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

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. (2015) detected a binary companion of uncertain nature, and suggested it could be a neutron star or a black hole. In this Letter we analyze X-ray data obtained by the Chandra telescope to ascertain information about the stellar magnetic field and interaction between the star and its companion. We confirm previous X-ray detection of KQ Vel with a relatively large X-ray luminosity of 2\times 10^{30} erg/s. X-ray spectra suggest the presence of hot gas at > 20MK and, possibly, of a non-thermal component. X-ray light curves are variable, but better quality data are needed to determine periodicity if any. We interpret X-ray spectra as a combination of two components: the non-thermal emission arising from the aurora on the A0p star and the hot thermal plasma filling the extended shell surrounding the "propelling" neutron star. 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 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.Comment: accepted to A&AL. 8 pages including the appendix where the formalism describing the X-ray emission from a hot shell around a propelling neutron star in settling accretion regime is presente

NuSTAR observations of the supergiant X-ray pulsar IGR J18027-2016: accretion from the stellar wind and possible cyclotron absorption line

We report on the first focused hard X-ray view of the absorbed supergiant system IGR J18027−2016 performed with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array observatory. The pulsations are clearly detected with a period of P_(spin)=139.866(1) s and a pulse fraction of about 50–60 per cent at energies from 3 to 80 keV. The source demonstrates an approximately constant X-ray luminosity on a time-scale of more than dozen years with an average spin-down rate of P ≃ 6x10^(-10) s s^(-1). This behaviour of the pulsar can be explained in terms of the wind accretion model in the settling regime. The detailed spectral analysis at energies above 10 keV was performed for the first time and revealed a possible cyclotron absorption feature at energy ∼23 keV. This energy corresponds to the magnetic field B ≃ 3x10^(12) G at the surface of the neutron star, which is typical for X-ray pulsars

Constraints on the massive graviton dark matter from pulsar timing and precision astrometry

The effect of a narrow-band isotropic stochastic GW background on pulsar timing and astrometric measurements is studied. Such a background appears in some theories of gravity. We show that the existing millisecond pulsar timing accuracy ($\sim 0.2 \rm{\mu s}$) strongly constrains possible observational consequences of theory of massive gravity with spontaneous Lorentz braking \cite{dtt:2005}, essentially ruling out significant contribution of massive gravitons to the local dark halo density. The present-day accuracy of astrometrical measurements ($\sim 100 \rm{\mu as}$) sets less stringent constraints on this theory.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure; changes in content, references added, accepted for publication in PR

NuSTAR observations of the supergiant X-ray pulsar IGR J18027-2016: accretion from the stellar wind and possible cyclotron absorption line

We report on the first focused hard X-ray view of the absorbed supergiant system IGR J18027−2016 performed with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array observatory. The pulsations are clearly detected with a period of P_(spin)=139.866(1) s and a pulse fraction of about 50–60 per cent at energies from 3 to 80 keV. The source demonstrates an approximately constant X-ray luminosity on a time-scale of more than dozen years with an average spin-down rate of P ≃ 6x10^(-10) s s^(-1). This behaviour of the pulsar can be explained in terms of the wind accretion model in the settling regime. The detailed spectral analysis at energies above 10 keV was performed for the first time and revealed a possible cyclotron absorption feature at energy ∼23 keV. This energy corresponds to the magnetic field B ≃ 3x10^(12) G at the surface of the neutron star, which is typical for X-ray pulsars

Galactic Binary Gravitational Wave Noise within LISA Frequency Band

Gravitational wave noise associated with unresolved binary stars in the Galaxy is studied with the special aim of determining the upper frequency at which it stops to contribute at the rms noise level of the proposed space-born interferometer (LISA). The upper limit to this background is derived from the statistics of SN Ia explosions, part of which can be triggered by binary white dwarf coalescences. The upper limiting frequency at which binary stochastic noise crosses LISA rms sensitivity is found to lie within the range 0.03-0.07 Hz, depending on the galactic binary white dwarf coalescence rate. To be reliably detectable by LISA, the energy density of relic cosmological background per logarithmic frequency interval should be Omega_{GW}h_{100}^2>10^{-8} at f>0.03 Hz.Comment: 16 pages with 1 eps figure, aasms4.sty, to appear in the ApJ vol. 494 February 20, 1998 issu

The 5 hr pulse period and broadband spectrum of the Symbiotic X-ray Binary 3A 1954+319

We present an analysis of the highly variable accreting X-ray pulsar 3A 1954+319 using 2005-2009 monitoring data obtained with INTEGRAL and Swift. This considerably extends the pulse period history and covers flaring episodes in 2005 and 2008. In 2006 the source was identified as one of only a few known symbiotic X-ray binaries (SyXBs), i.e., systems composed of a neutron star accreting from the inhomogeneous medium around an M-giant star. The extremely long pulse period of 5.3 hr is directly visible in the 2008 INTEGRAL-ISGRI outburst light curve. The pulse profile is double peaked and generally not significantly energy dependent although there is an indication of possible softening during the main pulse. During the outburst a strong spin-up of -1.8 10^(-4) hr hr^(-1) occurred. Between 2005 and 2008 a long-term spin-down trend of 2.1 10^-5 hr hr^(-1) was observed for the first time for this source. The 3-80 keV pulse peak spectrum of 3A 1954+319 during the 2008 flare could be well described by a thermal Comptonization model. We interpret the results within the framework of a recently developed quasi-spherical accretion model for SyXBs.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letter

Advances in Understanding High-Mass X-ray Binaries with INTEGRAL and Future Directions

High mass X-ray binaries are among the brightest X-ray sources in the Milky Way, as well as in nearby Galaxies. Thanks to their highly variable emissions and complex phenomenology, they have attracted the interest of the high energy astrophysical community since the dawn of X-ray Astronomy. In more recent years, they have challenged our comprehension of physical processes in many more energy bands, ranging from the infrared to very high energies. In this review, we provide a broad but concise summary of the physical processes dominating the emission from high mass X-ray binaries across virtually the whole electromagnetic spectrum. These comprise the interaction of stellar winds with the high gravitational and magnetic fields of compact objects, the behaviour of matter under extreme magnetic and gravity conditions, and the perturbation of the massive star evolutionary processes by presence in a binary system. We highlight the role of the INTEGRAL mission in the discovery of many of the most interesting objects in the high mass X-ray binary class and its contribution in reviving the interest for these sources over the past two decades. We show how the INTEGRAL discoveries have not only contributed to significantly increase the number of high mass X-ray binaries known, thus advancing our understanding of the population as a whole, but also have opened new windows of investigation that stimulated the multi-wavelength approach nowadays common in most astrophysical research fields. We conclude the review by providing an overview of future facilities being planned from the X-ray to the very high energy domain that will hopefully help us in finding an answer to the many questions left open after more than 18 years of INTEGRAL scientific observations.The INTEGRALteams in the participating countries acknowledge the continuous support from their space agencies and funding organizations: the Italian Space Agency ASI (via different agreements including the latest one, 2019-35HH, and the ASIINAF agreement 2017-14-H.0), the French Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES), the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (KP, 19-02-00790), the Russian Science Foundation (ST, VD, AL; 19-12-00423), the Spanish State Research Agency (via different grants including ESP2017-85691-P, ESP2017-87676-C5-1-R and Unidad de Excelencia María de Maeztu – CAB MDM-2017-0737). IN is partially supported by the Spanish Government under grant PGC2018-093741-B-C21/C22 (MICIU/AEI/FEDER, UE). LD acknowledges grant 50 OG 1902

Gravitational Wave Astronomy: in Anticipation of First Sources to be Detected

The first generation of long-baseline laser interferometric detectors of gravitational waves will start collecting data in 2001-2003. We carefully analyse their planned performance and compare it with the expected strengths of astrophysical sources. The scientific importance of the anticipated discovery of various gravitatinal wave signals and the reliability of theoretical predictions are taken into account in our analysis. We try to be conservative both in evaluating the theoretical uncertainties about a source and the prospects of its detection. After having considered many possible sources, we place our emphasis on (1) inspiraling binaries consisting of stellar mass black holes and (2) relic gravitational waves. We draw the conclusion that inspiraling binary black holes are likely to be detected first by the initial ground-based interferometers. We estimate that the initial interferometers will see 2-3 events per year from black hole binaries with component masses 10-15M_\odot, with a signal-to-noise ratio of around 2-3, in each of a network of detectors consisting of GEO, VIRGO and the two LIGOs. It appears that other possible sources, including coalescing neutron stars, are unlikely to be detected by the initial instruments. We also argue that relic gravitational waves may be discovered by the space-based interferometers in the frequency interval 2x10^{-3}-10^{-2} Hz, at the signal-to-noise ratio level around 3.Comment: latex, 100 pages, including 20 postscript figures. Small typos corrected, references adde