Flaring Activity from Quiescent States in Neutron-Star X-Ray Binaries

We examine systematically the observed X-ray luminosity jumps (or flares) from quiescent states in millisecond binary pulsars (MSBPs) and high-mass X-ray binary pulsars (HMXBPs). We rely on the published X-ray light curves of seven pulsars: four HMXBPs, two MSBPs and the ultraluminous X-ray pulsar M82 X-2. We discuss the physics of their flaring activities or lack thereof, paying special attention to their emission properties when they are found on the propeller line, inside the Corbet gap or near the light-cylinder barrier.We provide guiding principles for future interpretations of faint X-ray observations, as well as a method of constraining the propeller lines and the dipolar surfacemagnetic fields of pulsars using a variety of quiescent states. In the process, we clarify some disturbing inaccuracies that have made their way into the published literature

The First TESS Self-Lensing Pulses: Revisiting KIC 12254688

We report the observations of two self-lensing pulses from KIC 12254688 in Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) light curves. This system, containing a F2V star and white-dwarf companion, was amongst the first self-lensing binary systems discovered by the Kepler Space Telescope over the past decade. Each observed pulse occurs when the white dwarf transits in front of its companion star, gravitationally lensing the star's surface, thus making it appear brighter to a distant observer. These two pulses are the very first self-lensing events discovered in TESS observations. We describe the methods by which the data were acquired and detrended, as well as the best-fit binary parameters deduced from our self-lensing+radial velocity model. We highlight the difficulties of finding new self-lensing systems with TESS, and we discuss the types of self-lensing systems that TESS may be more likely to discover in the future.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letters, 12 Pages, 6 Figures, and 1 Tabl

Anti-correlation between X-ray luminosity and pulsed fraction in the Small Magellanic Cloud pulsar SXP 1323

We report the evidence for the anti-correlation between pulsed fraction (PF) and luminosity of the X-ray pulsar SXP 1323, found for the first time in a luminosity range $10^{35}$--$10^{37}$ erg s$^{-1}$ from observations spanning 15 years. The phenomenon of a decrease in X-ray PF when the source flux increases has been observed in our pipeline analysis of other X-ray pulsars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). It is expected that the luminosity under a certain value decreases as the PF decreases due to the propeller effect. Above the propeller region, an anti-correlation between the PF and flux might occur either as a result of an increase in the un-pulsed component of the total emission or a decrease of the pulsed component. Additional modes of accretion may also be possible, such as spherical accretion and a change in emission geometry. At higher mass accretion rates, the accretion disk could also extend closer to the neutron star (NS) surface, where a reduced inner radius leads to hotter inner disk emission. These modes of plasma accretion may affect the change in the beam configuration to fan-beam dominant emission.Comment: It has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letter

On the Spin of the Black Hole in IC 10 X-1

The compact X-ray source in the eclipsing X-ray binary IC 10 X–1 has reigned for years as ostensibly the most massive stellar-mass black hole, with a mass estimated to be about twice that of its closest rival. However, striking results presented recently by Laycock et al. reveal that the mass estimate, based on emission-line velocities, is unreliable and that the mass of the X-ray source is essentially unconstrained. Using Chandra and NuSTAR data, we rule against a neutron-star model and conclude that IC 10 X–1 contains a black hole. The eclipse duration of IC 10 X–1 is shorter and its depth shallower at higher energies, an effect consistent with the X-ray emission being obscured during eclipse by a Compton-thick core of a dense wind. The spectrum is strongly disk-dominated, which allows us to constrain the spin of the black hole via X-ray continuum fitting. Three other wind-fed black hole systems are known; the masses and spins of their black holes are high: M ~ 10 - 15M_☉ and ɑ_* > 0.8. If the mass of IC 10 X-1's black hole is comparable, then its spin is likewise high

Investigating ChaMPlane X-ray sources in the Galactic Bulge with Magellan LDSS2 spectra

We have carried out optical and X-ray spectral analyses on a sample of 136 candidate optical counterparts of X-ray sources found in five Galactic-bulge fields included in our Chandra Multi-wavelength Plane Survey. We use a combination of optical spectral fitting and quantile X-ray analysis to obtain the hydrogen column density towards each object, and a three-dimensional dust model of the Galaxy to estimate the most probable distance in each case. We present the discovery of a population of stellar coronal emission sources, likely consisting of pre-main sequence, young main sequence and main sequence stars, as well as a component of active binaries of RS CVn or BY Dra type. We identify one candidate quiescent low-mass X-ray binary with a sub-giant companion; we note that this object may also be an RS CVn system. We report the discovery of three new X-ray detected cataclysmic variables (CVs) in the direction of the Galactic Center (at distances ~2kpc). This number is in excess of predictions made with a simple CV model based on a local CV space density of <~ 10^-5 pc^-3, and a scale height ~200pc. We discuss several possible reasons for this observed excess.Comment: 41 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal, September 10 editio

TV Cassiopeiae with Chandra and XMM–Newton X-ray Observations

TV Cassiopeia (TV Cas) is a well-known eclipsing Algol-type binary comprising a B9V primary and F7 IV secondary in an orbit with a period of 1.81 days, together with a purported low-mass companion in a wide orbit. Despite the considerable attention TV Cas has received in optical and UV bands, no X-ray analysis has been reported. Chandra has detected TV Cas six times and XMM–Newton observed it twice, all serendipitously during observations of the starburst galaxy IC 10. We have put all the X-ray data together to investigate its coronal morphology and spectral properties. We use the X-ray light curves and eclipses to probe the emitting geometry and the X-ray spectra at different epochs to investigate the activity mechanisms and test speculation that TV Cas undergoes significant mass transfer episodes

Modeling the Luminosity-dependent Pulse Profile and Emission Geometry of SMC X-2 during a Giant Outburst

International audienceOne of the brightest X-ray pulsars in the Small Magellanic Cloud is SMC X-2. During its most recent major outburst in 2015, this transient pulsar displayed significant changes in both its accretion state and magnetosphere, particularly when it entered the low-luminosity regime of subcritical accretion. Polestar is a pulse-profile modeling code that helps in delineating the geometry of the emission as the source evolves past outburst and toward lower-luminosity states. Applying Polestar to XMM-Newton and NuSTAR pulse profiles, we constrained the most likely inclination of the spin axis of the pulsar to be i = 87° ± 4°. As the X-ray luminosity declined, an increase in the pulsed fraction was detected from Swift observations, which suggests a transition from fan- to pencil-beam emission during the later stages of the outburst. Additionally, we also performed analysis of the OGLE IV light curves, which showed strong modulation in the optical profiles during the outburst

False-positive Self-lensing Events: TESS Observing Asteroid-crossing Events in Disguise

We report observations of four asteroid-crossing events in Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite light curves masquerading as self-lensing pulses from binary systems containing main-sequence stars and black hole or neutron-star companions. The observed changes in flux and the durations of the events appear to be consistent with self-lensing pulses provided that (a) the compact-object mass is greater than 2 solar masses, and (b) the transit is not a perfect alignment, i.e., the center of the lens is not passing directly in front of the center of the source. We examine the relationship between the physical characteristics of these asteroid crossings and the derived parameters of our self-lensing model fits to the data sets. As the search for new self-lensing systems continues, we caution observers about such false-positive signals imitating real self-lensing pulses