Orbital Period Of System Research Articles

SN 2022jli: The ultraluminous birth of a low-mass X-ray binary

Observations show that the 12.4 d binary system descending from the recent supernova SN 2022jli closely fits hypotheses of how low-mass X-ray binaries form, but requires an apparently super-Eddington accretion luminosity from the accreting component. We show that this agrees very well with the type of accretion-induced beaming found in ultraluminous X-ray sources, as recently strongly confirmed by X-ray polarimetry of the X-ray binary Cyg X-3. Beaming in the SN 2022jli binary system occurs because of the very high mass-transfer rate induced by the violent effect of the supernova on the binary geometry. This explains the very soft nature of the accretion luminosity, its distinctive periodic light curve, and its luminosity decay on a ∼250 day timescale. A test of this picture is that the system’s orbital period should increase on a 105 year timescale.

New photometric solutions of contact binaries HX UMa and FP Boo

By using different databases (TESS, SuperWASP, KWS and ASAS-SN), light curve analyzes of HX UMa and FP Boo systems were performed, and the changes in the orbital period of the systems were also examined. The light curve analyzes of the systems were conducted simultaneously with the radial velocities using the Wilson and Devinney (WD) code. As a result of the analyzes, the masses and radii of the components were determined as M1=1.29±0.02 M⊙, M2=0.38±0.02 M⊙, R1=1.21±0.02 R⊙, R2=0.78±0.02 R⊙ for HX UMa and M1=1.68±0.05 M⊙, M2=0.16±0.01 M⊙, R1=2.28±0.02 R⊙, R2=0.82±0.02 R⊙ for FP Boo, respectively. The distances of HX UMa and FP Boo were calculated as 123±11 pc and 350±23 pc, respectively, and were almost the same as Gaia DR3 values. When the orbital period changes were examined, it was determined that the orbital period of the HX UMa system increased, while the FP Boo decreased. The orbital period increase rate of HX UMa was calculated as dP/dt=9×10−8 d yr−1 and the period decrease rate of FP Boo was calculated as dP/dt=1.7×10−6 d yr−1. Mass transfer between components has been suggested as the reason for the period changes. Along with the orbital period changes, a cyclical change was observed in both systems. Magnetic activity or a possible third component can cause cyclical variation. The periods of these cyclical changes are determined as 24±4 yr and 20±1 yr, respectively.

The First Light Curve Solutions and Period Study of BQ Ari

The first analysis of the photometric observation in BVR filters of a W UMa type binary system BQ Ari was performed. Light curve analysis was performed using Wilson-Devinney (W-D) code combined with a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to determine its photometric and geometric elements and their uncertainties. These results show that BQ Ari is a contact binary system with a photometric mass ratio q=0.548\pm0.019, a fillout factor f=24\pm0.8 percent, and an orbital inclination of i=85.09\pm0.45. We used the parallax from Gaia EDR3 for calculating the absolute parameters of the binary system. This study suggested a new linear ephemeris for BQ Ari, combining our new mid-eclipse times and the previous observations, which we analyzed using the Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) method. We present the first analysis of the system's orbital period behavior by analyzing the O-C diagram using the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the MCMC approaches in OCFit code. We attempted to explain the analysis of the residuals of linear fit in the O-C diagram with two approaches; "LiTE + Quadratic" and "Magnetic activity + Quadratic". Although we consider the magnetic activity to be probable, the system should be studied further in order to reveal the nature of orbital period variations.

The First Light Curve Solutions and Period Study of BQ Ari

The first analysis of the photometric observation in BVR filters of a W UMa type binary system BQ Ari was performed. Light curve analysis was performed using Wilson-Devinney (W-D) code combined with a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to determine its photometric and geometric elements and their uncertainties. These results show that BQ Ari is a contact binary system with a photometric mass ratio q=0.548\pm0.019, a fillout factor f=24\pm0.8 percent, and an orbital inclination of i=85.09\pm0.45. We used the parallax from Gaia EDR3 for calculating the absolute parameters of the binary system. This study suggested a new linear ephemeris for BQ Ari, combining our new mid-eclipse times and the previous observations, which we analyzed using the Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) method. We present the first analysis of the system's orbital period behavior by analyzing the O-C diagram using the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the MCMC approaches in OCFit code. We attempted to explain the analysis of the residuals of linear fit in the O-C diagram with two approaches; LiTE + Quadratic and Magnetic activity + Quadratic. Although we consider the magnetic activity to be probable, the system should be studied further in order to reveal the nature of orbital period variations.

Peering at the outflow mechanisms in the transitional pulsar PSR J1023+0038: simultaneous VLT, XMM-Newton, and Swift high-time resolution observations

We report on a simultaneous near-infrared, optical, and X-ray campaign performed in 2017 with the XMM-Newton and Swift satellites and the HAWK-I instrument mounted on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) on the transitional millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038. Near-infrared observations were performed in fast-photometric mode (0.5 s exposure time) in order to detect any fast variation of the flux and correlate this with the optical and X-ray light curves. The optical light curve shows the typical sinusoidal modulation at the system orbital period (4.75 h). No significant flaring or flickering is found in the optical, nor any signs of transitions between active and passive states. On the contrary, the near-infrared light curve displays a bimodal behaviour, showing strong flares in the first part of the curve, and an almost flat trend in the rest. The X-ray light curves instead show a few low-high mode transitions, but no flaring activity is detected. Interestingly, one of the low-high mode transitions occurs at the same time as the emission of an infrared flare. This can be interpreted in terms of the emission of an outflow or a jet: the infrared flare could be due to the evolving spectrum of the jet, which possesses a break frequency that moves from higher (near-infrared) to lower (radio) frequencies after the launching, which has to occur at the low-high mode transition. We also present the cross-correlation function between the optical and near-infrared curves. The near.infrared curve is bimodal, therefore we divided it into two parts (flaring and quiet). While the cross-correlation function of the quiet part is found to be flat, the function that refers to the flaring part shows a narrow peak at ∼10 s, which indicates a delay of the near-infrared emission with respect to the optical. This lag can be interpreted as reprocessing of the optical emission at the light cylinder radius with a stream of matter spiraling around the system due to a phase of radio ejection. This strongly supports a different origin of the infrared flares that are observed for PSR J1023+0038 with respect to the optical and X-ray flaring activity that has been reported in other works on the same source.

Inflows, Outflows, and a Giant Donor in the Remarkable Recurrent Nova M31N 2008-12a?—Hubble Space Telescope Photometry of the 2015 Eruption

Abstract The recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a experiences annual eruptions, contains a near-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf, and has the largest mass accretion rate in any nova system. In this paper, we present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFC3/UVIS photometry of the late decline of the 2015 eruption. We couple these new data with archival HST observations of the quiescent system and Keck spectroscopy of the 2014 eruption. The late-time photometry reveals a rapid decline to a minimum luminosity state, before a possible recovery/rebrightening in the run up to the next eruption. Comparison with accretion disk models supports the survival of the accretion disk during the eruptions, and uncovers a quiescent disk mass accretion rate of the order of 10 − 6 M ⊙ yr − 1 , which may rise beyond 10 − 5 M ⊙ yr − 1 during the super-soft source phase—both of which could be problematic for a number of well-established nova eruption models. Such large accretion rates, close to the Eddington limit, might be expected to be accompanied by additional mass loss from the disk through a wind and even through collimated outflows. The archival HST observations, combined with the disk modeling, provide the first constraints on the mass donor: L donor = 103 − 11 + 12 L ⊙ , R donor = 14.14 − 0.47 + 0.46 R ⊙ , and T eff , donor = 4890 ± 110 K, which may be consistent with an irradiated M31 red-clump star. Such a donor would require a system orbital period ≳ 5 days. Our updated analysis predicts that the M31N 2008-12a WD could reach the Chandrasekhar mass in < 20 kyr.

Searching for Jet Emission in LMXBs: A Polarimetric View

We present results taken from a study aiming at detecting the emission from relativistic particles jets in neutron star-low mass X-ray binaries using optical polarimetric observations. First, we focus on a polarimetric study performed on the persistent LMXB 4U 0614+091. Once corrected for interstellar effects, we measured an intrinsic linear polarization in the r-band of ~3% at a 3σ confidence level. This is in-line with the observation of an infrared excess in the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the source, reported in a previous work, which the authors linked to the optically thin synchrotron emission of a jet. We then present a study performed on the transitional millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038 during quiescence. We measured a linear polarization of 1.09 ± 0.27% and 0.90 ± 0.17% in the V and R bands, respectively. The phase-resolved polarimetric curve of the source in the R-band reveals a hint of a sinusoidal modulation at the source orbital period. The NIR -optical SED of the system did not suggest the presence of a jet. We conclude that the optical linear polarization observed for PSR J1023+0038 is possibly due to Thomson scattering with electrons in the disc, as also suggested by the hint of the modulation of the R-band linear polarization at the system orbital period.

Multiband study of RX J0838−2827 and XMM J083850.4−282759: a new asynchronous magnetic cataclysmic variable and a candidate transitional millisecond pulsar

In search for the counterpart to the Fermi-LAT source 3FGL J0838.8-2829, we performed a multi-wavelength campaign, in the X-ray band with Swift and XMM-Newton, performed infrared, optical (with OAGH, ESO-NTT and IAC80) and radio (ATCA) observations, as well as analysed archival hard X-ray data taken by INTEGRAL. We report on three X-ray sources consistent with the position of the Fermi-LAT source. We confirm the identification of the brightest object, RX J0838-2827, as a magnetic cataclysmic variable, that we recognize as an asynchronous system (not associated with the Fermi-LAT source). RX J0838-2827, is extremely variable in the X-ray and optical bands, and timing analysis reveals the presence of several periodicities modulating its X-ray and optical emission. The most evident modulations are interpreted as due to the binary system orbital period of ~1.64h and the white dwarf spin period of ~1.47h. A strong flux modulation at ~15h is observed at all energy bands, consistent with the beat frequency between spin and orbital periods. Optical spectra show prominent Hbeta, HeI and HeII emission lines Doppler-modulated at the orbital period and at the beat period. Therefore, RX J0838-2827, accretes through a diskless configuration and could be either a strongly asynchronous polar or a rare example of a pre-polar system in its way to reach synchronism. Among the other two X-ray sources, XMM J083850.4-282759 showed a variable X-ray emission, with a powerful flare lasting ~600s, similar to what is observed in transitional millisecond pulsars during the sub-luminous disc state: that would possibly associate this source with the Fermi-LAT source.

The puzzling case of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar IGR J00291+5934: flaring optical emission during quiescence

We present an optical (gri) study during quiescence of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar IGR J00291+5934 performed with the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) in August 2014. Despite the source being in quiescence at the time of our observations, it showed a strong optical flaring activity, more pronounced at higher frequencies (i.e. the g band). Once the flares were subtracted, we tentatively recovered a sinusoidal modulation at the system orbital period in all bands, even if a significant phase shift with respect to an irradiated star, typical of accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars is detected. We conclude that the observed flaring could be a manifestation of the presence of an accretion disc in the system. The observed light curve variability could be explained by the presence of a superhump, which might be another proof of the formation of an accretion disc. In particular, the disc at the time of our observations was probably preparing to the new outburst of the source, that happened just a few months later, in 2015.

IGR J17451–3022: constraints on the nature of the donor star

We constrain the binary parameters of the eclipsing accreting X-ray binary IGR J17451--3022 and the nature of its donor star. The donor mass, its radius, and the system inclination angle are computed based on the system orbital period and eclipse duration recently reported by Bozzo et al.\ (2016). We find that the donor is most likely a main-sequence star with the mass comprised within the range $\sim$(0.5--$0.8){\rm M}_{\odot}$ and the radius of $\sim\! 0.7{\rm R}_{\odot}$. Assuming that the accreting compact object in IGR J17451--3022 is a neutron star, the duration of the nearly total rectangular eclipses yields the inclination angle of the system of $71^\circ\lesssim i\lesssim 76^\circ$, compatible with the presence of dips in this system. We rule out the presence of either brown or white dwarf. However, we find an alternative possibility that the donor star in IGR J17451--3022 could be a partially stripped giant with a very low mass, $\sim\! 0.2{\rm M}_{\odot}$. This case requires a substantial mass loss prior to the formation of the giant-star He core. According to that solution, the radius would be $\sim\! 0.4{\rm R}_{\odot}$, at $i\sim 80^\circ$. We additionally show that the well-known approximate dependence of the giant-star radius exclusively on its core mass breaks down below $\sim\!0.3{\rm M}_{\odot}$.

The complex circumstellar and circumbinary environment of V356 Sgr

We analyze 45 spectropolarimetric observations of the eclipsing, interacting binary star V356 Sgr, obtained over a period of 21 years, to characterize the geometry of the system's circumstellar material. After removing interstellar polarization from these data, we find the system exhibits a large intrinsic polarization signature arising from electron scattering. In addition, the lack of repeatable eclipses in the polarization phase curves indicates the presence of a substantial pool of scatterers not occulted by either star. We suggest that these scatterers form either a circumbinary disk coplanar with the gainer's accretion disk or an elongated structure perpendicular to the orbital plane of V356 Sgr, possibly formed by bipolar outflows. We also observe small-scale, cycle-to-cycle variations in the magnitude of intrinsic polarization at individual phases, which we interpret as evidence of variability in the amount of scattering material present within and around the system. This may indicate a mass transfer or mass loss rate that varies on the time-scale of the system's orbital period. Finally, we compare the basic polarimetric properties of V356 Sgr with those of the well studied beta Lyr system; the significant differences observed between the two systems suggests diversity in the basic circumstellar geometry of Roche-lobe overflow systems

Different twins in the millisecond pulsar recycling scenario: Optical polarimetry of PSR J1023+0038 and XSS J12270-4859

We present the first optical polarimetric study of the two transitional pulsars PSR J1023+0038 and XSS J12270-4859. This work is focused on the search for intrinsical linear polarisation (LP) in the optical emission from the two systems. We carried out multiband optical and NIR photo-polarimetry of the two systems using the ESO NTT at La Silla (Chile), equipped with the EFOSC2 and the SOFI instruments. XSS J12270-4859 was observed during its radio-pulsar state; we did not detect LP in all bands, with 3 sigma upper limits of, e.g., 1.4% in the R-band. We built the NIR-optical averaged spectral energy distribution (SED) of the system, that could be well described by an irradiated black body with radius $R_{*} = 0.33\pm0.03\,R_{\odot}$ and albedo $\eta=0.32\pm0.05$, without the need of further components (thus excluding the visible presence of an extended accretion disc and/or of relativistic jets). The case was different for PSR J1023+0038, that was in its accretion phase during our campaign. We measured a LP of $1.09\pm0.27\%$ and $0.90\pm 0.17\%$ in the V and R bands, respectively. The phase-resolved polarimetric curve of the source in the R-band reveals a hint of a sinusoidal modulation at the source 4.75 hr orbital period, peaked at the same orbital phase as the light curve. The measured LP of PSR J1023+0038 could in principle be interpreted as scattering with free electrons (that can be found in the accretion disc of the system or even in the hot corona that surrounds the disc itself) or to synchrotron emission from a relativistic particles jet or outflow. However, the NIR-optical SED of the system built starting from our dataset did not suggest the presence of a jet. We conclude that the optical LP observed for PSR J1023+0038 is possibly due to Thomson scattering with electrons in the disc, as also suggested from the possible modulation of the R-band LP at the system orbital period.

The 2016 outburst of the unique symbiotic star MWC 560 (= V694 Mon), its long-term BVRI evolution and a marked 331 days periodicity

After 26 years from the major event of 1990, in early 2016 the puzzling symbiotic binary MWC 560 has gone into a new and even brighter outburst. We present our tight BVRCIC photometric monitoring of MWC 560 (451 independent runs distributed over 357 different nights), covering the 2005–2016 interval, and the current outburst in particoular. A stricking feature of the 2016 outburst has been the suppression of the short term chaotic variability during the rise toward maximum brightness, and its dominance afterward with an amplitude in excess of 0.5 mag. Similar to the 1990 event when the object remained around maximum brightness for ∼6 months, at the time Solar conjunction prevented further observations of the current outburst, MWC 560 was still around maximum, three months past reaching it. We place our observations into a long term contex by combining with literature data to provide a complete 1928–2016 lightcurve. Some strong periodicities are found to modulate the optical photometry of MWC 560. A period of 1860 days regulate the occourence of bright phases at BVRC bands (with exactly 5.0 cycles separating the 1990 and 2016 outbursts), while the peak brightness attained during bright phases seems to vary with a ∼9570 days cycle. A clean 331 day periodicity modulate the IC lightcurve, where the emission from the M giant dominates, with a lightcurve strongly reminiscent of an ellipsoidal distortion plus irradiation from the hot companion. Pros and cons of 1860 and 331 days as the system orbital period are reviewed, waiting for a spectroscopic radial velocity orbit of the M giant to settle the question (provided the orbit is not oriented face-on).

THE AGE AND STELLAR PARAMETERS OF THE PROCYON BINARY SYSTEM

The Procyon AB binary system (orbital period 40.838 years, a newly-refined determination), is near and bright enough that the component radii, effective temperatures, and luminosities are very well determined, although more than one possible solution to the masses has limited the claimed accuracy. Preliminary mass determinations for each component are available from HST imaging, supported by ground-based astrometry and an excellent Hipparcos parallax; we use these for our preferred solution for the binary system. Other values for the masses are also considered. We have employed the TYCHO stellar evolution code to match the radius and luminosity of the F5 IV-V primary star to determine the system's most likely age as 1.87 +/- 0.13 Gyr. Since prior studies of Procyon A found its abundance indistinguishable from solar, the solar composition of Asplund, Grevesse & Sauval (Z=0.014) is assumed for the HR Diagram flitting. An unsuccessful attempt to fit using the older solar abundance scale of Grevesse & Sauval (Z=0.019) is also reported. For Procyon B, eleven new sequences for the cooling of non-DA white dwarfs have been calculated, to investigate the dependence of the cooling age on (1) the mass, (2) the core composition, (3) the helium layer mass, and (4) heavy-element opacities in the helium envelope. Our calculations indicate a cooling age of 1.19+/-0.11 Gyr, which implies that the progenitor mass of Procyon B was 2.59(+0.44,-0.26) Msun. In a plot of initial vs final mass of white dwarfs in astrometric binaries or star clusters (all with age determinations), the Procyon B final mass lies several sigma below a straight line fit.

THE 2011 PERIASTRON PASSAGE OF THE Be BINARY δ Scorpii

We describe the results of the world-wide observing campaign of the highly eccentric Be binary system delta Scorpii 2011 periastron passage which involved professional and amateur astronomers. Our spectroscopic observations provided a precise measurement of the system orbital period at 10.8092+/- 0.0005 years. Fitting of the He II 4686A line radial velocity curve determined the periastron passage time on 2011 July 3, UT 9:20 with a 0.9--day uncertainty. Both these results are in a very good agreement with recent findings from interferometry. We also derived new evolutionary masses of the binary components (13 and 8.2 Msun) and a new distance of 136 pc from the Sun, consistent with the HIPPARCOS parallax. The radial velocity and profile variations observed in the H_alpha line near the 2011 periastron reflected the interaction of the secondary component and the circumstellar disk around the primary component. Using these data, we estimated a disk radius of 150 Rsun. Our analysis of the radial velocity variations measured during the periastron passage time in 2000 and 2011 along with those measured during the 20th century, the high eccentricity of the system, and the presence of a bow shock-like structure around it suggest that delta Sco might be a runaway triple system. The third component should be external to the known binary and move on an elliptical orbit that is tilted by at least 40 degree with respect to the binary orbital plane for such a system to be stable and responsible for the observed long-term radial velocity variations.

Impact of the orbital uncertainties on the timing of pulsars in binary systems

The detection of pulsations from an X-ray binary is an unambiguous signature of the presence of a neutron star in the system. When the pulsations are missed in the radio band, their detection at other wavelengths, like X-ray or gamma-rays, requires orbital demodulation, since the length of the observations are often comparable to, or longer than the system orbital period. The detailed knowledge of the orbital parameters of binary systems plays a crucial role in the detection of the spin period of pulsars, since any uncertainty in their determination translates into a loss in the coherence of the signal during the demodulation process. In this paper, we present an analytical study aimed at unveiling how the uncertainties in the orbital parameters might impact on periodicity searches. We find a correlation between the power of the signal in the demodulated arrival time series and the uncertainty in each of the orbital parameters. This correlation is also a function of the pulsar frequency. We test our analytical results with numerical simulations, finding good agreement between them. Finally, we apply our study to the cases of LS 5039 and LS I +61 303 and consider the current level of uncertainties in the orbital parameters of these systems and their impact on a possible detection of a hosted pulsar. We also discuss the possible appearance of a sideband ambiguity in real data. The latter can occur when, due to the use of uncertain orbital parameters, the power of a putative pulsar is distributed in frequencies lying nearby the pulsar period. Even if the appearance of a sideband is already a signature of a pulsar component, it may introduce an ambiguity in the determination of its period. We present here a method to solve the sideband issue.

RAPID ORBITAL DECAY IN THE 12.75-MINUTE BINARY WHITE DWARF J0651+2844

We report the detection of orbital decay in the 12.75-min, detached binary white dwarf (WD) SDSS J065133.338+284423.37 (hereafter J0651). Our photometric observations over a 13-month baseline constrain the orbital period to 765.206543(55) s and indicate the orbit is decreasing as a rate of (-9.8 +/- 2.8) x 10^(-12) s/s (or -0.31 +/- 0.09 ms/yr). We revise the system parameters based on our new photometric and spectroscopic observations: J0651 contains two WDs with M1 = 0.26 +/- 0.04 Msun and M2 = 0.50 +/- 0.04 Msun. General relativity predicts orbital decay due to gravitational wave radiation of (-8.2 +/- 1.7) x 10^(-12) s/s (or -0.26 +/- 0.05 ms/yr). Our observed rate of orbital decay is consistent with this expectation. J0651 is currently the second-loudest gravitational wave source known in the milli-Hertz range and the loudest non-interacting binary, which makes it an excellent verification source for future missions aimed at directly detecting gravitational waves. Our work establishes the feasibility of monitoring this system's orbital period decay at optical wavelengths.

TIMING MEASUREMENTS OF THE RELATIVISTIC BINARY PULSAR PSR B1913+16

We present results of more than three decades of timing measurements of the first known binary pulsar, PSR B1913+16. Like most other pulsars, its rotational behavior over such long time scales is significantly affected by small-scale irregularities not explicitly accounted for in a deterministic model. Nevertheless, the physically important astrometric, spin, and orbital parameters are well determined and well decoupled from the timing noise. We have determined a significant result for proper motion, $\mu_{\alpha} = -1.43\pm0.13$, $\mu_{\delta}=-0.70\pm0.13$ mas yr$^{-1}$. The pulsar exhibited a small timing glitch in May 2003, with ${\Delta f}/f=3.7\times10^{-11}$, and a smaller timing peculiarity in mid-1992. A relativistic solution for orbital parameters yields improved mass estimates for the pulsar and its companion, $m_1=1.4398\pm0.0002 \ M_{\sun}$ and $m_2=1.3886\pm0.0002 \ M_{\sun}$. The system's orbital period has been decreasing at a rate $0.997\pm0.002$ times that predicted as a result of gravitational radiation damping in general relativity. As we have shown before, this result provides conclusive evidence for the existence of gravitational radiation as predicted by Einstein's theory.

PROPERTIES OF THE 24 DAY MODULATION IN GX 13+1 FROM NEAR-INFRARED AND X-RAY OBSERVATIONS

A 24 day period for the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) GX 13+1 was previously proposed on the basis of seven years of RXTE All-Sky Monitor (ASM) observations and it was suggested that this was the orbital period of the system. This would make it one of the longest known orbital periods for a Galactic LMXB powered by Roche lobe overflow. We present here the results of (1) K-band photometry obtained with the SMARTS Consortium CTIO 1.3 m telescope on 68 nights over a 10 month interval; (2) continued monitoring with the RXTE ASM, analyzed using a semi-weighted power spectrum instead of the data filtering technique previously used; and (3) Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) hard X-ray observations. Modulation near 24 days is seen in both the K band and additional statistically independent ASM X-ray observations. However, the modulation in the ASM is not strictly periodic. The periodicity is also not detected in the Swift BAT observations, but modulation at the same relative level as seen with the ASM cannot be ruled out. If the 24 day period is the orbital period of system, this implies that the X-ray modulation is caused by structure that is not fixed in location. A possible mechanism for the X-ray modulation is the dipping behavior recently reported from XMM-Newton observations.

Continuous monitoring of pulse period variations in Hercules X-1 usingSwift/BAT

Context: Monitoring of pulse period variations in accreting binary pulsars is an important tool to study the interaction between the magnetosphere of the neutron star and the accretion disk. While the X-ray flux of the brightest X-ray pulsars have been successfully monitored over many years (e.g. with RXTE/ASM, CGRO/BATSE, Swift/BAT), the possibility to monitor their pulse timing properties continuously has so far been very limited. Aims: In our work we show that the Swift/BAT observations can be used to monitor coherent pulsations of bright X-ray sources and use the Swift archival data to study one of the most enigmatic X-ray pulsars, Hercules X-1. A quasi-continuous monitoring of the pulse period and the pulse period derivative of an X-ray pulsar, here Her X-1, is achieved over a long time (<~ 4 yrs). We compare our observational results with predictions of accretion theory and use them to test different aspects of the physical model of the system. Methods: In our analysis we use the data accumulated with Swift/BAT starting from the beginning of 2005 (shortly after launch) until the present time. To search for pulsations and for their subsequent analysis we used the count rate measured by the BAT detector in the entire field of view. Results: The slope of the correlation between the locally determined spin-up rate and the X-ray luminosity is measured for Her X-1 and found to be in agreement with predictions of basic accretion torque theory. The observed behaviour of the pulse period together with the previously measured secular decrease of the system's orbital period is discussed in the frame of a model assuming ejection of matter close to the inner boundary of the accretion disk.