for these phenomena. All three Type-I bursts show slow rises and long decays, indicative of mixed H/He fuel. We find no strong evidence that any of the Type-I bursts reached the Eddington Luminosity; however, under the assumption that the brightest X-ray burst underwent photospheric radius expansion, we estimate a <12.4 kpc upper limit for the distance. We searched for burst oscillations during the Type-I bursts from MAXI J1807+132 and found none (<10 per cent amplitude upper limit at 95 per cent confidence level). Finally, we found that the brightest Type-I burst shows a ∼1.6 s pause during the rise. This pause is similar to one recently found with NICER in a bright Type-I burst from the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4–3658. The fact that Type-I bursts from both sources can show this type of pause suggests that the origin of the pauses is independent of the composition of the burning fuel, the peak luminosity of the Type-I bursts, or whether the NS is an X-ray pulsar.


2003 ◽  
Vol 342 (3) ◽  
pp. 909-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Migliari ◽  
T. Di Salvo ◽  
T. Belloni ◽  
M. van der Klis ◽  
R. P. Fender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type I ◽  
X Ray ◽  

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S290) ◽  
pp. 251-252
Author(s):  
Y. J. Lei ◽  
H. T. Zhang ◽  
Y. Q. Dong ◽  
H. L. Yuan

AbstractWith RXTE data ranging from 1997 August to 1998 May, we detected 8 type I X-ray bursts from the atoll source 4U 1735–44. The bursts are present at all the branches, and most occur at an inferred low mass accretion rate. We find no correlation between the peak flux of the bursts and the mass accretion rate. The results are different from that of 4U 1728-34, whose bursts' peak flux are anti-correlated with the mass accretion rate.


1976 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
H. Gursky

Most of the strong galactic X-ray sources must be low mass, close binary systems, such as Her X-1 and Sco X-1. Two evolutionary scenarios are discussed, both involving type I supernovae that occur when mass-accreting white dwarfs are driven over their mass limit. In one, accepting the correctness of the idea that a neutron star or black hole is the seat of the X-ray emission, the SN occurs before the system is an X-ray source. Another possibility is that the white dwarf is the X-ray source, just prior to its collapse and the ensuing SN.


2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 211-211
Author(s):  
P. Muhli ◽  
P. J. Hakala ◽  
L. Hjalmarsdotter ◽  
D. C. Hannikainen ◽  
J. Schultz

A few Galactic Low Mass X-Ray Binaries (LMXBs) have shown drastically evolving X-ray and/or optical orbital light curves. In two short-period LMXBs, MS 1603+2600 (= UW CrB, Porb = 111 min) and 4U 1916-053 (see e.g. Homer et al. 2001), the variations in the light curve morphology seem to be repeating in a periodic manner. We present first results of a photometric monitoring campaign of MS 1603+2600, showing evidence of a 5-day superorbital period in this yet unclassified source. The observations also unraveled optical flares, reminiscent of type I bursts, suggesting a neutron star primary.


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