Since the discovery of kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) in neutron star
binaries, the difference between peak frequencies of two modes in the upper
part of the spectrum, i.e. Delta (omega)=omega_h-omega_K has been studied
extensively. The idea that the difference Delta(omega) is constant and (as a
beat frequency) is related to the rotational frequency of the neutron star has
been tested previously. The observed decrease of Delta(omega) when omega_h and
omega_k increase has weakened the beat frequency interpretation. We put forward
a different paradigm: a Keplerian oscillator under the influence of the
Coriolis force. For such an oscillator, omega_h and the assumed Keplerian
frequency omega_k hold an upper hybrid frequency relation:
omega^2_h-omega^2_K=4*Omega^2, where Omega is the rotational frequency of the
star's magnetosphere near the equatorial plane. For three sources (Sco X-1, 4U
1608-52 and 4U 1702-429), we demonstrate that the solid body rotation
Omega=Omega_0=const. is a good first order approximation. Within the second
order approximation, the slow variation of Omega as a function of omega_K
reveals the structure of the magnetospheric differential rotation. For Sco X-1,
the QPO have frequencies approximately 45 and 90 Hz which we interpret as the
1st and 2nd harmonics of the lower branch of the Keplerian oscillations for the
rotator with vector Omega not aligned with the normal of the disk: omega_L/2
pi=(Omega/pi)(omega_K/omega_h)sin(delta) where delta is the angle between
vector Omega and the vector normal to the disk.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publications in ApJ Letter