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  • K2 and TESS observations of...
    Luna, G. J. M.

    Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin), 08/2023, Letnik: 676
    Journal Article

    I analyze the K2 and TESS data taken in 2016, 2019, and 2021 of the symbiotic X-ray binaries GX 1+4 and IGR J16194−2810. GX 1+4 consists of a pulsar accreting from a red giant companion in a 1160-day orbit. Since 1984, the pulsar has shown a continuous spin-down rate of Ṗ = −0.1177(3) mHZ yr −1 . I report the detection of the spin period at an average value of 180.426(1) seconds as observed with the K2 mission and confirm that the spin period continues to increase at a rate of ∼1.61×10 −7 s s −1 . The K2 and hard X-rays, as observed with Swift /BAT, varied in tandem, in agreement with proposals from other authors that the optical light arises from reprocessed X-ray emission. In the case of IGR J16194−2810, the X-ray and optical spectroscopy have been interpreted as arising from a neutron star accreting from an M2 III red giant companion. Its orbital period is unknown, though I report here the detection of a modulation with a period of 242.837 min and interpret it as the neutron star spin period. IGR J16194−2810 is thus the second symbiotic X-ray binary whose spin period has been detected in optical wavelengths. This period, however, was only detected during the TESS observations of Sector 12 in 2019. The non-detection of this modulation during the observations of Sector 39 in 2021 is perhaps related to a low inclination of the orbit.