IGR J00291 Research Articles

Periodicities in X-Ray Binaries from Swift/BAT Observations

The Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) on board Swift has accumulated extensive light curves for 265 sources (not including GRBs) in the energy range 14 to 200 keV. We present here a summary of searches for periodic modulation in the flux from X-ray binaries. Our results include: determination of the orbital periods of IGR J16418-4532 and IGR J16320-4751; the disappearance of a previously known 9.6 day period in 4U 2206+54; the detection of a 5 hour period in the symbiotic X-ray binary 4U 1954+31, which might be the slowest neutron star rotation period yet discovered; and the detection of flares in the supergiant system 1E 1145.1-6141 which occur at both periastron and apastron passage with nearly equal amplitude. We compare techniques of weighting data points in power spectra and present a method related to the semi-weighted mean which, unlike conventional weighting, works well over a wide range of source brightness.

Timing an Accreting Millisecond Pulsar: Measuring the Accretion Torque in IGR J00291+5934

We present here a timing analysis of the fastest accreting millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934 using RXTE data taken during the outburst of December 2004. We corrected the arrival times of all the events for the orbital (Doppler) effects and performed a timing analysis of the resulting phase delays. In this way we find a clear parabolic trend of the pulse phase delays showing that the pulsar is spinning up as a consequence of accretion torques during the X-ray outburst. The accretion torque gives us for the first time an independent estimate of the mass accretion rate onto the neutron star, which can be compared with the observed X-ray luminosity. We also report a revised value of the spin period of the pulsar.

A search for counterparts to massive X-ray binaries using photometric catalogues

School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United KingdomReceivedABSTRACTContext.The X-ray andγ-ray observatoryINTEGRAL has discovered large numbers of new hard X-ray sources, manyof which are believedto be high mass X-ray binaries. However, for a significant fraction, their counterparts remain unidentified.Aims.We explore the use of photometric catalogues to find optical c ounterparts to high mass X-ray binaries and search for objects likely to beearly-type stars within the error circles of severalINTEGRAL sources.Methods.Candidates were selected from 2MASS photometry by means of a reddening free Q parameter. Sufficiently bright candidates werespectroscopically observed.Results.Many of the candidates selected turned out to be moderately reddened late A or early F stars. Optically visible OB stars are very scarceeven in these Galactic Plane fields. Our method is able to iden tify the counterpart to IGR J16207−5129, confirmed by a Chandra localisation.We classify this object as a B0 supergiant. In the field of AX J1820.5 −1434, we find a mid or early B-type star, but we cannot confirm it as thecounterpart.For IGR J16320−4751 we rule out the optically visible candidate as a possible counterpart.For AX J1700.2−4220, we do not find any suitable candidate within the ASCA error circle. We classify HD 153295, a marginal candidate to bethe counterpart, as B0.5IVe, and find a distance compatible w ith membership in Sco OB1.In the case of IGR J17091−3624, the object associated with a variable radio source in the field is a late F star.We derive a spectral type B0IIIe for HD 100199, previously identified as the counterpart to IGR J11305 −6256.Conclusions.The procedure used is able to correctly identify OB stars and, in about one third of the cases, may lead to the localisation of thecorrect counterpart. However, the majority of INTEGRAL error circles do not contain any suitable optically visible counterpart. Deep infraredsearches are going to be necessary in order to locate the counterparts to these sources.Key words. binaries: close — stars: supergiants – X-rays: binaries – st ars: emission line, Be

Identifications of FourINTEGRALSources in the Galactic Plane viaChandraLocalizations

Hard X-ray imaging of the Galactic plane by the INTEGRAL satellite is uncovering large numbers of 20-100 keV "IGR" sources. We present results from Chandra, INTEGRAL, optical, and IR observations of 4 IGR sources: 3 sources in the Norma region of the Galaxy (IGR J16195-4945, IGR J16207-5129, and IGR J16167-4957) and one that is closer to the Galactic center (IGR J17195-4100). In all 4 cases, one relatively bright Chandra source is seen in the INTEGRAL error circle, and these are likely to be the soft X-ray counterparts of the IGR sources. They have hard 0.3-10 keV spectra with power-law photon indices of 0.5 to 1.1. While many previously studied IGR sources show high column densities, only IGR J16195-4945 has a column density that could be as high as 10^23 cm^-2. Using optical and IR sky survey catalogs and our own photometry, we have obtained identifications for all 4 sources. The J-band magnitudes are in the range 14.9-10.4, and we have used the optical/IR spectral energy distributions (SEDs) to constrain the nature of the sources. Blackbody components with temperature lower limits of >9400 K for IGR J16195-4945 and >18,000 K for IGR J16207-5129 indicate that these are very likely High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs). However, for IGR J16167-4957 and IGR J17195-4100, low extinction and the SEDs indicate later spectral types for the putative companions, indicating that these are not HMXBs.

Unveiling Supergiant Fast X‐Ray Transient Sources withINTEGRAL

Supergiant high-mass X-ray binaries (SGXBs) are believed to be rare objects, as stars in the supergiant phase have a very short lifetime and to date only about a dozen of them have been discovered. They are known to be persistent and bright X-ray sources. INTEGRAL is changing this classical picture, as its observations are revealing the presence of a new subclass of SGXBs that have been labeled supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs), since they are strongly characterized by fast X-ray outbursts lasting less than a day, typically a few hours. We report on IBIS detections of newly discovered fast X-ray outbursts from 10 sources, four of which have been recently optically identified as supergiant high-mass X-ray binaries. For one of them in particular, IGR J11215-5952, we observe fast X-ray transient behavior for the first time. The remaining six sources (IGR J16479-4514, IGR J16418-4532, IGR J16195-4945=AX J161929-4945, XTE J1743-363, AX J1749.1-2733, and IGR J17407-2808) are still unclassified; however, they can be considered candidate SFXTs because of their similarity to the known SFXTs.

Spectral States of the X‐Ray Binary IGR J17091−3624 Observed byINTEGRALandRXTE

IGR J17091-3624 was discovered in 2003 April by INTEGRAL/IBIS during its Galactic Centre Deep Exposure programme. The source was initially detectable only in the 40--100 keV range, but after two days was also detected in the 15-40 keV range. Its flux had by then increased to 40 mCrab and 25 mCrab in the 15-40 keV and 40-100 keV bands respectively. RXTE observed the source simultaneously on 2003 April 20, with an effective exposure of 2 ksec. We report here the spectral and temporal evolution of the source, which shows a transition between the hard and soft states. We analyse in detail the RXTE/INTEGRAL Comptonised spectrum of the hard state as well as the JEM-X detection of a blackbody component during the source softening. Even though the source spectral behaviour and time variability show a similarity with the outburst of the black-hole candidate IGR J17464-3213 (= H1743-322), observed by INTEGRAL in 2003, the nature of its compact object (BH vs. NS) remains controversial.

IGR J11215–5952: a hard X-ray transient displaying recurrent outbursts

Context. The hard X-ray source IGR J11215–5952 has been discovered with INTEGRAL during a short outburst in 2005 and proposed as a new member of the class of supergiant fast X-ray transients. Aims. We analysed INTEGRAL public observations of the source field in order to search for previous outbursts from this transient, not reported in literature. Methods. Our results are based on a systematic re-analysis of INTEGRAL archival observations, using the latest analysis software and instrument calibrations. Results. We report the discovery of two previously unnoticed outbursts, spaced by intervals of ~330 days, that occurred in July 2003 and May 2004. The 5–100 keV spectrum of IGR J11215–5952 is well described by a cut-off power law, with a photon index of ~0.5, and a cut-off energy ~15–20 keV, typical of High Mass X-ray Binaries hosting a neutron star. A 5–100 keV luminosity of ${\sim}3\times10^{36}$ erg s -1 has been derived (assuming 6.2 kpc, the distance of the likely optical counterpart). Conclusions. The 5–100 keV spectral properties, the recurrent nature of the outbursts, together with the reduced error region containing the blue supergiant star HD 306414, support the hypothesis that IGR J11215–5952 is a member of the class of the Supergiant Fast X-ray Transients.

GMRT observations of the field of INTEGRAL X-ray sources - I

The INTEGRAL observatory has discovered a variety of hard X-ray sources in the Galactic plane since its launch. Using GMRT, we have made repeated observations of these sources to search for the radio counterparts of seventeen of them at low frequencies. The source positions were taken from the various ATEL and IAUC reporting their discovery. Possible radio counterparts for seven of these sources namely, IGR J06074+2205, IGR J15479-4529, IGR J16479-4514, IGR J17091-3624, IGR J18027-1455, IGR J18539+0727 and IGR J21247+5058 were detected within 3$\sigma$ of the position uncertainty derived from the INTEGRAL observations. The offset in the radio position was calculated using the positions mentioned in the ATEL. We have also analyzed the available NVSS images for a few of these fields at 1.4 GHz along with our observations. In this paper we present the radio images and the best fit positions for the positive detections. The X-ray variability for few of the sources within the time scales of 100 s to 1 ks as seen in the RXTE/PCA light curves suggests their Galactic origin and possible binary nature. We discuss briefly the characteristics of these sources from the available information at different wave bands.

INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton observations of the X-ray pulsar IGR J16320-4751/AX J1631.9-4752

We report on observations of the X-ray pulsar IGR J16320−4751 (a.k.a. AX J1631.9−4752) performed simultaneously with INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton. We refine the source position and identify the most likely infrared counterpart. Our simultaneous coverage allows us to confirm the presence of X-ray pulsations at ∼ 1300 s, that we detect above 20 keV with INTEGRAL for the first time. The pulse fraction is consistent with bein g constant with energy, which is compatible with a model of polar accretion by a pulsar. We study the spectral properties of IGR J16320−4751 during two major periods occurring during the simultaneous coverage with both satellites, namely a flare and a non-flare p eriod. We detect the presence of a narrow 6.4 keV iron line in both periods. The presence of such a feature is typical of supergiant wind accretors such as Vela X-1 or GX 301−2. We inspect the spectral variations with respect to the pulse phase during the non-flare period, a nd show that the pulse is solely due to variations of the X-ray flux emitted by the source and no t to variations of the spectral parameters. Our results are therefore compatible with the source being a pulsar in a High Mass X-ray Binary. We detect a soft excess appearing in the spectra as a blackbody with a temperature of∼0.07 keV. We discuss the origin of the X-ray emission in IGR J16320−4751: while the hard X-rays are likely the result of Compton emission produced in the close vicinity of the pulsar, based on energy argument we suggest that the soft excess is likely the emission by a collisionally energised cloud in which the compact object is embedded.

Chandra and RXTE spectroscopy of the accreting msec pulsar IGR J00291+5934

We report on an observation of the recently discovered accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar IGR J00291+5934 performed with the RXTE-Proportional Counter Array (PCA) and Chandra-High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer (HETGS). The RXTE data are from a twoweek follow-up of the source, while the Chandra observation took place around the end of the follow-up, about 12 days after the discovery of the source, when the source flux had decreased already by a factor of ten. The analysis of the Chandra data allowed us to extract the most precise X-ray position of IGR J00291+5934, RA = 00h 29m 03.08s, and Dec =+59◦ 34 19.2 (0.6 error), compatible with the optical and radio ones. We find that the spectra of IGR J00291+5934 can be described by a combination of a thermal component and a power-law. Along the outburst detected by PCA, the power-law photon index showed no particular trend, while the thermal component (∼1 keV, interpreted as a hot spot on the neutron star surface) became weaker until non-detection. In the simultaneous observation of the weak Chandra /RXTE spectrum, there was no longer any indication of the ∼1 keV thermal component, while we detected a colder thermal component (∼0.4 keV) that we interpret as the emission from the cold disc. A hint of a 6.4 keV iron line was detected, together with an excess around 6.8 keV and absorption feature around 7.1 keV. The last two features have never been detected in the spectra of accretion-driven millisecond pulsars before and, if confirmed, would suggest the presence of an expanding hot corona with high outflow velocities.

Correlation between radio luminosity and X-ray timing frequencies in neutron star and black hole X-ray binaries

We report on correlations between radio luminosity and X-ray timing features in X-ray binary systems containing low magnetic field neutron stars and black holes. The sample of neutron star systems consists of 4U 1728–34, 4U 1820–34, Ser X-1, MXB 1730-335, GX 13+1, the millisecond X-ray pulsars SAX J1808.4-3658 and IGR J00291+5934, and these are compared with the black hole system GX 339–4. The analysis has been performed using data from pointed observations of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer coordinated with radio observations. In the neutron star systems the radio luminosity LR is correlated with the characteristic frequency of the Lh Lorentzian component detected contemporaneously in the power spectrum, and anticorrelated with its strength. Similarly, in the black hole system GX 339–4 LR is correlated with the frequency of the Lℓ component in the power spectrum and anticorrelated with its strength. The index of a power-law fit to the correlation is similar in both cases, LR∝ν∼1.4 and LR∝ (rms)−2.3. At lower timing frequencies, the radio luminosity is further found to be correlated with the characteristic (break) frequency of the Lb component of the power spectra in the neutron stars and, marginally, with the equivalent break frequency in GX 339–4. We briefly discuss the coupling between the innermost regions of the accretion disc and the production of the jet and, from the behaviour of the millisecond accreting X-ray pulsars, the possible role of the neutron star magnetic field.

Optical observations of IGR J00291+5934 in the post outburst phase

We present optical observations of the newly discovered accretion powered millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934, undertaken in the weeks following its outburst on 2 d December 2004. The decay to quiescence is seen to be highly variable with no indication of a modulation on the ∼2.46 hr orbital period apparent in the data, consistent with a system at low inclination. We also have a single Keck LRIS spectrum of the companion to IGR J00291+5934 taken 10 days after outburst. Strong hydrogen and helium emission lines are observed confirming the identity of the counterpart.

Chandra observations of the millisecond X-ray pulsar IGR J00291+5934 in quiescence

In this Paper we report on our analysis of three Chandra observations of the accretion-powered millisecond X-ray pulsar IGR J00291+5934 obtained during the late stages of the 2004 outburst. We also report the serendipitous detection of the source in quiescence by ROSAT during MJD 48830-48839. The detected 0.3-10 keV source count rates varied significantly between the Chandra observations from (7.2+-1.2)x10^-3, (6.8+-0.9)x10^-3, and (1.4+-0.1)x10^-2 counts per second for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Chandra observation, on MJD 53371.88, 53383.99, and 53407.57, respectively. The count rate for the 3rd observation is 2.0+-0.4 times as high as that of the average of the first two observations. The unabsorbed 0.5-10 keV source flux for the best-fit power-law model to the source spectrum was (7.9+-2.5)x10^-14, (7.3+-2.0)x10^-14, and (1.17+-0.22)x10^-13 erg cm^-2 s^-1 for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Chandra observation, respectively. We find that this source flux is consistent with that found by ROSAT [~(5.4+-2.4)x10^-14 erg cm^-2 s^-1]. Under the assumption that the interstellar extinction, N_H, does not vary between the observations, we find that the blackbody temperature during the 2nd Chandra observation is significantly higher than that during the 1st and 3rd observation. Furthermore, the effective temperature of the neutron star derived from fitting an absorbed blackbody or neutron star atmosphere model to the data is rather high in comparison with many other neutron star soft X-ray transients in quiescence, even during the 1st and 3rd observation. If we assume that the source quiescent luminosity is similar to that measured for two other accretion powered millisecond pulsars in quiescence, the distance to IGR J00291+5934 is 2.6-3.6 kpc.

IGR J16320–4751 as seen by simultaneous INTEGRAL and XMM observations

We present the preliminary results of simultaneous XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL observations of the highly absorbed INTEGRAL source IGR J16320-4751. We refine the X-ray position with XMM-Newton, and then examine the spectral properties of the source using both satellites, separating two periods visible in the lightcurves, an initial flare and a more steady period. We show that the source spectrum and its behaviour are compatible with IGR J16320-4751 being a pulsar accreting from a high mass companion.

The 1–50 keV spectral and timing analysis of IGR J18027-2016: an eclipsing, high mass X-ray binary

We report the association of the INTEGRAL source IGR J18027-2016 with the BeppoSAX source SAX J1802.7-2017. IGR J18027-2016 is seen to be a weak, persistent source by the IBIS/ISGRI instrument on board INTEGRAL with an average source count rate of 0.55 counts s^-1 (~6.1 mCrab) in the 20-40 keV band. Timing analysis performed on the ISGRI data identifies an orbital period of 4.5696 +/- 0.0009 days and gives an ephemeris of mid-eclipse as, T{mid} = 52931.37 +/- 0.04 MJD. Re-analysis of archival BeppoSAX data has provided a mass function for the donor star, f(m) = 16 +/- 1 M{sun} and a projected semimajor axis of a{x}sin{i} = 68 +/- 1 lt-s. We conclude that the donor is an OB-supergiant with a mass of 18.8-29.3 M{sun} and a radius of 15.0-23.4 R{sun}. Spectra obtained by XMM-Newton and ISGRI indicate a high hydrogen column density of NH = 6.8 x 10^22 cm^-2, which suggests intrinsic absorption. The source appears to be a high mass X-ray binary with the neutron star emitting X-rays through wind-fed accretion while in an eclipsing orbit around an OB-supergiant.

Discovery of X-ray pulsations from IGR J16320–4751 = AX J1631.9–4752

We report a discovery of strong modulations of the X-ray flux detected from IGR J16320-4751 = AX J1631.9-4752 with a period of P~1300 sec. We reanalyzed the data of an XMM-Newton ToO performed soon after the discovery of the source by INTEGRAL and found the modulation at a period of P=1309+/-40 sec with a high significance. Modulations of the source flux with two possible periods of ~1300 and ~1500 sec were identified in the ASCA archival data. It is very likely that the modulation can be interpreted as X-ray pulsations, favouring a pulsar as the compact object in IGR/AX J16320-4752. Thus for the moment this source became the fourth source from a new class of highly absorbed binary systems for which the pulsations are observed.

Discovery of the Accretion-powered Millisecond X-Ray Pulsar IGR J00291+5934

We report on observations of the sixth accretion-powered millisecond pulsar, IGR J00291+5934, with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer. The source is a faint recurrent X-ray transient initially identified by the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory. The 599 Hz (1.67 ms) pulsation had a fractional rms amplitude of 8% in the 2-20 keV range, and its shape was approximately sinusoidal. The pulses show an energy-dependent phase delay, with the 6-9 keV pulses arriving up to 85 μs earlier than those at lower energies. No X-ray bursts, dips, or eclipses were detected. The neutron star is in a circular 2.46 hr orbit with a very low-mass donor, most likely a brown dwarf. The binary parameters of the system are similar to those of the first known accreting millisecond pulsar, SAX J1808.4-3658. Assuming that the mass transfer is driven by gravitational radiation and that the 2004 outburst fluence is typical, the 3 yr recurrence time implies a distance of at least 4 kpc.

Discovery of theINTEGRALX/γ-ray transient IGR J00291+5934: A Comptonised accreting ms pulsar?

We report the discovery of a high-energy transient with the IBIS/ISGRI detector on board the INTEGRAL observatory. The source, namely IGR J00291+5934, was first detected on 2nd December 2004 in the routine monitoring of the IBIS/ISGRI 20--60 keV images. The observations were conducted during Galactic Plane Scans, which are a key part of the INTEGRAL Core Programme observations. After verifying the basic source behaviour, the discovery was announced on 3rd December. The transient shows a hard Comptonised spectrum, with peak energy release at about 20 keV and a total luminosity of ~ 0.9E36 erg/s in the 5--100 keV range, assuming a distance of 3 kpc. Following the INTEGRAL announcement of the discovery of IGR J00291+5934, a number of observations were made by other instruments. We summarise the results of those observations and, together with the INTEGRAL data, identifiy IGR J00291+5934 as the 6th member of a class of accreting X-ray millisecond pulsars.

INTEGRAL observations of five sources in the Galactic Center region

A number of new X-ray sources (IGR J17091-3624, IGR/XTE J17391-3021, IGR J17464-3213 (= XTE J17464-3213 = H 1743-322), IGR J17597-2201, SAX/IGR J18027-2017) have been observed with the INTEGRAL observatory during ultra deep exposure of the Galactic Center region in August-September 2003. Most of them were permanently visible by the INTEGRAL at energies higher than $\sim 20$ keV, but IGR/XTE J17391-3021 was observed only during its flaring activity with a flux maximum of $\sim120$ mCrab. IGR J17091-3624, IGR J17464-3213 and IGR J17597-2201 were detected up to $\sim 100$-150 keV. In this paper we present the analysis of INTEGRAL observations of these sources to determine the nature of these objects. We conclude that all of them have a galactic origin. Two sources are black hole candidates (IGR J17091-3624 and IGR J17464-3213), one is an LMXB neutron star binary (presumably an X-ray burster) and two other sources (IGR J17597-2201 and SAX/IGR J18027-2017) are neutron stars in high mass binaries; one of them (SAX/IGR J18027-2017) is an accreting X-ray pulsar.

An XMM-Newton observation of IGR J16320-4751 = AX J1631.9-4752

The hard X-ray sensitivity and arcminute position accuracy of the recently launched International Gamma-Ray Laboratory (INTEGRAL) has lead to the (re-)discovery of a class of heavily absorbed hard X-ray sources lying in the Galactic plane. We report on the analysis of an XMM observation of such a source IGR J16320 4751 = AX J1631.9 4752. Our analysis allowed us to obtain the most accurate X-ray position to date (Rodriguez et al. 2003), and to identify a likely infrared counterpart (Tomsick et al. 2003). We present the detailed analysis of the IGR J16320 4751 XMM spectra. The PN spectrum can be well represented by a single powerlaw or a comptonized spectrum with a high equivalent absorption column density of2 10 23 cm 2 . The current analysis and the comparison with the properties of other sources favor the possibility that the source is a Galactic X-Ray Binary (XRB). The identification of two candidate IR counterparts is in good agreement with this identification. The hard spectrum previously seen with ASCA, and the brightness of the candidate counterparts indicate that IGR J16320 4751 is most probably a highly absorbed High Mass X-ray Binary, hosting a neutron star.