X-ray Binary 4U Research Articles

Broad-band X-ray emission and the reality of the broad iron line from the neutron star–white dwarf X-ray binary 4U 1820−30

Broad relativistic iron lines from neutron star X-ray binaries are important probes of the inner accretion disk. The X-ray reflection features can be weakened due to strong magnetic fields or very low iron abundances such as is possible in X-ray binaries with low mass, first generation stars as companions. Here we investigate the reality of the broad iron line detected earlier from the neutron star low mass X-ray binary 4U~1820--30 with a degenerate helium dwarf companion. We perform a comprehensive, systematic broadband spectral study of the atoll source using \suzaku{} and simultaneous \nustar{} \& \swift{} observations. We have used different continuum models involving accretion disk emission, thermal blackbody and thermal Comptonization of either disk or blackbody photons. The \suzaku{} data show positive and negative residuals in the region of iron K band. These features are well described by two absorption edges at $7.67\pm0.14\kev$ and $6.93\pm0.07\kev$ or partial covering photoionized absorption or by blurred reflection. Though, the simultaneous \swift{} and \nustar{} data do not clearly reveal the emission or absorption features, the data are consistent with the presence of either absorption or emission features. Thus, the absorption based models provide an alternative to the broad iron line or reflection model. The absorption features may arise in winds from the inner accretion disk. The broadband spectra appear to disfavour continuum models in which the blackbody emission from the neutron star surface provides the seed photons for thermal Comptonization. Our results suggest emission from a thin accretion disk ($kT_{disk} \sim 1\kev$), Comptonization of disk photons in a boundary layer most likely covering a large fraction of the neutron star surface and innermost parts of the accretion disk, and blackbody emission ($kT_{bb} \sim 2\kev$) from the polar regions.

Orbital evolution and search for eccentricity and apsidal motion in the eclipsing HMXB 4U 1700−37

In the absence of detectable pulsations in the eclipsing High Mass X-ray binary 4U 1700-37, the orbital period decay is necessarily determined from the eclipse timing measurements. We have used the earlier reported mid-eclipse time measurements of 4U 1700-37 together with the new measurements from long term light curves obtained with the all sky monitors RXTE-ASM, Swift-BAT and MAXI-GSC, as well as observations with RXTE-PCA, to measure the long term orbital evolution of the binary. The orbital period decay rate of the system is estimated to be ${\dot{P}}/P = -(4.7 \pm 1.9) \times 10^{-7}$ yr$^{-1}$, smaller compared to its previous estimates. We have also used the mid-eclipse times and the eclipse duration measurements obtained from 10 years long X-ray light-curve with Swift-BAT to separately put constraints on the eccentricity of the binary system and attempted to measure any apsidal motion. For an apsidal motion rate greater than 5 degrees per year, the eccentricity is found to be less than 0.008, which limits our ability to determine the apsidal motion rate from the current data. We discuss the discrepancy of the current limit of eccentricity with the earlier reported values from radial velocity measurements of the companion star.

Equation of state constraints for the cold dense matter inside neutron stars using the cooling tail method

The cooling phase of thermonuclear (type-I) X-ray bursts can be used to constrain the neutron star (NS) compactness by comparing the observed cooling tracks of bursts to accurate theoretical atmosphere model calculations. By applying the so-called cooling tail method, where the information from the whole cooling track is used, we constrain the mass, radius, and distance for three different NSs in low-mass X-ray binaries 4U 1702-429, 4U 1724-307, and SAX J1810.8-260. Care is taken to only use the hard state bursts where it is thought that only the NS surface alone is emitting. We then utilize a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm within a Bayesian framework to obtain a parameterized equation of state (EoS) of cold dense matter from our initial mass and radius constraints. This allows us to set limits on various nuclear parameters and to constrain an empirical pressure-density relation for the dense matter. Our predicted EoS results in NS radius between 10.5-12.8 km (95% confidence limits) for a mass of 1.4 $M_{\odot}$. Due to systematic errors and uncertainty in the composition these results should be interpreted as lower limits for the radius.

Phase lags of quasi-periodic oscillations across source states in the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636–53

While there are many dynamical mechanisms and models that try to explain the origin and phenomenology of the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) seen in the X-ray light curves of low-mass X-ray binaries, few of them address how the radiative processes occurring in these extreme environments give rise to the rich set of variability features actually observed in these light curves. A step towards this end comes from the study of the energy and frequency dependence of the phase lags of these QPOs. Here we used a methodology that allowed us to study, for the first time, the dependence of the phase lags of all QPOs in the range of 1 Hz to 1300 Hz detected in the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53 upon energy and frequency as the source changes its states as it moves through the colour-colour diagram. Our results suggest that within the context of models of up-scattering Comptonization, the phase lags dependencies upon frequency and energy can be used to extract size scales and physical conditions of the medium that produces the lags.

X-RAY SPECTRA OF THE HIGH-MASS X-RAY BINARY 4U 1700-37 USING BEPPOSAX, SUZAKU, AND RXTE OBSERVATIONS

ABSTRACT We present an X-ray spectral analysis of the high-mass binary 4U 1700-37 during its hard-soft state evolution. We use BeppoSAX, Suzaku, and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations for this investigation. We argue that the X-ray broadband spectra during all of the spectral states can be adequately reproduced by a model consisting of a low-temperature blackbody component, two Comptonized components which are both due to the presence of a Compton cloud (CC) that up-scatters seed photons of T s1 ≲ 1.4 keV and T s2 < 1 keV, and an iron-line component. Using this model, we find that the photon power-law index is almost constant, Γ1 ∼ 2 for all spectral states. However, Γ2 shows behavior that is dependent on the spectral state. Namely, Γ2 is quasi-constant at the level of Γ2 ∼ 2 while the CC plasma temperature kT e ( 2 ) is less than 40 keV; on the other hand, Γ2 is in the range of 1.3 < Γ2 < 2 when kT e ( 2 ) is greater than 40 keV. We explain this quasi-stability of Γ during most of the hard-soft transitions of 4U 1700-37 in the framework of a model in which the resulting spectrum is described by two Comptonized components. We find that these Comptonized spectral components of the high-mass X-ray binaries 4U 1700-37 are similar to those previously found in neutron star (NS) sources. This index dependence versus both the mass accretion rate and kT e revealed in 4U 1700-37 is universal observational evidence for the presence of an NS in 4U 1700-37.

The orbital phase resolved spectroscopy of X-ray binary 4U 1822−371 with Suzaku

4U 1822−371 is a typical edge-on eclipsing low mass X-ray binary and the prototype of accretion disk coronal sources. We report on the results of a spectral analysis over the energy range 0.5–45 keV observed by Suzaku in 2006. We extract spectra from five orbital phases. The spectra can be equally well described by various previously proposed models: an optically thick model described by a partially covered cutoff power law and an optically thin model described by a blackbody plus a cutoff power law. The optically thick model requires a covering fraction of about 55%, while the optically thin model requires a temperature of the central source of about 0.16 keV. The spectrum in the optically thick model also shows the previously detected cyclotron line feature at ∼30 keV with the same Suzaku observation. This feature confirms the presence of a strong magnetic field. The Fe Kα fluorescent line strengths as well as the detected Fe XXVI strengths are similar to previous Chandra and XMM-Newton detections in our phased spectral analysis; however, we also observe strong Fe XXVI during the eclipse, which indicates a slightly larger central corona.

Application of the Ghosh & Lamb relation to the spin-up/down behavior in the X-ray binary pulsar 4U 1626−67

Abstract We analyzed continuous Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image/Gas Slit Camera (MAXI/GSC) data of the X-ray binary pulsar 4U 1626−67 from 2009 October to 2013 September, and determined the pulse period and the pulse-period derivative for every 60-d interval by the epoch folding method. The obtained periods are consistent with those provided by the Fermi/Gamma-ray Burst Monitor pulsar project. In all the 60-d intervals, the pulsar was observed to spin up, with the spin-up rate positively correlated with the 2–20 keV flux. We applied the accretion torque model proposed by Ghosh and Lamb (1979, ApJ, 234, 296) to the MAXI/GSC data, as well as the past data including both spin-up and spin-down phases. The “Ghosh & Lamb” relation was confirmed to successfully explain the observed relation between the spin-up/down rate and the flux. By comparing the model-predicted luminosity with the observed flux, the source distance was constrained as 5–13 kpc, which is consistent with that found by Chakrabarty (1998, ApJ, 492, 342). Conversely, if the source distance is assumed, the data can constrain the mass and radius of the neutron star, because the Ghosh & Lamb model depends on these parameters. We attempted this idea, and found that an assumed distance of, e.g., 10 kpc gives a mass in the range of 1.81–1.90 solar mass, and a radius of 11.4–11.5 km, although these results are still subject to considerable systematic uncertainties, other than distance.

Evidence for an evolving cyclotron line energy in 4U 1538−522

We have performed a full time- and luminosity-resolved spectral analysis of the high-mass X-ray binary 4U 1538-522 using the available RXTE, INTEGRAL, and Suzaku data, examining both phase-averaged and pulse-phase-constrained datasets and focusing on the behavior of the cyclotron resonance scattering feature (CRSF). No statistically significant trend between the energy of the CRSF and luminosity is observed in the combined dataset. However, the CRSF energy appears to have increased by ~1.5 keV in the ~8.5 years between the RXTE and Suzaku measurements, with Monte Carlo simulations finding the Suzaku measurement 4.6$\sigma$ above the RXTE points. Interestingly, the increased Suzaku CRSF energy is much more significant and robust in the pulse-phase-constrained spectra from the peak of the main pulse, suggesting a change that is limited to a single magnetic pole. The 7 years of RXTE measurements do not show any strongly-significant evolution with time on their own. We discuss the significance of the CRSF's behavior with respect to luminosity and time in the context of historical observations of this source as well as recent observational and theoretical work concerning the neutron star accretion column, and suggest some mechanisms by which the observed change over time could occur.

Variations in the cyclotron resonant scattering features during 2011 outburst of 4U 0115+63

We study the variations in the Cyclotron Resonant Scattering Feature (CRSF) during 2011 outburst of the high mass X-ray binary 4U 0115+63 using observations performed with Suzaku, RXTE, Swift and INTEGRAL satellites. The wide-band spectral data with low energy coverage allowed us to characterize the broadband continuum and detect the CRSFs. We find that the broadband continuum is adequately described by a combination of a low temperature (kT ~ 0.8 keV) blackbody and a power-law with high energy cutoff (Ecut ~ 5.4 keV) without the need for a broad Gaussian at ~ 10 keV as used in some earlier studies. Though winds from the companion can affect the emission from the neutron star at low energies (< 3 keV), the blackbody component shows a significant presence in our continuum model. We report evidence for the possible presence of two independent sets of CRSFs with fundamentals at ~ 11 keV and ~ 15 keV. These two sets of CRSFs could arise from spatially distinct emitting regions. We also find evidence for variations in the line equivalent widths, with the 11 keV CRSF weakening and the 15 keV line strengthening with decreasing luminosity. Finally, we propose that the reason for the earlier observed anti-correlation of line energy with luminosity could be due to modelling of these two independent line sets (~ 11 keV and ~ 15 keV) as a single CRSF.

Spectral and timing analysis of the mHz QPOs in the neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636–53

We investigate the spectral and timing properties of the millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (mHz QPOs) in neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53 using XMM-Newton and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observations. The mHz QPOs in the XMM-Newton/RXTE observations show significant frequency variation and disappear right before type I X-ray bursts. We find no significant correlation between the mHz QPO frequency and the temperature of the neutron-star surface, which is different from theoretical predictions. For the first time we observed the full lifetime of a mHz QPO lasting 19 ks. Besides, we also measure a frequency drift timescale around 15 ks, we speculate that this is the cooling timescale of a layer deeper than the burning depth, possibly heated by the previous burst. Moreover, the analysis of all X-ray bursts in this source shows that all type I X-ray bursts associated with the mHz QPOs are short, bright and energetic, suggesting a potential connection between mHz QPOs and He-rich X-ray bursts.

FORMATION OF BINARY MILLISECOND PULSARS BY ACCRETION-INDUCED COLLAPSE OF WHITE DWARFS UNDER WIND-DRIVEN EVOLUTION

Accretion-induced collapse of massive white dwarfs (WDs) has been proposed to be an important channel to form binary millisecond pulsars (MSPs). Recent investigations on thermal timescale mass transfer in WD binaries demonstrate that the resultant MSPs are likely to have relatively wide orbit periods ($\gtrsim 10$ days). Here we calculate the evolution of WD binaries taking into account the excited wind from the companion star induced by X-ray irradiation of the accreting WD, which may drive rapid mass transfer even when the companion star is less massive than the WD. This scenario can naturally explain the formation of the strong-field neutron star in the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1822$-$37. After AIC the mass transfer resumes when the companion star refills its Roche lobe, and the neutron star is recycled due to mass accretion. A large fraction of the binaries will evolve to become binary MSPs with a He WD companion, with the orbital periods distributed between $\gtrsim 0.1$ day and $\lesssim 30$ days, while some of them may follow the cataclysmic variable-like evolution towards very short orbits. If we instead assume that the newborn neutron star appears as an MSP and part of its rotational energy is used to ablate its companion star, the binaries may also evolve to be the redback-like systems.

Broad-band spectroscopy of the eclipsing high-mass X-ray binary 4U 1700-37 with Suzaku

We present the results obtained from broadband spectroscopy of the high mass X-ray binary 4U 1700-37 using data from a Suzaku observation in 2006 September 13-14 covering 0.29-0.72 orbital phase range. The light curves showed significant and rapid variation in source flux during entire observation. We did not find any signature of pulsations in the light curves. However, a quasi-periodic oscillation at ~20 mHz was detected in the power density spectrum of the source. The 1-70 keV spectrum was fitted with various continuum models. However, we found that the partially absorbed high energy cutoff power-law and Negative and Positive power-law with Exponential cutoff (NPEX) models described the source spectrum well. Iron emission lines at 6.4 keV and 7.1 keV were detected in the source spectrum. An absorption like feature at ~39 keV was detected in the residuals while fitting the data with NPEX model. Considering the feature as cyclotron absorption line, the surface magnetic field of the neutron star was estimated to be ~3.4 times 10^12 Gauss. To understand the cause of rapid variation in the source flux, time-resolved spectroscopy was carried out by dividing the observation into 20 narrow segments. The results obtained from the time-resolved spectroscopy are interpreted as the accretion of inhomogeneously distributed matter in the stellar wind of the supergiant companion star as the cause of observed flux variation in 4U 1700-37. A sharp increase in column density after ~0.63 orbital phase indicates the presence of an accretion wake that blocks the continuum and produces the eclipse like low-flux segment.

ON THE DYNAMICS OF ULTRA COMPACT X-RAY BINARIES: 4U 1850-087, 4U 0513-40, AND M15 X-2

In this work we extend our dynamical study of Ultra Compact X-ray Binaries (UCXB) 4U 1820-30 from Prodan and Murray 2012 to three more UCXBs in globular clusters: 4U 1850-087, 4U 0513-40 and M15 X-2. These three UCXBs have orbital periods < 20 mins. Two of them, 4U 1850-087 and 4U 0513-40, have suspected luminosity variations of order of ~ 1yr. There is insufficient observational data to make any statements regarding the long periodicity in the light curve of M15 X-2 at this point. The properties of these three systems are quite similar to 4U 1820-30, which prompt us to model their dynamics in the same manner. As in the case of 4U 1820-30, we interpret the suspected long periods as the period of small oscillations around a stable fixed point in the Kozai resonance. We provide a lower limit on the tidal dissipation factor Q which is in agreement with results obtained for the case of 4U 1820-30.

Optical Modulation in the X-Ray Binary 4U 1543–624 Revisited

AbstractThe X-ray binary 4U 1543–624 has been provisionally identified as an ultra-compact system with an orbital period of ≃ 18 min. We have carried out time-resolved optical imaging of the binary to verify the ultra-short orbital period. Using 140 min of high-cadence r′-band photometry, we recover the previously-seen sinusoidal modulation and determine a period P = 18.20 ± 0.09 min. In addition, we also see a 7.0 × 10−4 mag min−1 linear decay, likely related to variations in the source's accretion activity. Assuming that the sinusoidal modulation arises from X-ray heating of the inner face of the companion star, we estimate a distance of 6.0–6.7 kpc and an inclination angle of 34°–61° (90% confidence) for the binary. Given the stability of the modulation, we can confirm that the modulation is orbital in origin and 4U 1543–624 is an ultra-compact X-ray binary.

Orbital parameters of the high‐mass X‐ray binary 4U 2206+54

AbstractWe present new radial velocities of the high‐mass X‐ray binary star 4U 2206+54 based on optical spectra obtained with the Coudé spectrograph at the 2 m RCC telescope of the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgaria in the period November 2011–July 2013. The radial velocity curve of the He I δ6678 Å line is modeled with an orbital period Porb = 9.568 d and an eccentricity of e = 0.3. These new measurements of the radial velocity resolve the disagreements of the orbital period discussions. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Probing the accretion scheme of the dipping X-ray binary 4U 1915−05 with Suzaku

Abstract The dipping low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1915−05 was observed by Suzaku on 2007 November 8 for a net exposure of 39 ks. It was detected by the XIS with a 0.8–10 keV signal rate of 9.84 ± 0.01 cts s−1 per camera, and HXD-PIN with a 12–45 keV signal rate of 0.29 ± 0.01 cts s−1. After removing the periodic dips and an X-ray burst, the 0.8–45 keV continuum was successfully described by an optically thick disk emission with an inner-disk temperature ∼ 0.7 keV and a neutron-star blackbody emission with temperature ∼ 1.3 keV, on condition that the blackbody component, or possibly the disk emission too, is significantly Comptonized. This successful model is consistent with 4U 1915−05 being in a high-soft state in this observation, and implies that its broadband spectrum can be interpreted in the same scheme as for many non-dipping low-mass X-ray binaries in the soft state. Its bolometric luminosity (∼ 0.02 times the Eddington limit) is relatively low for the soft state, but within tolerance, if considering the distance and inclination uncertainties. As a high inclination binary, this source exhibited a stronger Comptonization effect, with a larger Comptonizing y-parameter, compared to low and medium inclination binaries. This suggests that the Comptonizing coronae of these objects in the soft state is in an oblate (rather than spherical) shape, extending along the accretion disk plane, because the y-parameter would not depend on the inclination if the corona were spherical.

Polarimetric and spectroscopic optical observations of the ultra-compact X-ray binary 4U 0614+091

Aims: We present a polarimetric and spectroscopic study of the persistent ultra compact X-ray binary 4U 0614+091 aimed at searching for the emission of a relativistic particle jet and at unveiling the orbital period of the system. Methods: We obtained r-band polarimetric observations with the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) equipped with the PAOLO polarimeter and with the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) equipped with the ALFOSC instrument, covering ~ 2 hours and ~ 0.5 hours observations, respectively. We carried out low resolution spectroscopy of the system using the ESO Very Large Telescope equipped with FORS1 for ~ 1.5 hours (16 spectra covering the range 430-800 nm). Results: The polarimetric analysis performed starting from the TNG dataset revealed a polarisation degree in the r-band of 3 % +/- 1 %. From the NOT dataset, due to the lower S/N ratio, we could obtain only a 3 sigma upper limit of 3.4 %. From the joining of a spectroscopic and photometric analysis, through the study of the equivalent width variations of the CII 724 nm line and the r-band light curve, we could find a hint of a ~ 45 min periodicity. Conclusions: A polarisation degree P of ~ 3 % in the r-band is consistent with the emission of a relativistic particle jet, which is supposed to emit intrinsically linearly polarised synchrotron radiation. Since no variations of P with time have been detected, and the accretion disc of the system does not contain ionised hydrogen, scattering by free electrons in the accretion disc has been rejected. The period of ~ 45 min obtained through the analysis of the system light curve and of the equivalent width variations of the selected spectral line is probably linked to the presence of a hot spot or a superhump in the accretion disc, and lead to an orbital period > 1 hour for the binary system.

XMM-Newtonobservations reveal the disappearance of the wind in 4U 1630−47

We report on XMM-Newton observations of the black hole X-ray binary 4U 1630-47 during its 2012-2013 outburst. The first five observations monitor the source as its luminosity increases across the high-soft state of accretion. In the sixth observation the source has made a transition to an "anomalous" state, characterised by a significant contribution of electron scattering. A thermally/radiatively driven disc wind is present in the first four observations, which becomes more photoionised as the luminosity increases with time. In the fifth observation, the wind is not observed any more as a consequence of strong photoionisation and the low sensitivity of this observation. This overall trend is then consistent with a fully ionised wind causing the electron scattering characteristic of the anomalous state in the sixth observation. A broad iron emission line co-exists with the absorption features from the wind in the first four observations but is not visible in the last two observations. We find that the changes in the state of the wind as measured from modelling the absorption features with a self-consistent warm absorber model are correlated to the changes in the broad iron line. When the latter is modeled with a reflection component we find that the reflection fraction decreases as the illumination increases. We propose that the changes in both the absorption and broad emission lines are caused by the increasing luminosity and temperature of the accretion disc along the soft state. Such changes ultimately enable the transition to a state where the wind is fully ionised and consequently Comptonisation plays a significant role.

Discovery of a correlation between the frequency of the mHz quasi-periodic oscillations and the neutron-star temperature in the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636–53

We detected millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in an XMM–Newton observation of the neutron-star low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636−53. These QPOs have been interpreted as marginally stable burning on the neutron-star surface. At the beginning of the observation the QPO was at around 8 mHz, together with a possible second harmonic. About 12 ks into the observation a type I X-ray burst occurred and the QPO disappeared; the QPO reappeared ∼25 ks after the burst and it was present until the end of the observation. We divided the observation into four segments to study the evolution of the spectral properties of the source during intervals with and without mHz QPO. We find that the temperature of the neutron-star surface increases from the QPO segment to the non-QPO segment, and vice versa. We also find a strong correlation between the frequency of the mHz QPO and the temperature of a blackbody component in the energy spectrum representing the temperature of neutron-star surface. Our results are consistent with previous results that the frequency of the mHz QPO depends on the variation of the heat flux from the neutron-star crust, and therefore supports the suggestion that the observed QPO frequency drifts could be caused by the cooling of deeper layers.

The thermal stability of helium burning on accreting neutron stars

Thermonuclear burning on the surface of accreting neutron stars is observed to stabilize at accretion rates almost an order of magnitude lower than theoretical models predict. One way to resolve this discrepancy is by including a base heating flux that can stabilize the layer. We focus our attention on pure helium accretion, for which we calculate the effect of a base heating flux on the critical accretion rate at which thermonuclear burning stabilizes. We use the mesa stellar evolution code to calculate |$\dot{m}_{\rm crit}$| as a function of the base flux, and derive analytic fitting formulae for |$\dot{m}_{\rm crit}$| and the burning temperature at that critical accretion rate, based on a one-zone model. We also investigate whether the critical accretion rate can be determined by examining steady-state models only, without time-dependent simulations. We examine the argument that the stability boundary coincides with the turning point |${\rm d}y_{\rm burn}/{\rm d}\dot{m}=0$| in the steady-state models, and find that it does not hold outside of the one zone, zero base flux case. A linear stability analysis of a large suite of steady-state models is also carried out, which yields critical accretion rates a factor of ∼3 larger than the mesa result, but with a similar dependence on base flux. Lastly, we discuss the implications of our results for the ultracompact X-ray binary 4U 1820-30.