Binary LS Research Articles

Evidence for periodic accretion–ejection in LS I +61°303

ABSTRACT The stellar binary system LS I +61°303, composed of a compact object in an eccentric orbit around a B0 Ve star, emits from radio up to γ-ray energies. The orbital modulation of radio spectral index, X-ray, and GeV γ-ray data suggests the presence of two peaks. This two-peaked profile is in line with the accretion theory predicting two accretion–ejection events for LS I +61°303 along the 26.5 d orbit. However, the existing multiwavelength data are not simultaneous. In this paper, we report the results of a campaign covering radio, X-ray, and γ-ray observations of the system along one single orbit. Our results confirm the two predicted events along the orbit and in addition show that the positions of radio and γ-ray peaks are coincident with X-ray dips as expected for radio and γ-ray emitting ejections depleting the X-ray emitting accretion flow. We discuss future observing strategies for a systematic study of the accretion–ejection physical processes in LS I +61°303.

The “hidden” companion in LB-1 unveiled by spectral disentangling

Context.The intriguing binaryLS V +22 25(LB-1) has drawn much attention following claims of it being a single-lined spectroscopic binary with a 79-day orbit comprising a B-type star and a ≈70 M⊙black hole – the most massive stellar black hole reported to date. Subsequent studies demonstrated a lack of evidence for a companion of such great mass. Recent analyses have implied that the primary star is a stripped He-rich star with peculiar sub-solar abundances of heavy elements, such as Mg and Fe. However, the nature of the secondary, which was proposed to be a black hole, a neutron star, or a main sequence star, remains unknown.Aims.Based on 26 newly acquired spectroscopic observations secured with the HERMES and FEROS spectrographs covering the orbit of the system, we perform an orbital analysis and spectral disentangling of LB-1 to elucidate the nature of the system.Methods.To derive the radial velocity semi-amplitudeK2of the secondary and extract the spectra of the two components, we used two independent disentangling methods: the shift-and-add technique and Fourier disentangling with FDBinary. We used atmosphere models to constrain the surface properties and abundances.Results.Our disentangling and spectral analysis shows that LB-1 contains two components of comparable brightness in the optical. The narrow-lined primary, which we estimate to contribute ≈55% in the optical, has spectral properties that suggest that it is a stripped star: it has a small spectroscopic mass (≈1 M⊙) for a B-type star and it is He- and N-rich. Unlike previous reports, the abundances of heavy elements are found to be solar. The “hidden” secondary, which contributes about 45% of the optical flux, is a rapidly rotating (vsini ≈ 300 km s−1) B3 V star with a decretion disk – a Be star. As a result of its rapid rotation and dilution, the photospheric absorption lines of the secondary are not readily apparent in the individual observations. We measure a semi-amplitude for this star ofK2 = 11.2 ± 1.0 km s−1and adopting a mass ofM2 = 7 ± 2 M⊙typical for B3 V stars, we derive an orbital mass for the stripped primary ofM1 = 1.5 ± 0.4 M⊙. The orbital inclination of 39 ± 4° implies a near-critical rotation for the Be secondary (veq ≈ 470 km s−1).Conclusions.LB-1 does not contain a compact object. Instead, it is a rare Be binary system consisting of a stripped star (the former mass donor) and a Be star rotating at near its critical velocity (the former mass accretor). This system is a clear example that binary interactions play a decisive role in the production of rapid stellar rotators and Be stars.

VERITAS Detection of LS 5039 and HESS J1825-137

With 8 h of observations, VERITAS confirms the detection of two very high energy gamma-ray sources. The gamma-ray binary LS 5039 is detected with a statistical significance of 8.8σ. The measured flux above 1 TeV is (2.5±0.4)×10−12cm−2s−1 near inferior conjunction and (7.8±2.8)×10−13cm−2s−1 near superior conjunction. The pulsar wind nebula HESS J1825-137 is detected with a statistical significance of 6.7σ and a measured flux above 1 TeV of (3.9±0.8)×10−12cm−2s−1.

Evolution of the Extended X-Ray Emission from the PSR B1259–63/LS 2883 Binary in the 2014–2017 Binary Cycle

Abstract We have performed a series of Chandra X-ray Observatory observations of the gamma-ray binary LS 2883, which is composed of a young pulsar (PSR B1259–63) orbiting a massive Be star with a period of 1236.7 days. The system was observed in five epochs, spanning a range from 352 to 1175 days after the periastron passage on 2014 May 4. The observations confirmed the recurrent nature of the high-speed ejecta that appear as an extended X-ray structure (clump) moving away from the binary. Compared to the results of the previous monitoring campaign (between the 2010 and 2014 periastron passages), this time we find evidence suggesting that the clump is accelerated to a projected velocity with an acceleration s−2 (for uniformly accelerated motion), assuming that it was launched near periastron passage. The observed X-ray properties of the clump are consistent with synchrotron emission from pulsar wind (PW) particles accelerated at the interface between the PW and the clump. We have also performed contemporaneous observations with the Hubble Space Telescope, which are used to set an upper limit on the optical flux of the extended emission.

VHE observations of binary systems performed with the MAGIC telescopes

The improvement on the Imaging Air Cherenkov Technique (IACT) led to the discovery of a new type of sources that can emit at very high energies: the gamma-ray binaries. Only six systems are part of this exclusive class. We summarize the latest results from the observations performed with the MAGIC telescopes on different systems as the gamma-ray binary LS I [Formula: see text]303 and the microquasars SS 433, V404 Cygni and Cygnus X-1, which are considered potential VHE gamma-ray emitters. The binary system LS I [Formula: see text] 303 has been observed by MAGIC in a long-term monitoring campaign. We show the newest results of our search for super-orbital variability also in context of contemporaneous optical observations. Besides, we will present the results of the only super-critical accretor known in our galaxy: SS 433. We will introduce the VHE results achieved with MAGIC after 100[Formula: see text]h of observations on the microquasar Cygnus X-1 and report on the microquasar V404 Cyg, which has been observed with MAGIC after it went through a series of exceptional X-ray outbursts in June 2015.

Simultaneous long-term monitoring of LS I +61°303 by OVRO and Fermi-LAT

Previous long-term monitorings of the gamma-ray-loud X-ray binary LS I +61{\deg}303 have revealed the presence of a long-term modulation of ~4.5 years. After nine years of simultaneous monitoring of LS I +61{\deg}303 by the Owens Valley Radio Observatory and the Fermi-LAT, two cycles of the long-term period are now available. Here we perform timing-analysis on the radio and the gamma-ray light curves. We confirm the presence of previously detected periodicities at both radio and GeV gamma-ray wavelengths. Moreover, we discover an offset of the long-term modulation between radio and gamma-ray data which could imply different locations of the radio (15 GHz) and GeV emission along the precessing jet.

Superorbital Modulation at GeV Energies in the γ-Ray Binary LS I + 61°303

Abstract We report the results from our analysis of eight years of the data for the γ-ray binary LS I +61°303, obtained with the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. We find a significant dip around the binary’s periastron in the superorbital light curves, and by fitting the light curves with a sinusoidal function, clear phase shifts are obtained. The superorbital modulation seen in the binary has been long known and different scenarios have been proposed. Based on our results, we suggest that the circumstellar disk around the Be companion of this binary may have a non-axisymmetric structure, which rotates at the superorbital period of 1667 days. As a result, the density of the ambient material around the compact star of the binary changes along the binary orbit over the superorbital period, causing the phase shifts in the modulation, and around periastron, the compact star probably enters the Be disk or switches the mode of its emission due to the intereaction with the disk, causing the appearance of the dip. We discuss the implications of this possible scenario to the observed superorbital properties at multiple frequencies.

Radio QPO in the γ-ray-loud X-ray binary LS I +61°303

Abstract LS I +61°303 is a γ-ray emitting X-ray binary with periodic radio outbursts with time-scales of one month. Previous observations have revealed microflares superimposed on these large outbursts with periods ranging from a few minutes to hours. This makes LS I +61°303, along with Cyg X-1, the only TeV emitting X-ray binary exhibiting radio microflares. To further investigate this microflaring activity in LS I +61°303 we observed the source with the 100-m Effelsberg radio telescope at 4.85, 8.35 and 10.45 GHz, and performed a timing analysis on the obtained data. Radio oscillations of 15 h time-scales are detected at all three frequencies. We also compare the spectral index evolution of radio data to that of the photon index of GeV data observed by Fermi-Large Area Telescope. We conclude that the observed Quasi Periodic Oscillations could result from multiple shocks in a jet.

Spectral lags of flaring events in LS I+61°303 from RXTE Observations

This work reports the first discovery of (negative) spectral lags in X-ray emission below 10keV from the gamma ray binary LS I+61° 303 during large flaring episodes using Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observations. It is found from the RXTE data that during the flares, low energy (3–5 keV) variations lead the higher energy (8–10 keV) variations by a few tens of seconds whereas no significant time lag is observed during the non-flaring states. The observed spectral lag features for flaring events suggest that inverse Compton scattering may be operating, at least in some part of the system. Another possibility is that the sites of particle acceleration may be different for flaring and non-flaring events such as in the microquasar model, in which the flaring radiation may come from hot spots sitting above the black hole while steady state emissions are due to the jets.

Super-orbital variability of LS I +61°303 at TeV energies

The gamma-ray binary LS I +61$^{\circ}$303 is a well established source from centimeter radio up to very high energy (VHE; E$>$100 GeV). Its broadband emission shows a periodicity of $\sim$26.5 days, coincident with the orbital period. A longer (super-orbital) period of 1667 $\pm$ 8 days was discovered in radio and confirmed in optical and high energy (HE; E>100 MeV) gamma-ray observations. We present a four-year campaign performed by MAGIC together with archival data concentrating on a search for a long timescale signature in the VHE emission. We focus on the search for super-orbital modulation of the VHE peak and on the search for correlations between TeV emission and optical determination of the extension of the circumstellar disk. A four-year campaign has been carried out by MAGIC. The source was observed during the orbital phases when the periodic VHE outbursts have occurred ($\phi$=0.55-0.75). Additionally, we included archival MAGIC observations and data published by the VERITAS collaboration in these studies. For the correlation studies, LS I +61$^{\circ}$303 has also been observed during the orbital phases where sporadic VHE emission had been detected in the past ($\phi$=0.75-1.0). These MAGIC observations were simultaneous with optical spectroscopy from the LIVERPOOL telescope. The TeV flux of the periodical outburst in orbital phases $\phi$=0.5--0.75 was found to show yearly variability consistent with the $\sim$4.5 years long-term modulation found in the radio band. This modulation of the TeV flux can be well described by a sine function with the best fit period of $1610\pm 58$ days. The complete dataset span two super-orbital periods. There is no evidence for a correlation between the TeV emission and the mass-loss rate of the Be star but this may be affected by the strong, short timescale (as short as intra-day) variation displayed by the H$\alpha$ fluxes.

THE MULTI-WAVELENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TeV BINARY LS I+61°303

ABSTRACT We study the characteristics of the TeV binary LS I+61°303 in radio, soft X-ray, hard X-ray, and gamma-ray (GeV and TeV) energies. The long-term variability characteristics are examined as a function of the phase of the binary period of 26.496 days as well as the phase of the superorbital period of 1626 days, dividing the observations into a matrix of 10 × 10 phases of these two periods. We find that the long-term variability can be described by a sine function of the superorbital period, with the phase and amplitude systematically varying with the binary period phase. We also find a definite wavelength-dependent change in this variability description. To understand the radiation mechanism, we define three states in the orbital/superorbital phase matrix and examine the wideband spectral energy distribution. The derived source parameters indicate that the emission geometry is dominated by a jet structure showing a systematic variation with the orbital/superorbital period. We suggest that LS I+61°303 is likely a microquasar with a steady jet.

EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT TEV FLARES FROM THE BINARY LS I +61° 303

ABSTRACT The TeV binary system LS I +61° 303 is known for its regular, non-thermal emission pattern that traces the orbital period of the compact object in its 26.5 day orbit around its B0 Ve star companion. The system typically presents elevated TeV emission around apastron passage with flux levels between 5% and 15% of the steady flux from the Crab Nebula (>300 GeV). In this article, VERITAS observations of LS I +61° 303 taken in late 2014 are presented, during which bright TeV flares around apastron at flux levels peaking above 30% of the Crab Nebula flux were detected. This is the brightest such activity from this source ever seen in the TeV regime. The strong outbursts have rise and fall times of less than a day. The short timescale of the flares, in conjunction with the observation of 10 TeV photons from LS I +61° 303 during the flares, provides constraints on the properties of the accelerator in the source.

Physical properties of the gamma-ray binary LS 5039 through low- and high-frequency radio observations

We have studied in detail the 0.15-15 GHz radio spectrum of the gamma-ray binary LS 5039 to look for a possible turnover and absorption mechanisms at low frequencies, and to constrain the physical properties of its emission. We have analysed two archival VLA monitorings, all the available archival GMRT data and a coordinated quasi-simultaneous observational campaign conducted in 2013 with GMRT and WSRT. The data show that the radio emission of LS 5039 is persistent on day, week and year timescales, with a variability $\lesssim 25~\%$ at all frequencies, and no signature of orbital modulation. The obtained spectra reveal a power-law shape with a curvature below 5 GHz and a turnover at $\sim0.5$ GHz, which can be reproduced by a one-zone model with synchrotron self-absorption plus Razin effect. We obtain a coherent picture for a size of the emitting region of $\sim0.85~\mathrm{mas}$, setting a magnetic field of $B\sim20~\mathrm{mG}$, an electron density of $n_{\rm e}\sim4\times10^5~{\rm cm^{-3}}$ and a mass-loss rate of $\dot M\sim5\times10^{-8}~{\rm M_{\odot} yr^{-1}}$. These values imply a significant mixing of the stellar wind with the relativistic plasma outflow from the compact companion. At particular epochs the Razin effect is negligible, implying changes in the injection and the electron density or magnetic field. The Razin effect is reported for first time in a gamma-ray binary, giving further support to the young non-accreting pulsar scenario.

Evidence of coupling between the thermal and nonthermal emission in the gamma-ray binary LS I +61 303

The gamma-ray binary LS I +61 303 is composed of a Be star and a compact companion orbiting in an eccentric orbit. Variable flux modulated with the orbital period of ~26.5 d has been detected from radio to very high-energy gamma rays. In addition, the system presents a superorbital variability of the phase and amplitude of the radio outburst with a period of ~4.6 yr. We present optical photometric observations of LS I +61 303 spanning ~1.5 yr and contemporaneous Halpha equivalent width (EW Halpha) data. The optical photometry shows, for the first time, that the known orbital modulation suffers a positive orbital phase shift and an increase in flux for data obtained 1-yr apart. This behavior is similar to that already known at radio wavelengths, indicating that the optical flux follows the superorbital variability as well. The orbital modulation of the EW Halpha presents the already known superorbital flux variability but shows, also for the first time, a positive orbital phase shift. In addition, the optical photometry exhibits a lag of ~0.1-0.2 in orbital phase with respect to the EW Halpha measurements at similar superorbital phases, and presents a lag of ~0.1 and ~0.3 orbital phases with respect noncontemperaneous radio and X-ray outbursts, respectively. The phase shifts detected in the orbital modulation of thermal indicators, such as the optical flux and the EW Halpha, are in line with the observed behavior for nonthermal indicators, such as X-ray or radio emission. This shows that there is a strong coupling between the thermal and nonthermal emission processes in the gamma-ray binary LS I +61 303. The orbital phase lag between the optical flux and the EW Halpha is naturally explained considering different emitting regions in the circumstellar disk, whereas the secular evolution might be caused by the presence of a moving one-armed spiral density wave in the disk.

Estimating the contribution of Galactic sources to the diffuse neutrino flux

Motivated by recent IceCube observations we re-examine the idea that microquasars are high energy neutrino emitters. By stretching to the maximum the parameters of the Fermi engine we show that the nearby high-mass X-ray binary LS 5039 could accelerate protons up to above about 20 PeV. These highly relativistic protons could subsequently interact with the plasma producing neutrinos up to the maximum observed energies. After that we adopt the spatial density distribution of high-mass X-ray binaries obtained from the deep INTEGRAL Galactic plane survey and we assume LS 5039 typifies the microquasar population to demonstrate that these powerful compact sources could provide a dominant contribution to the diffuse neutrino flux recently observed by IceCube.

Discovery of a periodical apoastron GeV peak in LS I +61°303

Aims. The aim of this paper is to analyse the previously discovered discontinuity of the periodicity of the GeV $\gamma$-ray emission of the radio-loud X-ray binary LS I +61{\deg}303 and to determine its physical origin. Methods. We used wavelet analysis to explore the temporal development of periodic signals. The wavelet analysis was first applied to the whole data set of available Fermi-LAT data and then to the two subsets of orbital phase intervals $\Phi = 0.0 - 0.5$ and $\Phi = 0.5 - 1.0$. We also performed a Lomb-Scargle timing Analysis. We investigated the similarities between GeV $\gamma$-ray emission and radio emission by comparing the folded curves of the Fermi-LAT data and the Green Bank Interferometer radio data. Results. During the epochs when the timing analysis fails to determine the orbital periodicity, the periodicity is present in the two orbital phase intervals $\Phi = 0.0 - 0.5$ and $\Phi = 0.5 - 1.0$. That is, there are two periodical signals, one towards periastron (i.e., $\Phi = 0.0 - 0.5$) and another one towards apoastron ($\Phi = 0.5 - 1.0$). The apoastron peak seems to be affected by the same orbital shift as the radio outbursts and, in addition, reveals the same two periods $P_1$ and $P_2$ that are present in the radio data. Conclusions. The $\gamma$-ray emission of the apoastron peak normally just broadens the emission of the peak around periastron. Only when it appears at $\Phi \approx 0.8 - 1.0$, because of the orbital shift, it is enough detached from the first peak to become recognisable as a second orbital peak, which is the reason why the timing analysis fails. Two $\gamma$-ray peaks along the orbit are predicted by the two-peak accretion model for an eccentric orbit, that was proposed by several authors for LS I +61{\deg}303.

HIGH-ENERGY EMISSIONS FROM THE GAMMA-RAY BINARY LS 5039

We study mechanisms of multi-wavelength emissions (X-ray, GeV and TeV gamma-rays) from the gamma-ray binary LS~5039. This paper is composed of two parts. In the first part, we report on results of observational analysis using four year data of \fermi\ Large Area Telescope. Due to the improvement of instrumental response function and increase of the statistics, the observational uncertainties of the spectrum in $\sim$100-300 MeV bands and $>10$GeV bands are significantly improved. The present data analysis suggests that the 0.1-100GeV emissions from LS~5039 contain three different components; (i) the first component contributes to $<$1GeV emissions around superior conjunction, (ii) the second component dominates in 1-10GeV energy bands and (iii) the third component is compatible to lower energy tail of the TeV emissions. In the second part, we develop an emission model to explain the properties of the phase-resolved emissions in multi-wavelength observations. Assuming that LS~5039 includes a pulsar, we argue that both emissions from magnetospheric outer gap and inverse-Compton scattering process of cold-relativistic pulsar wind contribute to the observed GeV emissions. We assume that the pulsar is wrapped by two kinds of termination shock; Shock-I due to the interaction between the pulsar wind and the stellar wind and Shock-II due to the effect of the orbital motion. We propose that the X-rays are produced by the synchrotron radiation at Shock-I region and the TeV gamma-rays are produced by the inverse-Compton scattering process at Shock-II region.

LS 5039 – the counterpart of the unidentified MeV source GRO J1823-12

The COMPTEL experiment on CGRO observed the gamma-ray sky at energies from 0.75 MeV to 30 MeV between April 1991 and June 2000. COMPTEL detected many gamma-ray sources, among them an unidentified one labeled GRO J1823-12, which is positionally consistent with the prominent high-mass X-ray binary LS 5039. Because LS 5039 was established as gamma-ray emitter during recent years, whose gamma-radiation radiation is modulated along its binary orbit, we reanalysed the COMPTEL data of GRO J1823-12 including an orbital resolved analysis. We find a significant MeV source, showing evidence for a modulated MeV flux corresponding to the orbital period of LS 5039 of about 3.9 days. We show that its MeV emission is stronger at the orbital part around the inferior conjuction than at the part of the superior conjunction, being in phase with X-rays and TeV gamma-rays, however being in anti-phase with GeV gamma-rays. We conclude that the COMPTEL source GRO J1823-12 is the counterpart of the microquasar candidate LS 5039, at least for the majority of its MeV emission. The COMPTEL fluxes, put into multifrequency perspective, provide new constraints on the modelling of the high-energy emission of LS 5039.

EVOLUTION OF THE RADIO OUTFLOW IN LS 5039

Gamma-ray binaries allow us to study physical processes such as particle acceleration up to TeV energies as well as very high energy gamma-ray emission and absorption with changing geometrical configurations on a periodic basis. These sources produce outflows of radio-emitting particles whose structure can be imaged with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). We observed the gamma-ray binary LS 5039 with the VLBA at 5 GHz during five consecutive days. We present the observed radio morphological changes, which display a periodic orbital modulation. Multifrequency and multiepoch VLBI observations conducted during the last decade confirm that the morphological periodicity is stable on timescales of years. Using a simple model we show that the observed behavior is compatible with the presence of a young non-accreting pulsar with an outflow behind it.

Connection between orbital modulation of Hαand gamma-rays in the Be/X-ray binary LS I+61°303

We studied the average orbital modulation of various parameters (gamma-ray flux, H-alpha emission line, optical V band brightness) of the radio- and gamma-ray emitting Be/X-ray binary LSI+61303. Using the Spearman rank correlation test, we found highly significant correlations between the orbital variability of the equivalent width of the blue hump of the H-alpha and Fermi-LAT flux with a Spearman p-value 2e-5, and the equivalent widths ratio EW_B/EW_R and Fermi-LAT flux with p-value 9e-5. We also found a significant anti-correlation between Fermi-LAT flux and V band magnitude with p-value 7.10^{-4}. All these correlations refer to the average orbital variability, and we conclude that the H-alpha and gamma-ray emission processes in LSI+61303 are connected. The possible physical scenario is briefly discussed.