Radio precursors to neutron star binary mergings

We discuss a possible generation of radio bursts preceding final stages of binary neutron star mergings which can be accompanied by short gamma-ray bursts. Detection of such bursts appear to be advantageous in the low-frequency radio band due to a time delay of ten to several hundred seconds required for radio signal to propagate in the ionized intergalactic medium. This delay makes it possible to use short gamma-ray burst alerts to promptly monitor specific regions on the sky by low-frequency radio facilities, especially by LOFAR. To estimate the strength of the radio signal, we assume a power-law dependence of the radio luminosity on the total energy release in a magnetically dominated outflow, as found in millisecond pulsars. Based on the planned LOFAR sensitivity at 120 MHz, we estimate that the LOFAR detection rate of such radio transients could be about several events per month from redshifts up to $z\sim1.3$ in the most optimistic scenario. The LOFAR ability to detect such events would crucially depend on exact efficiency of low-frequency radio emission mechanism.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Science. Largely extended version of ArXiv:0912.521

Algebraic approach to time-delay data analysis for LISA

Cancellation of laser frequency noise in interferometers is crucial for attaining the requisite sensitivity of the triangular 3-spacecraft LISA configuration. Raw laser noise is several orders of magnitude above the other noises and thus it is essential to bring it down to the level of other noises such as shot, acceleration, etc. Since it is impossible to maintain equal distances between spacecrafts, laser noise cancellation must be achieved by appropriately combining the six beams with appropriate time-delays. It has been shown in several recent papers that such combinations are possible. In this paper, we present a rigorous and systematic formalism based on algebraic geometrical methods involving computational commutative algebra, which generates in principle {\it all} the data combinations cancelling the laser frequency noise. The relevant data combinations form the first module of syzygies, as it is called in the literature of algebraic geometry. The module is over a polynomial ring in three variables, the three variables corresponding to the three time-delays around the LISA triangle. Specifically, we list several sets of generators for the module whose linear combinations with polynomial coefficients generate the entire module. We find that this formalism can also be extended in a straight forward way to cancel Doppler shifts due to optical bench motions. The two modules are infact isomorphic. We use our formalism to obtain the transfer functions for the six beams and for the generators. We specifically investigate monochromatic gravitational wave sources in the LISA band and carry out the maximisiation over linear combinations of the generators of the signal-to-noise ratios with the frequency and source direction angles as parameters.Comment: 27 Pages, 6 figure

Studying the anisotropy of the gravitational wave stochastic background with LISA

A plethora of gravitational wave stochastic backgrounds populate the sensitivity window of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. We show that LISA can detect the anisotropy of the background corresponding to the multipole moments of order l=2 and 4. The signal-to-noise ratio generated by galactic white dwarf binary systems could be as high as 60 for 3 yrs of integration, and LISA could provide valuable information on the spatial distribution of a variety of galactic sources. We also show that the cross-correlation of the data sets from two interferometers could marginally lead to meaningful upper-limits on the degree of isotropy of the primordial gravitational wave background.Comment: 4 pages, uses RevTe

Menus for Feeding Black Holes

Black holes are the ultimate prisons of the Universe, regions of spacetime where the enormous gravity prohibits matter or even light to escape to infinity. Yet, matter falling toward the black holes may shine spectacularly, generating the strongest source of radiation. These sources provide us with astrophysical laboratories of extreme physical conditions that cannot be realized on Earth. This chapter offers a review of the basic menus for feeding matter onto black holes and discusses their observational implications.Comment: 27 pages. Accepted for publication in Space Science Reviews. Also to appear in hard cover in the Space Sciences Series of ISSI "The Physics of Accretion onto Black Holes" (Springer Publisher

First tidal disruption events discovered by SRG/eROSITA: X-ray/optical properties and X-ray luminosity function at z < 0.6

High Energy Astrophysic

On the Nature of the 35-Day Cycle in HZ Her/Her X-1

Abstract: Regular variations of the pulse period of Her X-1 with X-ray flux observed by Fermi/GBM are examined. We argue that these regular variations result from free precession of the neutron star in Her X-1

Galactic population of black holes in detached binaries with low-mass stripped helium stars: The case of LB-1 (LS V+22 25)

© 2020 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. We model the Galactic population of detached binaries that harbour black holes with 0.5-1.7 M companions - remnants of case B mass exchange that rapidly cross Hertzsprung gap after the termination of the Roche lobe overflow or as He-shell burning stars. Several such binaries can be currently present in the Galaxy. The range of MBH in them is about 4-10 M, and the orbital periods are tens to hundreds of days. The unique black hole binary LB-1 fits well into this extremely rare class of double stars

Chandra X-ray study confirms that the magnetic standard Ap star KQ Vel hosts a neutron star companion

© ESO 2020. Context. KQ Vel is a peculiar A0p star with a strong surface magnetic field of about 7.5 kG. It has a slow rotational period of nearly 8 years. Bailey et al. (A&A, 575, A115) detected a binary companion of uncertain nature and suggested that it might be a neutron star or a black hole. Aims. We analyze X-ray data obtained by the Chandra telescope to ascertain information about the stellar magnetic field and/or interaction between the star and its companion. Methods. We confirm previous X-ray detections of KQ Vel with a relatively high X-ray luminosity of 2 × 1030 erg s-1. The X-ray spectra suggest the presence of hot gas at > 20 MK and, possibly, of a nonthermal component. The X-ray light curves are variable, but data with better quality are needed to determine a periodicity, if any. Results. We interpret the X-ray spectra as a combination of two components: the nonthermal emission arising from the aurora on the A0p star, and the hot thermal plasma filling the extended shell that surrounds the "propelling"neutron star. Conclusions. We explore various alternatives, but a hybrid model involving the stellar magnetosphere along with a hot shell around the propelling neutron star seems most plausible. We speculate that KQ Vel was originally a triple system and that the Ap star is a merger product. We conclude that KQ Vel is an intermediate-mass binary consisting of a strongly magnetic main-sequence star and a neutron star

Discovery of orbital eccentricity and evidence for orbital period increase of SS433

The examination of long-term (1979-2020) photometric observations of SS433 enabled us to discover a non-zero orbital eccentricity of e = 0.05 ± 0.01. We have also found evidence for a secular increase in the orbital period at a rate of ˙Pb=(1.0± 0.3)× 10-7 s s-1. The binary orbital period increase rate makes it possible to improve the estimate of the binary mass ratio q = MX/MV > 0.8, where MX and MV are the masses of the relativistic object and the optical star, respectively. For an optical star mass of 10 M⊙, the mass of the relativistic object (a black hole) is MX > 8 M⊙. A neutron star in SS433 is reliably excluded because in that case the orbital period should decrease, in contradiction to observations. The derived value of ˙Pb sets a lower limit on the mass-loss rate in the Jeans mode from the binary system 7 × 10-6 M⊙ yr-1. The discovered orbital ellipticity of SS433 is consistent with the model of the slaved accretion disc tracing the precession of the misaligned optical star's rotational axis