Low-mass X-ray Binaries Research Articles

Observational appearance of rapidly rotating neutron stars

Neutron stars (NSs) in low-mass X-ray binaries rotate at frequencies high enough to significantly deviate from sphericity (ν*∼ 200–600 Hz). First, we investigate the effects of rapid rotation on the observational appearance of a NS. We propose analytical formulae relating gravitational mass and equatorial radius of the rapidly rotating NS to the massMand radiusRof a non-rotating NS of the same baryonic mass using accurate fully relativistic computations. We assume that the NS surface emission is described by the Planck function with two different emission patterns: the isotropic intensity and that corresponding to the electron-scattering dominated atmosphere. For these two cases we compute spectra from an oblate rotating NS observed at different inclination angles using the modified oblate Schwarzschild approximation, where light bending is computed in Schwarzschild metric, but frame dragging and quadrupole moment of a NS are approximately accounted for in the photon redshift calculations. In particular, we determine the solid angle at which a rotating NS is seen by a distant observer, the observed colour temperature and the blackbody normalization. Then, we investigate how rapid rotation affects the results of NS radius determination using the cooling tail method applied to the X-ray burst spectral evolution. We approximate the local spectra from the NS surface by a diluted blackbody with the luminosity-dependent dilution factor using previously computed NS atmosphere models. We then generalize the cooling tail method to the case of a rapidly rotating NS to obtain the most probable values ofMandRof the corresponding non-rotating NS with the same baryonic mass. We show that the NS radius could be overestimated by 3–3.5 km for face-on stars ofR ≈ 11 km rotating atν*= 700 Hz if the version of the cooling tail method for a non-rotating NS is used. We apply the method to an X-ray burst observed from the NS rotating atν* ≈ 532 Hz in SAX J1810.8−2609. The resulting radius of the non-rotating NS (assumingM = 1.5M⊙) becomes 11.8 ± 0.5 km if it is viewed at inclinationi = 60° andR = 11.2 ± 0.5 km for a face-on view, which are smaller by 0.6 and 1.2 km than the radius obtained using standard cooling tail method ignoring rotation. The corresponding equatorial radii of these rapidly rotating NSs are 12.3 ± 0.6 km (fori = 60°) and 11.6 ± 0.6 km (fori = 0°).

Charged particle and epicyclic motions around 4D Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet black hole immersed in an external magnetic field

We investigate particle motion in the vicinity of a $4D$ Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet (EGB) black hole immersed in external asymptotically uniform magnetic field. It is well known that magnetic fields can strongly affect charged particle motion in the black hole vicinity due to the Lorenz force. We find that the presence of the Gauss-Bonnet (GB) coupling gives rise to a similar effect, reducing the radius of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) with respect to the purely relativistic Schwarzschild black hole. Further, we consider particle collisions in the black hole vicinity to determine the center of mass energy and show that this energy increases with respect to the Schwarzschild case due to the effect of the GB term. Finally, we consider epicyclic motion and its frequencies and resonance as a mean to test the predictions of the model against astrophysical observations. In particular we test which values of the parameters of the theory best fit the 3:2 resonance of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in three low-mass X-ray binaries.

A MeerKAT survey of nearby nova-like cataclysmic variables

ABSTRACT We present the results of MeerKAT radio observations of 11 nearby nova-like cataclysmic variables (CVs). We have detected radio emission from IM Eri, RW Sex, V3885 Sgr, and V603 Aql. While RW Sex, V3885 Sgr, and V603 Aql had been previously detected, this is the first reported radio detection of IM Eri. Our observations have doubled the sample of non-magnetic CVs with sensitive radio data. We observe that at our radio detection limits, a specific optical luminosity ${\gtrsim}2.2\times 10^{18}\,$ erg s−1 Hz−1 (corresponding to MV ≲ 6.0) is required to produce a radio detection. We also observe that the X-ray and radio luminosities of our detected nova-like CVs are on an extension of the $L_X\propto L_R^{\sim 0.7}$ power law originally proposed for non-pulsating neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries. We find no other correlations between the radio emission and emission in other wavebands or any other system parameters for the existing sample of radio-detected non-magnetic CVs. We measure in-band (0.9–1.7 GHz) radio spectral indices that are consistent with reports from earlier work. Finally, we constructed broad spectral energy distributions for our sample from published multiwavelength data, and use them to place constraints on the mass transfer rates of these systems.

The advection-dominated accretion flow for the anticorrelation between the X-ray photon index and the X-ray luminosity in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries

ABSTRACT Observationally, an anticorrelation between the X-ray photon index Γ (obtained by fitting the X-ray spectrum between 0.5 and 10 keV with a single power law) and the X-ray luminosity L0.5-10 keV, i.e. a softening of the X-ray spectrum with decreasing L0.5-10 keV, is found in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (NS-LMXBs) in the range of $L_{\rm 0.5\!-\!10\,keV}\sim 10^{34}\!-\!10^{36}\ \rm erg\ s^{-1}$. In this paper, we explain the observed anticorrelation between Γ and L0.5–10 keV within the framework of the self-similar solution of the advection-dominated accretion flow (ADAF) around a weakly magnetized NS. The ADAF model intrinsically predicts an anticorrelation between Γ and L0.5–10 keV. In the ADAF model, there is a key parameter, fth, which describes the fraction of the ADAF energy released at the surface of the NS as thermal emission to be scattered in the ADAF. We test the effect of fth on the anticorrelation between Γ and L0.5–10 keV. It is found that the value of fth can significantly affect the anticorrelation between Γ and L0.5–10 keV. Specifically, the anticorrelation between Γ and L0.5–10 keV becomes flatter with decreasing fth as taking fth = 0.1, 0.03, 0.01, 0.005, 0.003, and 0, respectively. By comparing with a sample of non-pulsating NS-LMXBs with well measured Γ and L0.5–10 keV, we find that indeed only a small value of 0.003 ≲ fth ≲ 0.1 is needed to match the observed anticorrelation between Γ and L0.5–10 keV. Finally, we argue that the small value of fth ≲ 0.1 derived in this paper further confirms our previous conclusion that the radiative efficiency of NSs with an ADAF accretion may not be as high as $\epsilon \sim {\dot{M} GM\over R_{*}}/{\dot{M} c^2}\sim 0.2$.

X-Ray Binary Luminosity Function Scaling Relations in Elliptical Galaxies: Evidence for Globular Cluster Seeding of Low-mass X-Ray Binaries in Galactic Fields

We investigate X-ray binary (XRB) luminosity function (XLF) scaling relations for Chandra detected populations of low-mass XRBs (LMXBs) within the footprints of 24 early-type galaxies. Our sample includes Chandra and HST observed galaxies at D < 25 Mpc that have estimates of the globular cluster (GC) specific frequency (SN) reported in the literature. As such, we are able to directly classify X-ray-detected sources as being either coincident with unrelated background/foreground objects, GCs, or sources that are within the fields of the galaxy targets. We model the GC and field LMXB population XLFs for all galaxies separately, and then construct global models characterizing how the LMXB XLFs vary with galaxy stellar mass and SN. We find that our field LMXB XLF models require a component that scales with SN, and has a shape consistent with that found for the GC LMXB XLF. We take this to indicate that GCs are "seeding" the galactic field LMXB population, through the ejection of GC-LMXBs and/or the diffusion of the GCs in the galactic fields themselves. However, we also find that an important LMXB XLF component is required for all galaxies that scales with stellar mass, implying that a substantial population of LMXBs are formed "in situ," which dominates the LMXB population emission for galaxies with SN < 2. For the first time, we provide a framework quantifying how directly-associated GC LMXBs, GC-seeded LMXBs, and in-situ LMXBs contribute to LMXB XLFs in the broader early-type galaxy population.

The Galactic LMXB Population and the Galactic Centre Region

Seventeen years of hard X-ray observations with the instruments of the INTEGRAL observatory, with a focus on the Milky Way and in particular on the Galactic Centre region, have provided a unique database for exploration of the Galactic population of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). Our understanding of the diverse energetic phenomena associated with accretion of matter onto neutron stars and black holes has greatly improved. We review the large variety of INTEGRAL based results related to LMXBs. In particular, we discuss the spatial distribution of LMXBs over the Galaxy and their X-ray luminosity function as well as various physical phenomena associated with Atoll and Z sources, bursters, symbiotic X-ray binaries, ultracompact X-ray binaries and persistent black hole LMXBs. We also present an up-to-date catalogue of confirmed LMXBs detected by INTEGRAL, which comprises 166 objects. Last but not least, the long-term monitoring of the Galactic Centre with INTEGRAL has shed light on the activity of Sgr A* in the recent past, confirming previous indications that our supermassive black hole experienced a major accretion episode just ~ 100 years ago. This exciting topic is covered in this review too.

Unexpected late-time temperature increase observed in the two neutron star crust-cooling sources XTE J1701−462 and EXO 0748−676

Transient low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) that host neutron stars (NSs) provide excellent laboratories for probing the dense matter physics present in NS crusts. During accretion outbursts in LMXBs, exothermic reactions may heat the NS crust, disrupting the crust-core equilibrium. When the outburst ceases, the crust cools to restore thermal equilibrium with the core. Monitoring this cooling evolution allows us to probe the dense matter physics in the crust. Properties of the deeper crustal layers can be probed at later times after the end of the outburst. We report on the unexpected late-time temperature evolution (≳2000 days after the end of their outbursts) of two NSs in LMXBs, XTE J1701−462 and EXO 0748−676. Although both these sources exhibited very different outbursts (in terms of duration and the average accretion rate), they exhibit an unusually steep decay of ∼7 eV in the observed effective temperature (occurring in a time span of ∼700 days) around ∼2000 days after the end of their outbursts. Furthermore, they both showed an even more unexpected rise of ∼3 eV in temperature (over a time period of ∼500–2000 days) after this steep decay. This rise was significant at the 2.4σ and 8.5σ level for XTE J1701−462 and EXO 0748−676, respectively. The physical explanation for such behaviour is unknown and cannot be straightforwardly be explained within the cooling hypothesis. In addition, this observed evolution cannot be well explained by low-level accretion either without invoking many assumptions. We investigate the potential pathways in the theoretical heating and cooling models that could reproduce this unusual behaviour, which so far has been observed in two crust-cooling sources. Such a temperature increase has not been observed in the other NS crust-cooling sources at similarly late times, although it cannot be excluded that this might be a result of the inadequate sampling obtained at such late times.

Silicon K-edge Dust Properties of Neutron Star Low-mass X-ray Binaries

AbstractThe dust properties of the line-of-sight materials in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) can be probed by X-ray observations and laboratory experiments. We use a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method to conduct a spectral analysis of Chandra ACIS-S/HETG archival data of a sample of LMXBs, including GX 5-1 and GX 13+1. Our MCMC-based analysis puts constraints on the Si K-edge dust properties of the outflowing disk winds in this sample. Further X-ray observations of other LMXBs will help us better understand the grain features of dense outflows and accretion flows in neutron star binary systems.

Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations from neutron star spreading layers

When the accretion disc around a weakly magnetised neutron star (NS) meets the stellar surface, it should brake down to match the rotation of the NS, forming a boundary layer. As the mechanisms potentially responsible for this braking are apparently inefficient, it is reasonable to consider this layer as a spreading layer (SL) with negligible radial extent and structure. We perform hydrodynamical 2D spectral simulations of an SL, considering the disc as a source of matter and angular momentum. Interaction of new, rapidly rotating matter with the pre-existing, relatively slow material co-rotating with the star leads to instabilities capable of transferring angular momentum and creating variability on dynamical timescales. For small accretion rates, we find that the SL is unstable for heating instability that disrupts the initial latitudinal symmetry and produces large deviations between the two hemispheres. This instability also results in breaking of the axial symmetry as coherent flow structures are formed and escape from the SL intermittently. At enhanced accretion rates, the SL is prone to shearing instability and acts as a source of oblique waves that propagate towards the poles, leading to patterns that again break the axial symmetry. We compute artificial light curves of an SL viewed at different inclination angles. Most of the simulated light curves show oscillations at frequencies close to 1 kHz. We interpret these oscillations as inertial modes excited by shear instabilities near the boundary of the SL. Their frequencies, dependence on flux, and amplitude variations can explain the high-frequency pair quasi-periodic oscillations observed in many low-mass X-ray binaries.

Wind accretion in Cygnus X-1

Context. Cygnus X-1 is a black hole X-ray binary system in which the black hole captures and accretes gas from the strong stellar wind emitted by its supergiant O9.7 companion star. The irradiation of the supergiant star essentially determines the flow properties of the stellar wind and the X-ray luminosity from the system. The results of three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of wind-fed X-ray binary systems reported in recent work reveal that the ionizing feedback of the X-ray irradiation leads to the existence of two stable states with either a soft or a hard spectrum. Aims. We discuss the observed radiation of Cygnus X-1 in the soft and hard state in the context of mass flow in the corona and disk, as predicted by the recent application of a condensation model. Methods. The rates of gas condensation from the corona to the disk for Cygnus X-1 are determined, and the spectra of the hard and soft radiation are computed. The theoretical results are compared with the MAXI observations of Cygnus X-1 from 2009 to 2018. In particular, we evaluate the hardness-intensity diagrams (HIDs) for its ten episodes of soft and hard states which show that Cygnus X-1 is distinct in its spectral changes as compared to those found in the HIDs of low-mass X-ray binaries. Results. The theoretically derived values of photon counts and hardness are in approximate agreement with the observed data in the HID. However, the scatter in the diagram is not reproduced. Improved agreement could result from variations in the viscosity associated with clumping in the stellar wind and corresponding changes of the magnetic fields in the disk. The observed dipping events in the hard state may also contribute to the scatter and to a harder spectrum than predicted by the model.

Infrared interferometry to spatially and spectrally resolve jets in X-ray binaries

ABSTRACT Infrared interferometry is a new frontier for precision ground-based observing, with new instrumentation achieving milliarcsecond (mas) spatial resolutions for faint sources, along with astrometry on the order of 10 microarcseconds (μas). This technique has already led to breakthroughs in the observations of the supermassive black hole at the Galactic centre and its orbiting stars, active galactic nucleus, and exo-planets, and can be employed for studying X-ray binaries (XRBs), microquasars in particular. Beyond constraining the orbital parameters of the system using the centroid wobble and spatially resolving jet discrete ejections on mas scales, we also propose a novel method to discern between the various components contributing to the infrared bands: accretion disc, jets, and companion star. We demonstrate that the GRAVITY instrument on the Very Large Telescope Interferometer should be able to detect a centroid shift in a number of sources, opening a new avenue of exploration for the myriad of transients expected to be discovered in the coming decade of radio all-sky surveys. We also present the first proof-of-concept GRAVITY observation of a low-mass XRB transient, MAXI J1820+070, to search for extended jets on mas scales. We place the tightest constraints yet via direct imaging on the size of the infrared emitting region of the compact jet in a hard state XRB.

On the disc reflection spectroscopy of NS LMXB Serpens X-1: analysis of a recent NuSTAR observation

ABSTRACT We present NuSTAR observation of the atoll type neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) Serpens X-1 (Ser X-1) performed on 2018 February 17. We observed Ser X-1 in a soft X-ray spectral state with 3–79 keV luminosity of LX ∼ 0.4 × 1038 erg s−1 (${\sim}23{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the Eddington luminosity), assuming a distance of 7.7 kpc. A positive correlation between intensity and hardness ratio suggests that the source was in the banana branch during this observation. The broad-band 3–30 keV NuSTAR energy spectrum can be well described either by a three-component continuum model consisting of a disc blackbody, a single temperature blackbody, and a power law or by a two-component continuum model consisting of a disc blackbody and a Comptonization component. A broad iron line ∼5–8 keV and the Compton back-scattering hump peaking at ∼10–20 keV band are clearly detected in the X-ray spectrum. These features are best interpreted by a self-consistent relativistic reflection model. Fits with relativistically blurred disc reflection model suggests that the inner disc radius Rin is truncated prior to the ISCO at (1.9–2.5) RISCO (${\simeq}11.4\!-\!15\, R_{g}\: \text{or}\: 26\!-\!34$ km) and the accretion disc is viewed at a low inclination of i ≃ 16°−20°. The disc is likely to be truncated either by a boundary layer or by the magnetosphere. Based on the measured flux and the mass accretion rate, the maximum radial extension for the boundary layer is estimated to be ∼6.4 Rg from the NS surface. The truncated inner disc in association with pressure from a magnetic field sets an upper limit of B ≤ 1.9 × 109 G.

Sub-galactic scaling relations between X-ray luminosity, star formation rate, and stellar mass

ABSTRACT X-ray luminosity (LX) originating from high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) is tightly correlated with the host galaxy’s star formation rate (SFR). We explore this connection at sub-galactic scales spanning ∼7 dex in SFR and ∼8 dex in specific SFR (sSFR). There is good agreement with established relations down to SFR ≃ 10−3 M$_{\odot }\, \rm {yr^{-1}}$, below which an excess of X-ray luminosity emerges. This excess likely arises from low-mass X-ray binaries. The intrinsic scatter of the LX–SFR relation is constant, not correlated with SFR. Different star formation indicators scale with LX in different ways, and we attribute the differences to the effect of star formation history. The SFR derived from H α shows the tightest correlation with X-ray luminosity because H α emission probes stellar populations with ages similar to HMXB formation time-scales, but the H α-based SFR is reliable only for $\rm sSFR{\gt }10^{-12}$ M$_{\odot }\, \rm {yr^{-1}}$/M⊙.

A possible origin of kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations in low-mass X-ray binaries

Abstract A possible origin of kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in low-mass X-ray binaries is proposed. Recent numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations of accretion disks with turbulent magnetic fields of magneto-rotational instability definitely show the presence of two-armed spiral structure in the quasi-steady state of accretion disks. In such deformed disks, two-armed ($m=2$) c-mode ($n=1$) oscillations are excited by wave–wave resonant instability. Among these excited oscillations, the fundamental in the radial direction ($n_{\rm r}=0$) will be the higher kHz QPO of twin QPOs, and the first overtone ($n_{\rm r}=1$) in the radial direction will be the lower kHz QPO of the twin. A possible cause of the twin high-frequency QPOs in black hole X-ray binaries is also discussed in the final section.

Modeling Dense Star Clusters in the Milky Way and Beyond with the CMC Cluster Catalog

We present a set of 148 independent $N$-body simulations of globular clusters (GCs) computed using the code $\texttt{CMC}$ ($\texttt{Cluster Monte Carlo}$). At an age of $\sim10-13\,$Gyr, the resulting models cover nearly the full range of cluster properties exhibited by the Milky Way GCs, including total mass, core and half-light radii, metallicity, and galactocentric distance. We use our models to investigate the role that stellar-mass black holes play in the process of core collapse. Furthermore, we study how dynamical interactions affect the formation and evolution of several important types of sources in GCs, including low-mass X-ray binaries, millisecond pulsars, blue stragglers, cataclysmic variables, Type Ia supernovae, calcium-rich transients, and merging compact binaries. While our focus here is on old, low-metallicity GCs, our $\texttt{CMC}$ simulations follow the evolution of clusters over a Hubble time, and they include a wide range of metallicities (up to solar), so that our results can also be used to study younger and higher-metallicity star clusters.

A compact X-ray emitting binary in likely association with 4FGL J0935.3+0901

ABSTRACT 4FGL J0935.3+0901 is a γ-ray source detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope. We have conducted detailed analysis of the LAT data for this source and multiwavelength studies of the source field. Its γ-ray emission can be described with a power law (Γ = 2.0 ± 0.2) with an exponential cut-off (Ec = 2.9 ± 1.6 GeV), while the flux shows significant long-term variations. From analysis of archival Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory X-Ray Telescope data, we find only one X-ray source in the LAT’s 2σ error region. Within a $3.7\,{\rm arcsec}$ radius error circle of the X-ray source, there is only one optical object down to r′ ∼ 23 mag. Time-resolved photometry of the optical object indicates a likely 2.5 h periodic modulation, while its spectrum shows double-peaked hydrogen and helium emission lines (similar to those seen in accretion discs in low-mass X-ray binaries). Combining these results, we conclude that we have discovered a compact X-ray emitting binary in likely association with 4FGL J0935.3+0901, i.e. a millisecond pulsar (MSP) binary. We discuss the implication of the optical spectral features: this binary could be a transitional MSP system at a subluminous disc state, although the other possibility, the binary in a rotation-powered state showing the optical emission lines due to intrabinary interaction processes, cannot be excluded. Further observational studies will help to determine detailed properties of this candidate MSP binary and thus clarify its current state.

Photometric study of selected X-ray binaries

We present results of a long-term photometric multicolor optical monitoring project of selected low-mass and high-mass X-ray binaries carried out at the T\"UB\.ITAK National Observatory (TUG). New long-term $VRI$ multicolor observations of three selected X-ray binaries with neutron star components (HZ Her, ScoX-1, SAX J2103.5+4545) were observed between 2015 and 2019 with the TUG 60-cm telescope. The light variations of the systems are presented and discussed.

A strongly changing accretion morphology during the outburst decay of the neutron star X-ray binary 4U 1608−52

ABSTRACT It is commonly assumed that the properties and geometry of the accretion flow in transient low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) significantly change when the X-ray luminosity decays below ∼10−2 of the Eddington limit (LEdd). However, there are few observational cases where the evolution of the accretion flow is tracked in a single X-ray binary over a wide dynamic range. In this work, we use NuSTAR and NICER observations obtained during the 2018 accretion outburst of the neutron star LMXB 4U 1608−52, to study changes in the reflection spectrum. We find that the broad Fe–Kα line and Compton hump, clearly seen during the peak of the outburst when the X-ray luminosity is ∼1037 erg s−1 (∼0.05 LEdd), disappear during the decay of the outburst when the source luminosity drops to ∼4.5 × 1035 erg s−1 (∼0.002 LEdd). We show that this non-detection of the reflection features cannot be explained by the lower signal-to-noise ratio at lower flux, but is instead caused by physical changes in the accretion flow. Simulating synthetic NuSTAR observations on a grid of inner disc radius, disc ionization, and reflection fraction, we find that the disappearance of the reflection features can be explained by either increased disc ionization (log ξ ≳ 4.1) or a much decreased reflection fraction. A changing disc truncation alone, however, cannot account for the lack of reprocessed Fe–Kα emission. The required increase in ionization parameter could occur if the inner accretion flow evaporates from a thin disc into a geometrically thicker flow, such as the commonly assumed formation of a radiatively inefficient accretion flow at lower mass accretion rates.

Asymmetric accretion and thermal ‘mountains’ in magnetized neutron star crusts

ABSTRACT Accreting neutron stars (NSs) are one of the main targets for continuous gravitational wave searches, as asymmetric accretion may lead to quadrupolar deformations, or ‘mountains’, on the crust of the star, which source gravitational wave (GW) emission at twice the rotation frequency. The GW torque may also impact on the spin evolution of the star, possibly dictating the currently observed spin periods of NSs in low-mass X-ray binaries and leading to the increased spin-down rate observed during accretion in PSR J1023+0038. Previous studies have shown that deformed reaction layers in the crust of the NS lead to thermal and compositional gradients that can lead to GW emission. However, there are no realistic constraints on the level of asymmetry that is expected. In this paper, we consider a natural source of asymmetry, namely the magnetic field, and calculate the density and pressure perturbations that are expected in the crust of accreting NSs. In general, we find that only the outermost reaction layers of the NS are strongly perturbed. The mass quadrupole that we estimate is generally small and cannot explain the increase of spin-down rate of PSR J1023+0038. However, if strong shallow heating sources are present at low densities in the crust, as cooling observations suggest, these layers will be strongly perturbed and the resulting quadrupole could explain the observed spin-down of PSR J1023+0038, and lead to observable GW signals from systems with higher accretion rates.

The connection between the UV/optical and X-ray emission in the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary Aql X-1

ABSTRACT Accreting neutron stars and black holes in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) radiate across the electromagnetic spectrum. Linking the emission produced at different wavelengths can provide valuable information about the accretion process and any associated outflows. In this work, we study simultaneous X-ray and ultraviolet (UV)/optical observations of the neutron star LMXB Aql X-1, obtained with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory during its 2013, 2014, and 2016 accretion outbursts. We find that the UV/optical and X-ray emission are strongly correlated during all three outbursts. For the 2013 and 2014 episodes, which had the best Swift sampling, we find that the correlation between the UV/optical and X-ray fluxes is significantly steeper during the decay (soft state) of the outburst than during the rise (hard-to-soft state). We observe a UV/optical hysteresis behaviour that is likely linked to the commonly known X-ray spectral hysteresis pattern. For the decays of the three outbursts, we obtain a correlation index that cannot be directly explained by any single model. We suspect that this is a result of multiple emission processes contributing to the UV/optical emission, but we discuss alternative explanations. Based on these correlations, we discuss which mechanisms are likely dominating the UV/optical emission of Aql X-1.