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An Ultra Low Mass and Small Radius Compact Object in 4U 1746-37?
Photospheric radius expansion (PRE) bursts have already been used to
constrain the masses and radii of neutron stars. RXTE observed three PRE bursts
in 4U 1746-37, all with low touchdown fluxes. We discuss here the possibility
of low mass neutron star in 4U 1746-37 because the Eddington luminosity depends
on stellar mass. With typical values of hydrogen mass fraction and color
correction factor, a Monte-Carlo simulation was applied to constrain the mass
and radius of neutron star in 4U 1746-37. 4U 1746-37 has a high inclination
angle. Two geometric effects, the reflection of the far side accretion disc and
the obscuration of the near side accretion disc have also been included in the
mass and radius constraints of 4U 1746-37. If the reflection of the far side
accretion disc is accounted, a low mass compact object (mass of
and radius of at 68% confidence)
exists in 4U 1746-37. If another effect operated, 4U 1746-37 may contain an
ultra low mass and small radius object
( at 68% confidence). Combined
all possibilities, the mass of 4U 1746-37 is at
99.7% confidence. For such low mass NS, it could be reproduced by a self-bound
compact star, i.e., quark star or quark-cluster star.Comment: accepted by Ap
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