BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras Research Articles

X-ray spectral study of hot gas in three clusters of galaxies

We study the physical properties of three clusters of galaxies, selected from a BeppoSAX Wide Field Camera (WFC) survey. These sources are identified as 1RXS J153934.7-833535, 1RXS J160147.6-754507, and 1RXS J081232.3-571423 in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey catalogue. We obtained XMM-Newton follow-up observations for these three clusters. We fit single and multi-temperature models to spectra obtained from the EPIC-pn camera to determine the temperature, the chemical composition of the gas and their radial distribution. Since two observations are contaminated by a high soft-proton background, we develop a new method to estimate the effect of this background on the data. For the first time, we present the temperature and iron abundance of two of these three clusters. The iron abundance of 1RXS J153934.7-33535 decreases with radius. The fits to the XMM-Newton and Chandra data show that the radial temperature profile within 3' towards the centre either flattens or lowers. A Chandra image of the source suggests the presence of X-ray cavities. The gas properties in 1RXS J160147.6-754507 are consistent with a flat radial distribution of iron and temperature within 2' from the centre. 1RXS J081232.3-571423 is a relatively cool cluster with a temperature of about 3 keV. The radial temperature and iron profiles suggest that 1RXS J153934.7-833535 is a cool core cluster. The Chandra image shows substructure which points toward AGN feedback in the core. The flat radial profiles of the temperature and iron abundance in 1RXS J160147.6-754507 are similar to the profiles of non-cool-core clusters.

Discovery of a 30-d period in the supergiant fast X-ray transient SAX J1818.6–1703

Abstract SAX J1818.6–1703 has been characterized as a supergiant fast X-ray transient system on the basis of several INTEGRAL/IBIS detections since the original BeppoSAX Wide Field Camera detection. Using IBIS/ISGRI, Swift/BAT and archival observations, we show that, in fact, SAX J1818.6–1703 exhibits emission on a period of 30 ± 0.1 d, with a high degree of recurrence. SAX J1818.6–1703 is therefore the second supergiant fast X-ray transient shown to exhibit periodic outbursts, but with a considerably shorter period than the other known system, IGR J11215–5952.

TheBeppoSAX WFC X-ray source catalogue

Aims. We present the catalogue of X-ray sources detected by the two Wide Field Cameras (WFCs) in complete observations on board BeppoSAX during its 6 years of operational lifetime, between April 1996 and April 2002. Methods. The BeppoSAX WFCs were coded mask instruments sensitive in the 2–28 keV energy band with a 40 × 40 square degree fields of view, pointing in opposite directions and perpendicularly to the BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instruments (NFI). The WFCs were usually operated simultaneously to NFI observations, each lasting up to several days. WFCs observed thus the entire sky several times with a typical sensitivity of 2 to 10 mCrab. A systematic analysis of all WFC observations in the BeppoSAX archive has been carried out using the latest post-mission release of the WFC analysis software and calibrations. Results. The catalogue includes 253 distinct sources, obtained from a total sample of 8283 WFC detections. We describe the basic statistical properties of the sample and present a six-year history of two celestial calibration X-ray sources.

The superburst recurrence time in luminous persistent LMXBs

Theory and observations favor stable helium burning as the most important means to produce fuel for superbursts on neutron star surfaces. However, all known superbursters exhibit unstable burning as well. This ambiguity prompted us to search for superbursts in data from the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras of ten luminous LMXBs, most of which do not exhibit normal type-I X-ray bursts. We found no superbursts and determine a lower limit on the recurrence time which varies between 30 and 76 days (90% confidence). All recurrence time limits except one are longer than the observed recurrence time for GX 17+2. This difference can be understood if the mass accretion rate in GX 17+2 is several tens of percent higher than in the other sources; alternatively, the accreted material in GX 17+2 might be hydrogen deficient, leading to larger carbon yields than in the other sources. We compare our results to the latest models of superbursts. As our search method is indiscriminate of the burst ignition scenario, the recurrence time limits may also be applied to other bursts of similar duration and brightness.

INTEGRAL survey of the Cassiopeia region in hard X rays

We report on the results of a deep 1.6 Ms INTEGRAL observation of the Cassiopeia region performed from December 2003 to February 2004. Eleven sources were detected with the imager IBIS-ISGRI at energies above 20 keV, including three new hard X-ray sources. Most remarkable is the discovery of hard X-ray emission from the anomalous X-ray pulsar 4U 0142+61, which shows emission up to ~150 keV with a very hard power-law spectrum with photon index ± 0.17. We derived flux upper limits for energies between 0.75 MeV and 30 MeV using archival data from the Compton telescope COMPTEL. In order to reconcile the very hard spectrum of 4U 0142+61 measured by INTEGRAL with the COMPTEL upper limits, the spectrum has to bend or break between ~75 keV and ~750 keV. 1E 2259+586, another anomalous X-ray pulsar in this region, was not detected. INTEGRAL and COMPTEL upper limits are provided. The new INTEGRAL sources are IGR J00370+6122 and IGR J00234+6144. IGR J00370+6122 is a new supergiant X-ray binary with an orbital period of 15.665 ± 0.006 days, derived from RXTE All-Sky Monitor data. Archival BeppoSAX Wide-Field Camera data yielded four more detections. IGR J00234+6144 still requires a proper identification. Other sources for which INTEGRAL results are presented are high-mass X-ray binaries 2S 0114+650, γ Cas, RX J0146.9+6121 and 4U 2206+54, intermediate polar V709 Cas and 1ES 0033+595, an AGN of the BL-Lac type. For each of these sources the hard X-ray spectra are fitted with different models and compared with earlier published results.

Prompt and afterglow X-ray emission from the X-Ray Flash of 2002 April 27

We report on the X-ray observations of the X-ray flash (XRF) which occurred on 2002 April 27, three days before BeppoSAX was switched off. The event was detected with the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras but not with the Gamma ray Burst Monitor. A follow-up observation with the BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instruments was soon performed and a candidate afterglow source was discovered. We present the results obtained. We also include the results obtained from the observations of the XRF field with the Chandra X-ray satellite. The spectral analysis of the prompt emission shows that the peak energy of the EF(E) spectrum is lower than 5.5 keV, with negligible spectral evolution. The X-ray afterglow spectrum is consistent with a power law model with photon index of about 2, while the 2-10 keV flux fades as a power law with a decay index -1.33. Both these indices are typical of GRBs. A very marginal excess around 4.5-5 keV is found in the afterglow spectrum measured by BeppoSAX . As for many GRBs, the extrapolation of the 2-10 keV fading law back to the time of the prompt emission is consistent with the X-ray flux measured during the second part of the event. We estimate a possible range of values of the redshift and discuss our results in the light of current models of XRFs.

Superbursts at near-Eddington mass accretion rates

Models for superbursts from neutron stars involving carbon shell flashes predict that the mass accretion rate should be anywhere in excess of one tenth of the Eddington limit. Yet, superbursts have so far only been detected in systems for which the accretion rate is derived to be between 0.1 and 0.25 times that limit. The question arises whether this is a selection effect or an intrinsic property. Therefore, we have undertaken a systematic study of data from the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras on the luminous source GX 17+2, comprising 10 Msec of effective observing time on superbursts. GX 17+2 contains a neutron star with regular Type-I X-ray bursts and accretes matter within a few tens of percents of the Eddington limit. We find four hours-long flares which reasonably match superburst characteristics. Two show a sudden rise (i.e., faster than 10 s), and two show a smooth decay combined with spectral softening. The implied superburst recurrence time, carbon ignition column and quenching time for ordinary bursts are close to the predicted values. However, the flare decay time, fluence and the implied energy production of (2-4) × 10 17 erg g −1 are larger than expected from current theory.

Six years of Sco X-1 monitoring with BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras

Abstract We performed a systematic analysis of 54 Wide Field Camera (WFC) observations of ScoX-1 available in the BeppoSAX public archive. Observations span the six years of BeppoSAX mission lifetime and include 690 hr of data. We searched for shifts and shape changes of the Z pattern in the color-color diagrams. We find that the Z pattern occupies most of the time the same locus in the color-color diagram, with a few exceptions.

A superburst from 4U 1254-69

We report the detection with the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras of a superburst from 4U 1254-69. The superburst is preceded by a normal type-I X-ray burst, has a decay time that is the longest of all eight superbursts detected so far and a peak luminosity that is the lowest. Like for the other seven superbursts, the origin is a well-known type-I X-ray burster with a persistent luminosity level close to one tenth of the Eddington limit. Based on WFC data of all persistently bright X-ray bursters, the average rate of superbursts is per year per persistently bright X-ray burster. Some systems may have higher superburst rates. For all superbursters, we present evidence for a pure helium layer which is burnt in an unstable as well as a stable manner.

Six years of BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras observations of nine galactic type I X-ray bursters

We present an overview of BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras observations of the nine most frequent type-I X-ray bursters in the Galactic center region. Six years of observations (from 1996 to 2002) have amounted to 7 Ms of Galactic center observations and the detection of 1823 bursts. The 3 most frequent bursters are GX 354-0 (423 bursts), KS 1731-260 (339) and GS 1826-24 (260). These numbers reflect an unique dataset. We show that all sources have the same global burst behavior as a function of luminosity. At the lowest luminosities (L_X<=2E37 erg/s bursts occur quasi-periodically and the burst rate increases linearly with accretion rate (clear in e.g. GS 1826-24 and KS 1731-260). At L_pers=2E37 erg/s the burst rate drops by a factor of five. This corresponds to the transition from, on average, a hydrogen-rich to a pure helium environment in which the flashes originate that are responsible for the bursts. At higher luminosities the bursts recur irregularly; no bursts are observed at the highest luminosities. Our central finding is that most of the trends in bursting behavior are driven by the onset of stable hydrogen burning in the neutron star atmosphere. Furthermore, we notice three new observational fact which are difficult to explain with current burst theory: the presence of short pure-helium bursts at the lowest accretion regimes, the bimodal distribution of peak burst rates, and an accretion rate that is ten times higher than predicted at which the onset of stable hydrogen burning occurs. Finally, we note that our investigation is the first to signal quasi-periodic burst recurrence in KS 1731-260, and a clear proportionality between the frequency of the quasi-periodicity and the persistent flux in GS 1826-24 and KS 1731-260.

BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras observations of six type I X-ray bursters

We have discovered three certain (SAX J1324.5-6313, 2S 1711-339 and SAX J1828.5-1037) and two likely (SAX J1818.7+1424 and SAX J2224.9+5421) new thermonuclear X-ray burst sources with the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras, and observed a second burst ever from a sixth one (2S 0918-549). Four of them (excluding 2S 1711-339 and 2S 0918-549) are newly detected X-ray sources from which we observed single bursts, but no persistent emission. We observe the first 11 bursts ever from 2S 1711-339; persistent flux was detected during the first ten bursts, but not around the last burst. A single burst was recently detected from 2S 0918-549 by Jonker et al. (2001); we observe a second burst showing radius expansion, from which a distance of 4.2 kpc is derived. According to theory, bursts from very low flux levels should last ≳100 s. Such is indeed the case for the last burst from 2S 1711-339, the single burst from SAX J1828.5-1037 and the two bursts from 2S 0918-549, but not for the bursts from SAX J1324.5-6313, SAX J1818.7+1424 and SAX J2224.9+5421. The bursts from the latter sources all last ~20 s. We suggest that SAX J1324.5-6313, SAX J1818.7+1424, SAX J1828.5-1037 and SAX J2224.9+5421 are members of the recently proposed class of bursters with distinctively low persistent flux levels, and show that the galactic distribution of this class is compatible with that of the standard low-mass X-ray binaries.

A four-hours long burst from Serpens X–1

During a serendipitous observation of the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras, a very long type I X-ray burst was observed from the low mass X-ray binary Serpens X–1. The burst lasted for approximately 4 hours and had an exponential decay time of min (2–28 keV). The bolometric peak-luminosity is ( and the fluence ( erg. The first “normal" type I burst was observed 34 days after the superburst. This is in rough agreement with recent predictions for unstable carbon burning in a heavy element ocean.

A Brown Dwarf Companion for the Accreting Millisecond Pulsar SAX J1808.4−3658

The BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras have revealed a population of faint neutron star X-ray transients in the Galactic bulge. King conjectured that these neutron stars are accreting from brown dwarfs with a time-averaged mass transfer rate ≈ 10-11 M☉ yr-1 that is low enough for accretion disk instabilities. We show that the measured orbital parameters of the 401 Hz accreting millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 support this hypothesis. A main-sequence mass donor requires a nearly face-on inclination and a higher than observed, and can thus be excluded. However, the range of allowed inclinations is substantially relaxed, and the predicted is consistent with that observed if a hot 0.05 M☉ dwarf is the donor. The remaining puzzle is explaining the brown dwarf radius required (0.13 R☉) to fill the Roche lobe. Recent observational and theoretical work has shown that all transiently accreting neutron stars have a minimum luminosity in quiescence set by the time-averaged mass transfer rate onto the neutron star. We show here that the constant heating of the brown dwarf by this quiescent neutron star emission appears adequate to maintain the higher entropy implied by a 0.13 R☉ radius. All of our considerations very strongly bolster the case that SAX J1808.4-3658 is a progenitor to compact millisecond radio pulsar binaries (e.g., like those found by Camilo and collaborators in 47 Tuc). The very low of SAX J1808.4-3658 implies that the progenitors to these radio pulsars are long-lived (~Gyr) transient systems, rather than short-lived (~Myr) Eddington-limited accretors. Hence, the accreting progenitor population to millisecond radio pulsars in 47 Tuc could still be present and found in quiescence with Chandra.

BeppoSAX confirmation of beamed afterglow emission from GRB 990510

We compare the prompt X-ray (2-10 keV) emission of GRB 990510 measured by the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras (WFC) during the burst to the X-ray afterglow detected by the BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instruments. A single power-law model for the afterglow, , is ruled out. Provided the initial time of the afterglow is assumed to coincide with the last short pulse in the X-ray prompt event (i.e., 72 s after the GRB trigger time), the X-ray emission from ~80 to 105 s after the GRB trigger is well described by an external shock expanding in a decelerating jet, in which synchrotron radiation takes place. This model, represented by a double power-law of indices and before and after a jet collimation break time of ~0.5 days after GRB, respectively, is consistent with the second and third upper limits measured by the WFC, but not with the first. This may be related to inhomogeneities in the circumburst medium. Our finding indicates that the temporal behavior of the GRB 990510 X-ray afterglow is similar to that at optical wavelengths, and thus strengthens the interpretation of the multiwavelength afterglow as synchrotron emission in a jet with decreasing Lorentz factor. GRB 990510 is thus the only burst in which evidence of a spreading jet has been found in X-rays.

Broadband Observations of the New X-Ray Burster SAX J1747.0−2853 during the 1998 March Outburst

We report on our discovery and follow-up observations of the X-ray source SAX J1747.0-2853 detected in outburst on 1998, March 10 with the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras in the energy range 2-28 keV. The source is located about half degree off the Galactic Nucleus. A total of 14 type-I X-ray bursts were detected in Spring 1998, thus identifying the object as a likely low-mass X-ray binary harboring a weakly magnetized neutron star. Evidence for photospheric radius expansion is present in at least one of the observed bursts, leading to an estimate of the source distance of about 9 kpc. We performed a follow-up target of opportunity observation with the BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instruments on March 23 for a total elapsed time of 72 ks. The source persistent luminosity was 2.6x10^36 erg/s in the 2-10 keV energy range. The wide band spectral data (1-200 keV) are consistent with a remarkable hard X-ray spectrum detected up to 150 keV, highly absorbed at low energies (Nh of the order of 10^23 cm^-2) and with clear evidence for an absorption edge near 7 keV. A soft thermal component is also observed, which can be described by single temperature blackbody emission at about 0.6 keV.

Prompt and Afterglow Emission from the X‐Ray–Rich GRB 981226 Observed withBeppoSAX

We discuss observations of the prompt X- and c-ray emission and X-ray afterglow from GRB 981226. This event has the weakest gamma-ray peak —ux detected with the BeppoSAX Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor. It shows an isolated X-ray precursor and the highest X-ray to gamma-ray —uence ratio mea- sured thus far with the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras. The event was followed up with the BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instruments, and the X-ray afterglow was detected up to 10 keV. The afterglow —ux is observed to rise from a level below the sensitivity of the MECS/LECS telescopes up to a peak —ux of (5 ^ 1) ) 10~13 ergs cm~2 s~1 in the 2¨10 keV energy band. This rise is followed by a decline according to a power law with an index of We discuss these results in the light of the current GRB 1.31 ~0.390.44. models. Subject headings: gamma rays: burstsgamma rays: observationsshock wavesX-rays: general

Integrating theBeppoSAXGamma‐Ray Burst Monitor into the Third Interplanetary Network

We have added the BeppoSAX Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor to the third Interplanetary Network (IPN3) of burst detectors. We analyze 16 bursts whose positions are known to good accuracy from measurements at other wavelengths. We show that there is excellent agreement between the Ulysses/BeppoSAX triangulation annuli and the known positions of these events and that these annuli can in many cases provide useful constraints on the positions of bursts detected by the BeppoSAX Wide-Field Camera and Narrow-Field Instruments.

The 0.1-100 keV spectrum and variability of Mrk 421 in a high state

ABSTRA C T The results of a BeppoSAX target of opportunity (TOO) observation of the BL Lac object Mrk 421 during a high-intensity state are reported and compared with monitoring X-ray data collected with the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras (WFC) and the RXTE All Sky Monitor (ASM). The 0.1‐100 keV spectrum of Mrk 421 shows continuous convex curvature that can be interpreted as the high-energy end of the synchrotron emission. The source shows significant short-term temporal and spectral variability, which can be interpreted in terms of synchrotron cooling. The comparison of our results with those of previous observations when the source was a factor 3‐5 fainter shows evidence for strong spectral variability, with the maximum of the synchrotron power shifting to higher energy during high states. This behaviour suggests an increase in the number of energetic electrons during high states.

BeppoSAX discovery of the X-ray afterglow of GRB 971227

The Beppo SAX Narrow Field Instruments observed the region of sky containing GRB 971227 14 hours after the initial burst. A faint source (1SAXJ1257.3+5924) is detected in a position consistent with the Beppo SAX Wide Field Camera position, and disappears during the second half of the observation. In contrast to some other GRBs observed by Beppo SAX no optical and radio afterglows were unambiguously observed.

The X-ray afterglow of GRB 980519

Over a total of 20 gamma-ray bursts local- ized with arcmin accuracies, GRB 980519 represents the 13 th detected by the BeppoSAX Wide Field Cameras (WFCs). An X-ray TOO observation performed by the BeppoSAX Narrow Field Instruments (NFIs), starting about 9.5 hours after the high energy event, revealed X-ray afterglow emission in the 0:1 10 keV energy range. The flux decay was particularly fast with a power-law in- dex of ' 1:8. This is the fastest decay so far measured. Signs of bursting activity are evident. The power-law spec- tral index of 2:8 +0:6 0:5 is quite soft but not unique among GRB afterglows. VR cI c optical emission was detected as soon as 8 hours after the GRB and the power-law flux decay in all these bands were all consistent with ' 2:0. As for the X-ray, this is the fastest of all the 9 optically identied afterglows but GRB 980326. A candidate host galaxy with magnitude Rc = 26 has been reported and variable radio emission detected.