We present an X-ray eclipse timing analysis of the transient low mass X-ray
binary XTE J1710-281. We report observations of 57 complete X-ray eclipses,
made with the proportional counter array detectors aboard the RXTE satellite.
Using the eclipse timing technique, we have derived a constant orbital period
of 0.1367109674 (3) d, during the period from MJD 52132 upto MJD 54410; and
1{\sigma} limits of -1.6 × 10^ -12 d d-1 and 0.2 × 10^ -12 d d-1
, on the period derivative. This puts constraints on the minimum timescale of
secular orbital period evolution of 2.34 × 10^8 yr for a period decay
and 18.7 × 10^8 yr for a period increase. We also report detection of
two instances of discontinuity in the mid-eclipse time, one before and one
after the above MJD range. These results are interpreted as three distinct
epochs of orbital period in XTE J1710-281. We have put lower limits of 1.4 ms
and 0.9 ms on orbital period change at successive epochs.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS Main Journal, 5 pages, 3 figure
