Neutron Star Low-mass X-ray Binaries Research Articles

Detection of millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations in the X-Ray binary 1RXS J180408.9−342058

ABSTRACT Millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (mHz QPOs) observed in neutron-star low-mass X-ray binaries (NS LMXBs) are generally explained as marginally stable thermonuclear burning on the neutron star surface. We report the discovery of mHz QPOs in an XMM–Newton observation of the transient 1RXS J180408.9−342058, during a regular bursting phase of its 2015 outburst. We found significant periodic signals in the March observation, with frequencies in the range 5–8 $\, \mathrm{mHz}$, superimposed on a strong ∼1/f power-law noise continuum. Neither the QPO signals nor the power-law noise were present during the April observation, which exhibited a 2.5 × higher luminosity and had correspondingly more frequent bursts. When present, the QPO signal power decreases during bursts and disappears afterwards, similar to the behaviour in other sources. 1RXS J180408.9−342058 is the eighth source known to date that exhibits such QPOs driven by thermonuclear burning. We examine the range of properties of the QPO signals in different sources. Whereas the observed oscillation profile is similar to that predicted by numerical models, the amplitudes are significantly higher, challenging their explanation as originating from marginally stable burning.

Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations as probes of the X-ray color-color diagram and neutron star accretion-disk structure for Z sources

Based on the detected kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (NS-LMXBs), we investigate the evolution of the NS magnetosphere-disk structure along the Z track in the X-ray color-color diagram (CCD) for luminous Z sources, such as Cyg X-2, GX 5-1, GX 17+2, and Sco X-1. We find that the magnetosphere-disk radiusrinferred by kHz QPOs for all the sources shows a monotonically decreasing trend along the Z track from the horizontal branch (HB) to the normal branch (NB), implying that the dominated radiation components may dramatically change as the accretion disk moves toward the NS surface. In addition, the specific radius that corresponds to the HB/NB vertex is found to be aroundr ∼ 20 km, implying a potential characteristic position of transiting for the X-ray radiation mode. Furthermore, we find that the NBs that occur near the NS surface have a radius ofr ∼ 16−20 km, which is systematically smaller than those of HBs that have radii ofr ∼ 20−29 km. To interpret the relation between the CCD properties and the special magnetosphere-disk radii of Z sources, we suggest that the magnetic field lines corresponding to NB are “frozen-in” to the plasma, and move further inward with the shrinking of the NS magnetosphere-disk radius and pile up near the NS surface. They then form a strong magnetic field region aroundr ∼ 16−20 km, where the high magnetic energy density and high plasma mass density may dominate the radiation process in NB.

Testing jet geometries and disc–jet coupling in the neutron star LMXB 4U 0614 + 091 with the internal shocks model

ABSTRACT Multiwavelength spectral energy distributions of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) in the hard state are determined by the emission from a jet, for frequencies up to mid-infrared, and emission from the accretion flow in the optical to X-ray range. In the last years, the flat radio-to-mid-IR spectra of black hole (BH) X-ray binaries was described using the internal shocks model, which assumes that the fluctuations in the velocity of the ejecta along the jet are driven by the fluctuations in the accretion flow, described by the X-ray power density spectrum (PDS). In this work, we attempt to apply this model for the first time to a neutron star (NS) LMXB, i.e. 4U 0614 + 091. We used the multiwavelength data set obtained in 2006, comprising data from radio to X-ray, and applied a model that includes an irradiated disc model for the accretion flow and an updated version of the internal shocks code for the ejection. The new version of the code allows to change the geometry of the jet for the case of non-conical jets. Only two alternative scenarios provide a satisfactory description of the data: using the X-ray PDS but in a non-conical geometry for the jet, or either using a conical geometry but with a ‘flicker-noise’ PDS. Both scenarios would imply some differences with the results obtained with similar models on BH X-ray binaries, shedding light on the possibility that jets in NS and BH binaries might somehow have a different geometry or a different coupling with the accretion flow.

The parallel tracks of kHz QPOs in low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1728−34: explorer of the bimodal accretion modes

ABSTRACT Parallel tracks in the relation between the lower kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillation (kHz QPO) frequency ν1 and the X-ray intensity I have been observed in the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary (NS-LMXB) 4U 1728−34, and we try to ascribe these phenomena to the bimodal accretion modes, i.e. the disc accretion and radial accretion. For the source with one constant radial accretion rate $\dot{M}_{\rm r}$, as the increase of the disc accretion rate $\dot{M}_{\rm d}$, the NS magnetosphere-disc radius can shrink from ∼18 to ∼16 km, while ν1 increases from ∼670 to ∼870 Hz. Then, due to the increase of the kHz QPO frequency and total X-ray intensity Itot, the source will trace out an oblique track in ν1–I relation. While, if the source enters another constant radial accretion rate due to the variation of the accretion environment, the increase of the disc accretion rate can arise another parallel track in ν1–I relation. Finally, the reliability of the theoretical assumptions, the variability of the accretion radius and accretion rate, as well as the dependence of the two accretion modes, are also investigated and discussed.

A New Method to Constrain Neutron Star Structure from Quasi-periodic Oscillations

Abstract We develop a new method to measure neutron star (NS) parameters and derive constraints on the equation of state (EoS) of dense matter by fitting the frequencies of simultaneous quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) modes observed in the X-ray flux of accreting NSs in low-mass X-ray binaries. To this aim, we calculate the fundamental frequencies of geodesic motion around rotating NSs based on an accurate general-relativistic approximation for their external spacetime. Once the fundamental frequencies are related to the observed frequencies through a QPO model, they can be fit to the data to obtain estimates of the three parameters describing the spacetime, namely the NS mass, angular momentum and quadrupole moment. From these parameters we derive information on the NS structure and EoS. We present a proof of principle of our method applied to pairs of kHz QPO frequencies observed from three systems (4U1608-52, 4U0614+09, and 4U1728-34). We identify the kHz QPOs with the azimuthal and the periastron precession frequencies of matter orbiting the NS, and via our Bayesian inference technique we derive constraints on the neutrons stars’ masses and radii. This method is applicable to other geodesic-frequency-based QPO models.

The EXOD search for faint transients in XMM-Newton observations: Method and discovery of four extragalactic Type I X-ray bursters

Context. The observations carried out with XMM-Newton have produced a very extensive X-ray source catalogue in which the standard pipeline determines the variability of sufficiently bright sources through χ2 and fractional variability tests. Faint sources, however, are not automatically checked for variability, and this means that faint, short timescale transients are overlooked. From dedicated X-ray searches, as well as optical and radio archive searches, we know that some such dim sources can still be identified with high confidence. Aims. Our goal is to find new faint, fast transients in XMM-Newton EPIC-pn observations. To that end we created the EPIC-pn XMM-Newton outburst detector (EXOD) algorithm, which we run on the EPIC-pn full-frame data available in the 3XMM-DR8 catalogue. Methods. In EXOD, we computed the variability of the whole field of view by first binning in time the counts detected in each pixel of the detector. We next computed the difference between the median and maximal number of counts in each time bin and pixel to detect variability. We applied EXOD to 5751 observations in the full frame mode and compared the variability of the detected sources to the standard χ2 and Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) variability tests. Results. The algorithm is able to detect periodic and aperiodic variability, with both short and long flares. Of the sources detected by EXOD, 60−95% are also shown to be variable by the standard χ2 and KS tests. EXOD computes the variability over the entire field of view faster than the light curve generation takes for all the individual sources. We detect a total of 2961 X-ray variable sources. After removing the spurious detections, we obtain a net number of 2536 variable sources. Of these we investigate the nature of 35 sources with no previously confirmed classification. Amongst the new sources, we find stellar flares and AGNs, in addition to four extragalactic type I X-ray bursters that double the known neutron-star population in M 31. Conclusions. This algorithm is a powerful tool for the prompt detection of interesting variable sources in XMM-Newton observations. EXOD also detects fast transients that other variability tests would classify as non-variable due to their short duration and low number of counts. This is of increasing importance for the multi-messenger detection of transient sources. Finally, EXOD allows us to identify the nature of compact objects through their variability and to detect rare compact objects. We demonstrate this through the discovery of four extragalactic neutron-star low-mass X-ray binaries, doubling the number of known neutron stars in M 31.

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 $\epsilon \sim {\dot{M} GM\over R_{*}}/{\dot{M} c^2}\sim 0.2$.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Comptonizing medium of the neutron star in 4U 1636 − 53 through its lower kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations

ABSTRACT Inverse Compton scattering dominates the high-energy part of the spectra of neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). It has been proposed that inverse Compton scattering also drives the radiative properties of kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs). In this work, we construct a model that predicts the energy dependence of the rms amplitude and time lag of the kHz QPOs. Using this model, we fit the rms amplitude and time lag energy spectra of the lower kHz QPO in the NS LMXB 4U 1636 − 53 over 11 frequency intervals of the QPO and report three important findings: (i) A medium that extends 1–8 km above the NS surface is required to fit the data; this medium can be sustained by the balance between gravity and radiation pressure, without forcing any equilibrium condition. (ii) We predict a time delay between the oscillating NS temperature, due to feedback, and the oscillating electron temperature of the medium, which, with the help of phase resolved spectroscopy, can be used as a probe of the geometry and the feedback mechanism. (iii) We show that the observed variability as a function of QPO frequency is mainly driven by the oscillating electron temperature of the medium. This provides strong evidence that the Comptonizing medium in LMXBs significantly affects, if not completely drives, the radiative properties of the lower kHz QPOs regardless of the nature of the dynamical mechanism that produces the QPO frequencies.

Quasi-simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of Aql X-1 : probing low luminosities

ABSTRACT Aql X-1 is one of the best-studied neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries. It was previously targeted using quasi-simultaneous radio and X-ray observations during at least seven different accretion outbursts. Such observations allow us to probe the interplay between accretion inflow (X-ray) and jet outflow (radio). Thus far, these combined observations have only covered one order of magnitude in radio and X-ray luminosity range; this means that any potential radio–X-ray luminosity correlation, LR ∝ LXβ, is not well constrained (β ≈ 0.4–0.9, based on various studies) or understood. Here we present quasi-simultaneous Very Large Array and Swift-XRT observations of Aql X-1’s 2016 outburst, with which we probe one order of magnitude fainter in radio and X-ray luminosity compared to previous studies (6 × 1034 erg s−1 < LX <3 × 1035 erg s−1, i.e. the intermediate to low-luminosity regime between outburst peak and quiescence). The resulting radio non-detections indicate that Aql X-1’s radio emission decays more rapidly at low X-ray luminosities than previously assumed – at least during the 2016 outburst. Assuming similar behaviour between outbursts, and combining all available data in the hard X-ray state, this can be modelled as a steep β =$1.17^{+0.30}_{-0.21}$ power-law index or as a sharp radio cut-off at LX ≲ 5 × 1035 erg s−1 (given our deep radio upper limits at X-ray luminosities below this value). We discuss these results in the context of other similar studies.

Evolving LMXBs: CARB Magnetic Braking

Abstract The formation of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) is an ongoing challenge in stellar evolution. An important subset of LMXBs is the binary systems with a neutron star (NS) accretor. In NS LMXBs with nondegenerate donors, the mass transfer (MT) is mainly driven by magnetic braking (MB). The discrepancies between the observed MT rates and the theoretical models were known for a while. Theory predictions of the MT rates are too weak and differ by an order of magnitude or more. Recently, we showed that with the standard MB, it is not possible to find progenitor binary systems such that they could reproduce—at any time of their evolution—most of the observed persistent NS LMXBs. In this Letter we present a modified MB prescription, Convection And Rotation Boosted (CARB). CARB MB combines two recent improvements in understanding stellar magnetic fields and magnetized winds—the dependence of the magnetic field strength on the outer convective zone and the dependence of the Alfvèn radius on the donor’s rotation. Using this new MB prescription, we can reproduce the observed MT rates at the detected mass ratio and orbital period for all well-observed to-the-date Galactic persistent NS LMXBs. For the systems where the effective temperature of the donor stars is known, theory agrees with observations as well.

Neutron star QPOs from oscillating, precessing hot, thick flow

ABSTRACT Across black hole (BH) and neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), there appears to be some correlation between certain high- and low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs). In a previous paper, we showed that for BH LMXBs, this could be explained by the simultaneous oscillation and precession of a hot, thick, torus-like corona. In the current work, we extend this idea to NS LMXBs by associating the horizontal branch oscillations (HBOs) with precession and the upper-kiloHertz (ukHz) QPO with vertical epicyclic motion. For the Atoll source 4U 1608-52, the model can match many distinct, simultaneous observations of the HBO and ukHz QPO by varying the inner and outer radius of the torus, while maintaining fixed values for the mass (MNS) and spin (a*) of the NS. The best-fitting values are MNS = 1.38 ± 0.03 M⊙ and a* = 0.325 ± 0.005. By combining these constraints with the measured spin frequency, we are able to obtain an estimate for the moment of inertia of INS = 1.40 ± 0.02 × 1045 g cm2, which places constraints on the equation of state. The model is unable to fit the lower-kHz QPO, but evidence suggests that QPO may be associated with the boundary layer between the accretion flow and the NS surface, which is not treated in this work.

Insight-HXMT observation on 4U 1608–52: Evolving spectral properties of a bright type-I X-ray burst

The evidences for the influence of thermonuclear (type-I) X-ray bursts upon the surrounding environments in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXB) were detected previously via spectral and timing analyses. Benefitting from a broad energy coverage of Insight-HXMT, we analyze one photospheric radius expansion (PRE) burst, and find an emission excess at soft X-rays. Our spectral analysis shows that, such an excess is not likely relevant to the disk reflection induced by the burst emission and can be attributed to an enhanced pre-burst/persistent emission. We find that the burst and enhanced persistent emissions sum up to exceed Eddington luminosity by ∼ 40 percentages. We speculate that the enhanced emission is from a region beyond the PRE radius, or through the Comptonization of the corona.

On the frequency correlations of low-frequency QPOs with kilohertz QPOs in accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars

ABSTRACT We investigate frequency correlations of low frequency (LF, <80 Hz) and kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) using the complete RXTE data sets on six accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars (AMXPs) and compare them to those of non-pulsating neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binaries with known spin. For the AMXPs SAX J1808.4−3658 and XTE J1807−294, we find frequency-correlation power-law indices that, surprisingly, are significantly lower than in the non-pulsars, and consistent with the relativistic precession model (RPM) prediction of 2.0 appropriate to test-particle orbital and Lense–Thirring precession frequencies. As previously reported, power-law normalizations are significantly higher in these AMXPs than in the non-pulsating sources, leading to requirements on the NS specific moment of inertia in this model that cannot be satisfied with realistic equations of state. At least two other AMXPs show frequency correlations inconsistent with those of SAX J1808.4−3658 and XTE J1807−294, and possibly similar to those of the non-pulsating sources; for two AMXPs no conclusions could be drawn. We discuss these results in the context of a model that has had success in black hole (BH) systems involving a torus-like hot inner flow precessing due to (prograde) frame dragging, and a scenario in which additional (retrograde) magnetic and classical precession torques not present in BH systems are also considered. We show that a combination of these interpretations may accommodate our results.

Long-term temperature evolution of neutron stars undergoing episodic accretion outbursts

Context. Transient neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries undergo episodes of accretion, alternated with quiescent periods. During an accretion outburst, the neutron star heats up due to exothermic accretion-induced processes taking place in the crust. Besides the long-known deep crustal heating of nuclear origin, a likely non-nuclear source of heat, dubbed “shallow heating”, is present at lower densities. Most of the accretion-induced heat slowly diffuses into the core on a timescale of years. Over many outburst cycles, a state of equilibrium is reached when the core temperature is high enough that the heating and cooling (photon and neutrino emission) processes are in balance.Aims. We investigate how stellar characteristics and outburst properties affect the long-term temperature evolution of a transiently accreting neutron star. For the first time the effects of crustal properties are considered, particularly that of shallow heating.Methods. Using our codeNSCool, we tracked the thermal evolution of a neutron star undergoing outbursts over a period of 105yr. The outburst sequence is based on the regular outbursts observed from the neutron star transient Aql X-1. For each model we calculated the timescale over which equilibrium was reached and we present these timescales along with the temperature and luminosity parameters of the equilibrium state.Results. We performed several simulations with scaled outburst accretion rates, to vary the amount of heating over the outburst cycles. The results of these models show that the equilibrium core temperature follows a logarithmic decay function with the equilibrium timescale. Secondly, we find that shallow heating significantly contributes to the equilibrium state. Increasing its strength raises the equilibrium core temperature. We find that if deep crustal heating is replaced by shallow heating alone, the core would still heat up, reaching only a 2% lower equilibrium core temperature. Deep crustal heating may therefore not be vital to the heating of the core. Additionally, shallow heating can increase the quiescent luminosity to values higher than previously expected. The thermal conductivity in the envelope and crust, including the potentially low-conductivity pasta layer at the bottom of the crust, is unable to significantly alter the long-term internal temperature evolution. Stellar compactness and nucleon pairing in the core change the specific heat and the total neutrino emission rate as a function of temperature, with the consequences for the properties of the equilibrium state depending on the exact details of the assumed pairing models. The presence of direct Urca emission leads to the lowest equilibrium core temperature and the shortest equilibrium timescale.