Transient Accretion Disk Research Articles

Resonant Friction on Disks in Galactic Nuclei

We argue that resonant friction has a dramatic effect on a disk whose rotation direction is misaligned with that of its host nuclear star cluster. The disk’s gravity causes gravitational perturbation of the cluster that in turn exerts a strong torque back onto the disk. We argue that this torque may be responsible for the observed disruption of the clockwise disk of young stars in the Galactic center, and show in numerical experiments that it produces the observed features in the distribution of the stars’ angular momenta. More generally, we speculate that the rotation of nuclear star clusters has a stabilizing effect on the orientation of transient massive accretion disks around the supermassive black holes residing in their centers, and thus on the directions and magnitudes of the black hole spins.

X-Ray Fluorescence from Super-Eddington Accreting Black Holes

Abstract X-ray reverberation has proven to be a powerful tool capable of probing the innermost region of accretion disks around compact objects. Current theoretical effort generally assumes that the disk is geometrically thin, optically thick, and orbiting with Keplerian speed. Thus, these models cannot be applied to systems where super-Eddington accretion happens because the thin disk approximation fails in this accretion regime. Furthermore, state-of-the-art numerical simulations show that optically thick winds are launched from the super-Eddington accretion disks, thereby changing the reflection geometry significantly from the thin disk picture. We carry out theoretical investigations on this topic by focusing on the Fe Kα fluorescent lines produced from super-Eddington disks, and show that their line profiles are shaped by the funnel geometry and wind acceleration. We also systematically compare the Fe line profiles from super-Eddington thick disks to those from thin disks, and find that the former are substantially more blueshifted and symmetric in shape. These results are consistent with the observed Fe Kα line from the jetted tidal disruption event, Swift J1644, in which a transient super-Eddington accretion disk was formed out of stellar debris. Therefore, careful analysis of the Fe Kα line profile can be used to identify systems undergoing super-Eddington accretion.

NuSTAR observations of wind-fed X-ray pulsar GX 301–2 during unusual spin-up event

We report on NuSTAR observations of the well-known wind-accreting X-ray pulsar GX 301–2 during a strong spin-up episode that took place in January–March 2019. A measurement of high luminosity of the source in the most recent observation allowed us to detect a positive correlation of the cyclotron line energy with luminosity. Beyond that, only minor differences in spectral and temporal properties of the source during the spin-up, presumably associated with the formation of a transient accretion disk, and the normal wind-fed state could be detected. Finally, we discuss conditions for the formation of the disk and possible reasons for lack of any appreciable variations in most of the observed source properties induced by the change of the accretion mechanism, and conclude that the bulk of the observed X-ray emission is still likely powered by direct accretion from the wind.

A model of fast radio bursts: collisions between episodic magnetic blobs

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are bright radio pulses from the sky with millisecond durations and Jansky-level flux densities. Their origins are still largely uncertain. Here we suggest a new model for FRBs. We argue that the collision of a white dwarf with a black hole can generate a transient accretion disk, from which powerful episodicmagnetic blobs will be launched. The collision between two consecutive magnetic blobs can result in a catastrophic magnetic reconnection, which releases a large amount of free magnetic energy and forms a forward shock. The shock propagates through the cold magnetized plasma within the blob in the collision region, radiating through the synchrotron maser mechanism, which is responsible for a non-repeating FRB signal. Our calculations show that the theoretical energetics, radiation frequency, duration timescale and event rate can be very consistent with the observational characteristics of FRBs.

On the timing behaviour of PSR B1259–63 under the propeller torque from a transient accretion disc

The $\gamma$-ray pulsar binary system PSR B1259-63 flares in GeV after each periastron. The origin of those flares is still under debate. Recently, [2017ApJ...844..114Y] proposed a mechanism that might explain the GeV flares. In that model, a transient accretion disc is expected to be formed from the matter which was gravity-captured by the neutron star from the main sequence companion's circumstellar disc. The transient accretion disc exerts a spin down torque on the neutron star (propeller effect), which might be traceable via pulsar timing observation of PSR B1259-63. In this paper, we phenomenologically consider the propeller effect with a parameter $\chi$, which describes the coupling between the disc matter and the neutron star. Comparing the expected timing residuals against the recent observation in [2014MNRAS.437.3255S], we conclude that the angular momentum transfer is very weak (with the coupling parameter $\chi\le10^{-4}$).

On the production of heavy axion-like particles in the accretion disks of gamma-ray bursts

Heavy axion-like particles have been introduced in several scenarios beyond the Standard Model and their production should be possible in some astrophysical systems. In this study, we re-examine the possibility that this type of particle can be generated in the accretion disks of gamma-ray bursts (GRB), which are the most powerful events in the universe. If the produced axions decay into photons or e+e− pairs at the correct distances, a fireball is generated. We calculate the structure of transient accretion disks in GRBs (density, temperature and thickness profiles) considering the effect of heavy axion emission as well as the rest of the relevant standard cooling processes. This allows us to obtain the values of the coupling constant gaN such that the axions do not become trapped, and we also compute the heavy axion luminosity emitted from the entire disk. We show that for the couplings within the ranges found, the mechanism for powering GRBs based on heavy axion production and decay is an alternative to the standard picture based on magnetohydrodynamic processes and neutrino–antineutrino annihilation. Alternatively, the mechanism fails if heavy axions are produced in the disk but their decay takes place further away. Still, the decay products (gamma rays or electrons and positrons) should leave observable signatures, which are not observed for different ranges of values of the coupling constants, depending on the mass of the heavy axion.

SXP 7.92: A Recently Rediscovered Be/X-ray Binary in the Small Magellanic Cloud, Viewed Edge On

We present a detailed optical and X-ray study of the 2013 outburst of the Small Magellanic Cloud Be/X-ray binary SXP 7.92, as well as an overview of the last 18 years of observations from OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment), RXTE, Chandra and XMM-Newton. We revise the position of this source to RA(J2000) = 00:57:58.4, Dec(J2000) = −72:22:29.5 with a 1σ uncertainty of 1.5 arcsec, correcting the previously reported position by Coe et al. by more than 20 arcmin. We identify and spectrally classify the correct counterpart as a B1Ve star. The optical spectrum is distinguished by an uncharacteristically deep narrow Balmer series, with the Hα line in particular having a distinctive shell profile, i.e. a deep absorption core embedded in an emission line. We interpret this as evidence that we are viewing the system edge on and are seeing self-obscuration of the circumstellar disc. We derive an optical period for the system of 40.0 ± 0.3 d, which we interpret as the orbital period, and present several mechanisms to describe the X-ray/optical behaviour in the recent outburst, in particular the ‘flares'and ‘dips’ seen in the optical light curve, including a transient accretion disc and an elongated precessing disc.

RADIO–X-RAY SYNERGY TO DISCOVER AND STUDY JETTED TIDAL DISRUPTION EVENTS

Observational consequences of tidal disruption of stars (TDEs) by supermassive black holes (SMBHs) can enable us to discover quiescent SMBHs, constrain their mass function, study formation and evolution of transient accretion disks and jet formation. A couple of jetted TDEs have been recently claimed in hard X-rays, challenging jet models, previously applied to $\gamma$-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei. It is therefore of paramount importance to increase the current sample. In this paper, we find that the best strategy is not to use up-coming X-ray instruments alone, which will yield between several (e-Rosita) and a couple of hundreds (Einstein Probe) events per year below redshift one. We rather claim that a more efficient TDE hunter will be the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) operating {\it in survey mode} at 1.4 GHz. It may detect up to several hundreds of events per year below $z \sim 2.5$ with a peak rate of a few tens per year at $z\approx 0.5$. Therefore, even if the jet production efficiency is {\it not } $100\%$ as assumed here, the predicted rates should be large enough to allow for statistical studies. The characteristic TDE decay of $t^{-5/3}$, however, is not seen in radio, whose flux is quite featureless. {\it Identification} therefore requires localization and prompt repointing by higher energy instruments. If radio candidates would be repointed within a day by future X-ray observatories (e.g. Athena and LOFT-like missions), it will be possible to detect up to $\approx 400$ X-ray counterparts, almost up to redshift $2$. The shortcome is that only for redshift below $\approx 0.4$ the trigger times will be less than 10 days from the explosion. In this regard the X-ray surveys are better suited to probe the beginning of the flare, and are therefore complementary to SKA.

Giant outburst from the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J17544−2619: accretion from a transient disc?

Supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs) are high mass X-ray binaries associated with OB supergiant companions and characterised by an X-ray flaring behaviour whose dynamical range reaches 5 orders of magnitude on timescales of a few hundred to thousands of seconds. Current investigations concentrate on finding possible mechanisms to inhibit accretion in SFXTs and explain their unusually low average X-ray luminosity. We present the Swift observations of an exceptionally bright outburst displayed by the SFXT IGR J17544-2619 on 2014 October 10 when the source achieved a peak luminosity of $3\times10^{38}$ erg s$^{-1}$. This extends the total source dynamic range to $\gtrsim$10$^6$, the largest (by a factor of 10) recorded so far from an SFXT. Tentative evidence for pulsations at a period of 11.6 s is also reported. We show that these observations challenge, for the first time, the maximum theoretical luminosity achievable by an SFXT and propose that this giant outburst was due to the formation of a transient accretion disc around the compact object.

Tidal disruption flares of stars from moderately recoiled black holes

We analyze stellar tidal disruption events as a possible observational signature of gravitational wave induced recoil of supermassive black holes. As a black hole wanders through its galaxy, it will tidally disrupt bound and unbound stars at rates potentially observable by upcoming optical transient surveys. To quantify these rates, we explore a broad range of host galaxy and black hole kick parameters. We find that emission from a transient accretion disk can produce ~1 event per year which LSST would identify as spatially offset, while super-Eddington tidal flares, if they exist, are likely to produce ~10 spatially offset events per year. A majority of tidal disruption flares, and a large majority of flares with an observable spatial offset, are due to bound rather than unbound stars. The total number of disruption events due to recoiled black holes could be almost 1% of the total stellar tidal disruption rate.

REVISITING THE “FLIP-FLOP” INSTABILITY OF HOYLE-LYTTLETON ACCRETION

We revisit the flip-flop instability of two-dimensional planar accretion using high-fidelity numerical simulations. By starting from an initially steady-state axisymmetric solution, we are able to follow the growth of this overstability from small amplitudes. In the small-amplitude limit, before any transient accretion disk is formed, the oscillation period of the accretion shock is comparable to the Keplerian period at the Hoyle-Lyttleton accretion radius (R_a), independent of the size of the accreting object. The growth rate of the overstability increases dramatically with decreasing size of the accretor, but is relatively insensitive to the upstream Mach number of the flow. We confirm that the flip-flop does not require any gradient in the upstream flow. Indeed, a small density gradient as used in the discovery simulations has virtually no influence on the growth rate of the overstability. The ratio of specific heats does influence the overstability, with smaller gamma leading to faster growth of the instability. For a relatively large accretor (a radius of 0.037R_a) planar accretion is unstable for gamma = 4/3, but stable for gamma > 1.6. Planar accretion is unstable even for gamma = 5/3 provided the accretor has a radius of < 0.0025R_a. We also confirm that when the accretor is sufficiently small, the secular evolution is described by sudden jumps between states with counter-rotating quasi-Keplerian accretion disks.

Very late thermal pulses influenced by accretion in planetary nebulae

We consider the possibility that a mass of ∼ 10 - 5 - 10 - 3 M ⊙ flows back from the dense shell of planetary nebulae and is accreted by the central star during the planetary nebula phase. This backflowing mass is expected to have a significant specific angular momentum even in (rare) spherical planetary nebulae, such that a transient accretion disk might be formed. This mass might influence the occurrence and properties of a very late thermal pulse (VLTP), and might even trigger it. For example, the rapidly rotating outer layer, and the disk if still exist, might lead to axisymmetrical mass ejection by the VLTP. Unstable burning of accreted hydrogen might result in a mild flash of the hydrogen shell, also accompanied by axisymmetrical ejection.

Very high energy γ-ray emission from X-ray transients during major outbursts

Context. Some high mass X-ray binaries (HMXB) have been recently confirmed as γ -ray sources by ground based Cherenkov telescopes. In this work, we discuss the γ -ray emission from X-ray transient sources formed by a Be star and a highly magnetized neutron star. This kind of systems can produce variable hadronic γ -ray emission through the mechanism proposed by Cheng and Ruderman, where a proton beam accelerated in the pulsar magnetosphere impacts the transient accretion disk. We choose as case of study the best known system of this class: A0535+26. Aims. We aim at making quantitative predictions about the very high-energy radiation generated in Be-X ray binary systems with strongly magnetized neutron stars. Methods. We study the gamma-ray emission generated during a major X-ray outburst of a HMXB adopting for the model the parameters of A0535+26. The emerging photon signal from the disk is determined by the grammage of the disk that modulates the optical depth. The electromagnetic cascades initiated by photons absorbed in the disk are explored, making use of the so-called “Approximation A” to solve the cascade equations. Very high energy photons induce Inverse Compton cascades in the photon field of the massive star. We implemented Monte Carlo simulations of these cascades, in order to estimate the characteristics of the resulting spectrum. Results. TeV emission should be detectable by Cherenkov telescopes during a major X-ray outburst of a binary formed by a Be star and a highly magnetized neutron star. The γ -ray light curve is found to evolve in anti-correlation with the X-ray signal.

Evidence of a change in the long-term spin-down rate of the X-ray pulsar 4U 1907+09

We analyzed RXTE archival observations of 4U 1907+09 between 17 February 1996 and 6 March 2002. The pulse timing analysis showed that the source stayed at almost {\bf{constant}} period around August 1998 and then started to spin-down at a rate of $(-1.887\mp 0.042)\times 10^{-14}$ Hz s$^-1$ which is $\sim$ 0.60 times lower than the long term ($\sim 15$ years) spin-down rate (Baykal et al. 2001). Our pulse frequency measurements for the first time resolved significant spin-down rate variations since the discovery of the source. We also presented orbital phase resolved X-ray spectra during two stable spin down episodes during November 1996 - December 1997 and March 2001 - March 2002. The source has been known to have two orbitally locked flares. We found that X-ray flux and spectral parameters except Hydrogen column density agreed with each other during the flares.We interpreted the similar values of X-ray fluxes as an indication of the fact that the source accretes not only via transient retrograde accretion disc (in't Zand et al. 1998) but also via the stellar wind of the companion (Roberts et al. 2001), so that the variation of the accretion rate from the disc does not cause significant variation in the observed X-ray flux. Lack of significant change in spectral parameters except Hydrogen column density was interpreted as a sign of the fact that the change in the spin-down rate of the source was not accompanied by a significant variation in the accretion geometry.

Gamma-Ray Emission from Be/X-ray Binaries

Be/X-ray binaries are systems formed by a massive Be star and a magnetized neutron star, usually in an eccentric orbit. The Be star has strong equatorial winds occasionally forming a circumstellar disk. When the neutron star intersects the disk the accretion rate dramatically increases and a transient accretion disk can be formed around the compact object. This disk can last longer than a single orbit in the case of major outbursts. If the disk rotates faster than the neutron star, the Cheng-Ruderman mechanism can produce a current of relativistic protons that would impact onto the disk surface, producing gamma-rays from neutral pion decays and initiating electromagnetic cascades inside the disk. In this paper we present calculations of the evolution of the disk parameters during both major and minor X-ray events, and we discuss the generation of gamma-ray emission at different energies within a variety of models that include both screened and unscreened disks.

Theoretical Aspects of Gamma-Ray Bursts

Cosmological GRBs are discussed with an emphasis on their plausible connection with black holes. GRBs can be triggered by collapse of stellar-mass objects that leads to formation of a black hole and a transient debris disk with a huge accretion rate. The disk is believed to produce a relativistic jet (fireball) that expands and emits to infinity the observed burst of gamma-rays. This accretion-jet picture is similar to quasars and X-ray binaries, however, there are important differences: the physical conditions and the cooling mechanism in the disk are very different. The observed radiation is emitted when the expanding fireball becomes transparent, at distances much larger than the Schwarzschild radius. The burst is then observed as a powerful relativistic explosion and the transient accretion disk in its center serves as a brief source of energy that drives the explosion. The explosion picture depends on the fireball nuclear composition which is shaped close to the black hole. A large amount of free neutrons survive till the emission phase and link the physics of the central engine to observed radiation.

Variable gamma-ray emission from the Be/X-ray transient A0535+26?

We present a study of the unidentified gamma-ray source 3EG J0542+2610. This source is spatially superposed on the supernova remnant G180.0-1.7, but its time variability makes a physical link unlikely. We have searched in the EGRET location error box for compact radio sources that could be the low energy counterpart of the gamma-ray source. Although 29 point-like radio sources were detected and measured, none of them is strong enough to be considered the counterpart of a background gamma-ray emitting AGN. We suggest that the only object within the 95% error box capable of producing the required gamma-ray flux is the X-ray transient A0535+26. We show that this Be/accreting pulsar can produce variable hadronic gamma-ray emission through the mechanism originally proposed by Cheng & Ruderman (1989), where a proton beam accelerated in a magnetospheric electrostatic gap impacts the transient accretion disk.

Pulse Characteristics of the X‐Ray Pulsar 4U 1907+09

The X-ray pulsar 4U 1907+09 was observed in the 2-18 keV energy band with the Indian X-Ray Astronomy Experiment (IXAE) during 1996 August and again in 1998 June. From the timing measurements, the spin-down rate of the neutron star is measured to be +0.23 ± 0.01 s yr-1. A straight-line fit to the historical pulse period data indicates that the pulsar has been in a monotonic phase of spin-down since its discovery. The day-to-day pulse profile indicates some variations during its 8.4 day binary period. The average profile obtained from these observations shows a double-pulse shape with a pronounced asymmetric primary separated by a dip from a relatively weaker but broad secondary. These profiles show a closer resemblance to the pulse shape obtained with the recent observations with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) during 1996 February, as compared to the earlier observations carried out six to 13 years earlier. A secondary flare of 88 mcrab intensity was detected during the IXAE observations in 1996 August. A detailed analysis of the flare data shows the presence of transient 14.4 s oscillations, which may be quasi-periodic during the flaring activity but have a period different from the earlier reported oscillations of 18.2 s as detected by RXTE during the flare of 1996 February. These results, therefore, strengthen the evidence for the presence of a transient accretion disk around the neutron star during the flare, which may be responsible for the continuous slowing down of the pulsar. The studies of such transient quasi-periodic oscillations during flaring activities of 4U 1907+09 thus provide opportunities for understanding the transient behavior of the accretion disk and its physical characteristics.

Transient Optical Emission from a Nonstationary Accretion Disk: A Model for Optical Afterglow of Gamma Ray Bursts

We consider the time-dependent behavior of nonstationary accretion disk which is formed by the capture and disruption of a main-sequence star around a massive black hole. If an instability is developed in the inner edge of the nonstationary disk and produces a strong magnetic field, a large amount of the black hole rotational energy can be extracted via the Blandford-Znajek process, which results in a Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) with a typical duration ∼ 10–102 s. Other parameters related to a typical GRB including burst energy, rise time of the burst, number of sub-burst etc are also estimated. The vertical structure and thermal stability properties of the disk are investigated in detail. In the early stage of forming transient accretion disk, the material supplied by the tidally disrupted star is clumped in the relatively cool disk. This eventually leads to a thermal instability, which results in an increase of the viscosity of the disk. As the instability propagates across the disk, the stability of a time-dependent disk and variability of the mass-deposition rate provide a possible explanation for transient optical emission. We speculate that this transient optical emission from a nonstationary accretion disk may relate to the behavior of GRB optical afterglow, and the transient optical afterglow can be reproduced if one takes into account the effect of an evolving viscous parameter, α.

Trainsient Accretion Disk and Energy Mechanism of Gamma Ray Bursts

We suggest that a rotating massive black hole (106 M⊙) located at an inactive galaxy may convert its host into a transient active phase by capturing and disrupting a star. During this period, a transient accretion disk is formed and a strong transient magnetic field can be produced in the inner boundary of the accretion disk. A large amount of rotational energy of the black hole is extracted and released in the ultra relativistic jet with a bulk Lorentz factor larger than 103 via Blandford-Znajek process. The relativistic jet energy can be converted into γ-ray radiation in the shock region located at a distance of about 1.4 × 1016 cm via the external shock mechanism. The observed properties of GRB971214 is used to illustrate our model.