scholarly journals Modeling pulse profiles in X-Ray pulsars with accretion column

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. D. Markozov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Rotation Axis ◽  
Magnetic Axis ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Schwarzschild Metric ◽  
X Ray

The pulse profiles of the radiation coming from X-ray pulsars with an accretion column were modeled. Gravitational lensing and redshift in the Schwarzschild metric, as well as the reflection of X-Ray photons from the surface of a neutron star, were taken into account. On the basis of the obtained pulse profiles an analysis of possible errors in the measurements of the luminosities of X-ray pulsars associated with the inability of the observer to correctly take into account the anisotropy in the radiation emerging from the neutron star, as well as the angles between the pulsar’s rotation axis, the magnetic axis and the line of sight, was carried out.

scholarly journals A Bayesian approach to matching thermonuclear X-ray burst observations with models

2019 ◽  
Vol 490 (2) ◽  
pp. 2228-2240 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Goodwin ◽  
D K Galloway ◽  
A Heger ◽  
A Cumming ◽  
Z Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Rotation Axis ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Type I ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Star Mass ◽  
Disc Model ◽  
Neutron Star Mass ◽  
Hydrogen Mass ◽  
Neutron Star Radius

ABSTRACT We present a new method of matching observations of Type-I (thermonuclear) X-ray bursts with models, comparing the predictions of a semi-analytic ignition model with X-ray observations of the accretion-powered millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4–3658 in outburst. We used a Bayesian analysis approach to marginalize over the parameters of interest and determine parameters such as fuel composition, distance/anisotropy factors, neutron star mass, and neutron star radius. Our study includes a treatment of the system inclination effects, inferring that the rotation axis of the system is inclined $\left(69^{+4}_{-2}\right)^\circ$ from the observers line of sight, assuming a flat disc model. This method can be applied to any accreting source that exhibits Type-I X-ray bursts. We find a hydrogen mass fraction of $0.57^{+0.13}_{-0.14}$ and CNO metallicity of $0.013^{+0.006}_{-0.004}$ for the accreted fuel is required by the model to match the observed burst energies, for a distance to the source of $3.3^{+0.3}_{-0.2}\, \mathrm{kpc}$. We infer a neutron star mass of $1.5^{+0.6}_{-0.3}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ and radius of $11.8^{+1.3}_{-0.9}\, \mathrm{km}$ for a surface gravity of $1.9^{+0.7}_{-0.4}\times 10^{14}\, \mathrm{cm}\, \mathrm{s}^{-2}$ for SAX J1808.4–3658.

scholarly journals An X-ray and optical study of the outbursting behaviour of the SMC Be X-ray binary SXP 91.1

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (1) ◽  
pp. 993-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
I M Monageng ◽  
M J Coe ◽  
J A Kennea ◽  
L J Townsend ◽  
D A H Buckley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Gravitational Lensing ◽  
Optical Data ◽  
Type I ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Spin Period ◽  
Average Spin ◽  
Period Derivative ◽  
Inclination Angles ◽  
Using Data

ABSTRACT In this paper we report on the optical and X-ray behaviour of the Be X-ray binary, SXP 91.1, during a recent type I outburst. We monitored the outburst using the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. These data were supported by optical data from the Southern African Large Telescope and the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) to show the circumstellar disc activity. Matter from this disc accretes on to the neutron star, giving rise to the X-ray outburst as seen in the synchronous evolution of the optical and X-ray light curves. Using data taken with OGLE we show that the circumstellar disc has exhibited stable behaviour over two decades. A positive correlation is seen between the colour and magnitude from the OGLE and massive compact halo object observations, which indicates that the disc is orientated at relatively low-inclination angles. From the OGLE and Swift data, we demonstrate that the system has shown relative phase offsets that have persisted for many years. The spin period derivative is seen to be at maximum spin-up at phases when the mass accretion rate is at maximum. We show that the neutron star in SXP 91.1 is an unusual member of its class in the sense that it has had a consistent spin period derivative over many years, with the average spin-up rate being one of the highest for known Small Magellanic Cloud pulsars. The most recent measurements of the spin-up rate reveal higher values than the global trend, which is attributed to the recent mass accretion event leading to the current outburst.

Clumpy wind accretion in Supergiant X-ray Binaries

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S346) ◽  
pp. 34-39
Author(s):  
Ileyk El Mellah ◽  
Andreas A. C. Sander ◽  
Jon O. Sundqvist ◽  
Rony Keppens
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Recent Analysis ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Mass Accretion Rate ◽  
Accretion Process ◽  
The Impact ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractSupergiant X-ray Binaries host a compact object, generally a neutron star, orbiting an evolved O/B star. Mass transfer proceeds through the intense radiatively-driven wind of the stellar donor, a fraction of which is captured by the gravitational field of the neutron star. The subsequent accretion process onto the neutron star is responsible for the abundant X-ray emission from those systems. They also display variations in time of the X-ray flux by a factor of a few 10, along with changes in the hardness ratios believed to be due to varying absorption along the line-of-sight. We used the most recent results on the inhomogeneities (aka clumps) in the non-stationary wind of massive hot stars to evaluate their impact on the time-variable accretion process. We ran three-dimensional simulations of the wind in the vicinity of the accretor to witness the formation of the bow shock and follow the inhomogeneous flow over several spatial orders of magnitude, down to the neutron star magnetosphere. In particular, we show that the impact of the clumps on the time-variability of the intrinsic mass accretion rate is severely damped by the crossing of the shock, compared to the purely ballistic Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton estimation. We also account for the variable absorption due to clumps passing by the line-of-sight and estimate the final effective variability of the mass accretion rate for different orbital separations. These results are confronted to recent analysis of Vela X-1 observations with Chandra by Grinberg et al. (2017). It shows that clumps account well for time-variability at low luminosity but can not generate, per se, the high luminosity activity observed.

scholarly journals Spin-Down of Neutron Stars and Compositional Transitions in the Cold Crustal Matter

1998 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 345-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kei Iida ◽  
Katsuhiko Sato
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Rotation Axis ◽  
Mass Density ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Equatorial Region ◽  
Compressible Liquid ◽  
Shell Correction ◽  
X Ray

Transitions of nuclear compositions in the crust of a neutron star induced by stellar spin-down are evaluated at zero temperature. We construct a compressible liquid-drop model for the energy of nuclei immersed in a neutron gas, including pairing and shell correction terms, in reference to the known properties of the ground state of matter above neutron drip density, 4.3 × 1011 g cm−3. Recent experimental values and extrapolations of nuclear masses are used for a description of matter at densities below neutron drip. Changes in the pressure of matter in the crust due to the stellar spin-down are calculated by taking into account the structure of the crust of a slowly and uniformly rotating relativistic neutron star. If the initial rotation period is of the order of milliseconds, these changes cause nuclei, initially being in the ground-state matter above a mass density of about 3 × 1013 g cm−3, to absorb neutrons in the equatorial region where the matter undergoes compression, and to emit them in the vicinity of the rotation axis where the matter undergoes decompression. Heat generation by these processes is found to have significant effects on the thermal evolution of old neutron stars with low magnetic fields; the surface emission predicted from this heating is compared with the ROSAT observations of X-ray emission from millisecond pulsars and is shown to be insufficient to explain the observed X-ray luminosities (Iida and Sato, 1997).

scholarly journals Pulsed fraction of super-critical column accretion flows on to neutron stars: Modeling of ultraluminous X-ray pulsars

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiro Inoue ◽  
Ken Ohsuga ◽  
Tomohisa Kawashima
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Rotation Axis ◽  
Polar Angle ◽  
Geodesic Equation ◽  
Magnetic Axis ◽  
Viewing Angle ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Accretion Flows ◽  
Bending Effect ◽  
Simulation Results

Abstract We calculate the pulsed fraction (PF) of the super-critical column accretion flows on to magnetized neutron stars (NSs), of which the magnetic axis is misaligned with the rotation axis, based on the simulation results by Kawashima et al. (2016, PASJ, 68, 83). Here, we solve the geodesic equation for light in the Schwarzschild spacetime in order to take into account the light-bending effect. The gravitational redshift and the relativistic Doppler effect from gas motions of the accretion columns are also incorporated. The pulsed emission appears since the observed luminosity, which exceeds the Eddington luminosity for the stellar-mass black holes, periodically changes via precession of the column caused by the rotation of the NS. The PF tends to increase as $\theta _{\rm obs}$ approaches to $\theta _{\rm B}$, where $\theta _{\rm obs}$ and $\theta _{\rm B}$ are the observer’s viewing angle and the polar angle of the magnetic axis measured from the rotation axis, respectively. The maximum PF is around 50%. Also, we find that the PF becomes less than 5% for $\theta _{\rm obs} \lesssim 5^\circ$ or for $\theta _{\rm B} \lesssim 5^\circ$. Our results are consistent with observations of ultraluminous X-ray pulsars (ULXPs) with few exceptions, since the ULXPs mostly exhibit the PF of $\lesssim 50$%. Our present study supports the hypothesis that the ULXPs are powered by the super-critical column accretion on to NSs.

BIRTH RATES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF NEUTRON STARS AND POSSIBLE EVOLUTIONS OF THESE OBJECTS

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 643-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
OKTAY H. GUSEINOV ◽  
AŞKIN ANKAY ◽  
SEVINÇ O. TAGIEVA
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Rotation Axis ◽  
Solar Mass ◽  
Birth Rates ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Soft Gamma Repeaters ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Magnetic Field

It is shown that anomalous X-ray pulsars and soft gamma repeaters are neutron stars with mass less than 1 solar mass and with magnetic field about 3×1013–1014 G . Their ages (t≤105 yr ) are considerably larger than their characteristic times. The angle between the rotation axis and the axis of the magnetic field must be large for these objects. From time to time as a result of activities their value of Ṗ considerably increases because of the propeller mechanism. Using such an approach Guseinov et al.1 have predicted the transient characteristic of these sources which has been confirmed recently.2 We estimate the spatial densities and lifetimes of different types of isolated neutron star. Some of these sources must have relations with anomalous X-ray pulsars and soft gamma repeaters. In order to understand the locations of different types of isolated neutron star on the P–Ṗ diagram it is also necessary to take into account the differences in the mass and the magnetic field of neutron stars. We have also estimated the birth rates of different types of isolated neutron stars.

scholarly journals Aperiodic Flux Variability in A 0535+262

1996 ◽  
Vol 165 ◽  
pp. 313-319
Author(s):  
Mark H. Finger ◽  
Robert B. Wilson ◽  
B. Alan Harmon ◽  
William S. Paciesas
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
Center Frequency ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Binary Pulsar ◽  
Transient Source ◽  
Flux Variability ◽  
Burst And Transient Source

A “giant” outburst of A 0535+262, a transient X-ray binary pulsar, was observed in 1994 February and March with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) onboard the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. During the outburst power spectra of the hard X-ray flux contained a QPO-like component with a FWHM of approximately 50% of its center frequency. Over the course of the outburst the center frequency rose smoothly from 35 mHz to 70 mHz and then fell to below 40 mHz. We compare this QPO frequency with the neutron star spin-up rate, and discuss the observed correlation in terms of the beat frequency and Keplerian frequency QPO models in conjunction with the Ghosh-Lamb accretion torque model.

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.

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