The possible origin of high frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in low mass X-ray binaries

Abstract

AbstractWe summarize our model that high frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) both in the neutron star low mass X-ray binaries (NS-LMXBs) and black hole LMXBs may originate from magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. Based on the MHD model in NS-LMXBs, the explanation of the parallel tracks is presented. The slowly varying effective surface magnetic field of a NS leads to the shift of parallel tracks of QPOs in NS-LMXBs. In the study of kilohertz (kHz) QPOs in NS-LMXBs, we obtain a simple power-law relation between the kHz QPO frequencies and the combined parameter of accretion rate and the effective surface magnetic field. Based on the MHD model in BH-LMXBs, we suggest that two stable modes of the Alfv́en waves in the accretion disks with a toroidal magnetic field may lead to the double high frequency QPOs. This model, in which the effect of the general relativity in BH-LMXBs is considered, naturally accounts for the 3:2 relation for the upper and lower frequencies of the QPOs and the relation between the BH mass and QPO frequency.