ABSTRACT
This paper describes an analysis of the NuSTAR data of the fastest-rotating magnetar 1E 1547 − 5408, acquired in 2016 April for a time lapse of 151 ks. The source was detected with a ...1–60 keV flux of 1.7 × 10−11 erg s−1 cm−2, and its pulsation at a period of 2.086710(5) s. In 8–25 keV, the pulses were phase-modulated with a period of T = 36.0 ± 2.3 ks, and an amplitude of ∼0.2 s. This reconfirms the Suzaku discovery of the same effect at $T=36.0 ^{+4.5}_{-2.5}$ ks, made in the 2009 outburst. These results strengthen the view derived from the Suzaku data, that this magnetar performs free precession as a result of its axial deformation by ∼0.6 × 10−4, possibly caused by internal toroidal magneti fields (MFs) reaching ∼1016 G. Like in the Suzaku case, the modulation was not detected in energies below ∼8 keV. Above 10 keV, the pulse-phase behaviour, including the 36 ks modulation parameters, exhibited complex energy dependencies: at ∼22 keV, the modulation amplitude increased to ∼0.5 s, and the modulation phase changed by ∼65° over 10–27 keV, followed by a phase reversal. Although the pulse significance and pulsed fraction were originally very low in >10 keV, they both increased noticeably, when the arrival times of individual photons were corrected for these systematic pulse-phase variations. Possible origins of these complex phenomena are discussed, in terms of several physical processes that are specific to ultrastrong MFs.
Abstract
Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer
has a comparatively low background rate, but it is highly variable, and its spectrum must be predicted using measurements unaffected by the science ...target. We describe an empirical, three-parameter model based on observations of seven pointing directions that are void of detectable sources. Two model parameters track different types of background events, while the third is used to predict a low-energy excess tied to observations conducted in sunlight. An examination of 3556 good time intervals (GTIs), averaging 570 s, yields a median rate (0.4–12 keV; 50 detectors) of 0.87 c s
−1
, but in 5% (1%) of cases, the rate exceeds 10 (300) c s
−1
. Model residuals persist at 20%–30% of the initial rate for the brightest GTIs, implying one or more missing model parameters. Filtering criteria are given to flag GTIs likely to have unsatisfactory background predictions. With such filtering, we estimate a detection limit, 1.20 c s
−1
(3
σ
, single GTI) at 0.4–12 keV, equivalent to 3.6 × 10
−12
erg cm
−2
s
−1
for a Crab-like spectrum. The corresponding limit for soft X-ray sources is 0.51 c s
−1
at 0.3–2.0 keV, or 4.3 × 10
−13
erg cm
−2
s
−1
for a 100 eV blackbody. These limits would be four times lower if exploratory GTIs accumulate 10 ks of data after filtering at the level prescribed for faint sources. Such filtering selects background GTIs 85% of the time. An application of the model to a 1 s timescale makes it possible to distinguish source flares from possible surges in the background.
Abstract
The present study aims to reinforce the evidence for the ∼9 s pulsation in the gamma-ray binary LS 5039, derived from a Suzaku observation in 2007 and a NuSTAR observation in 2016. Through a ...reanalysis of the NuSTAR data incorporating the orbital Doppler correction, the 9.0538 s pulsation was confirmed successfully even in the 3–10 keV range, where it was undetectable previously. This was attained by perceiving an energy-dependent drift in the pulse phase below 10 keV and correcting the pulse timing of individual photons for that effect. Similarly, an archival 0.7–12 keV data set of LS 5039, taken with the ASCA Gas Imaging Spectrometer in 1999 October, was analyzed. The data showed possible periodicity at about 8.882 s, but again the energy-dependent phase drift was noticed below 10 keV. By correcting for this effect, and for the orbital Doppler delays in the LS 5039 system, the 2.8–12 keV periodicity became statistically significant at 8.891 ± 0.001 s. The periods measured with ASCA, Suzaku, and NuSTAR approximately follow an average period derivative of
P
̇
≈
3.0
×
10
−
10
s s
−1
. These results provide further evidence for the pulsation in this object and strengthen the scenario proposed by Yoneda et al. that the compact object in LS 5039 is a strongly magnetized neutron star.
Abstract
Circinus X-1 (Cir X-1) is a neutron star binary with an elliptical orbit of 16.6 days. The source is unique for its extreme youth, providing a key to understanding early binary evolution. ...However, its X-ray variability is too complex to reach a clear interpretation. We conducted the first high-cadence (every 4 hr, on average) observations covering one entire orbit using the NICER X-ray telescope. The X-ray flux behavior can be divided into stable, dip, and flaring phases. The X-ray spectra in all phases can be described by a common model consisting of a partially covered disk blackbody emission and the line features from a highly ionized photoionized plasma. The spectral change over the orbit is attributable to rapid changes of the partial covering medium in the line of sight and gradual changes of the disk blackbody emission. Emission lines of H- and He-like Mg, Si, S, and Fe are detected, most prominently in the dip phase. The Fe emission lines change to absorption in the course of the transition from the dip phase to the flaring phase. The estimated ionization degree indicates no significant changes, suggesting that the photoionized plasma is stable over the orbit. We propose a simple model in which the disk blackbody emission is partially blocked by a local medium in the line of sight that has spatial structures depending on the azimuth of the accretion disk. Emission lines upon the continuum emission are from the photoionized plasma located outside of the blocking material.
Abstract
We report the discovery of possible periodic X-ray dips in a pulsating ultraluminous X-ray source, M51 ULX-7, with archival Chandra observations. With ∼20 days of monitoring in the ...superorbital descending state, we discovered three dips with separations of ∼2 and ∼8 days via the Bayesian block technique. A phase-dispersion minimization and a
test suggest that the dip is likely recurrent with a period of ∼2 days, consistent with the orbital period of M51 ULX-7. We interpret the dip as an obscuring of the emission from the pulsar by the vertical structure on the stream–disk interaction region or the atmosphere of the companion star. Both interpretations suggest the viewing angle to be ∼60°. Given that the magnetic field of M51 ULX-7 is moderately high,
B
∼ 10
13
G, a low geometric beaming with
is sufficient to explain the observed flux and the presence of dips. Obscuration of the stellar wind remains an alternative possible origin and further monitoring of the dips will be required.
Abstract
Archival NuSTAR data of the magnetar 4U 0142+61, acquired in 2014 March for a total time span of 258 ks, were analyzed. This is to reconfirm the 55 ks modulation in the hard X-ray pulse ...phases of this source, found with a Suzaku observation in 2009 (Makishima et al., 2014, Phys. Rev. Lett., 112, 171102). Indeed, the 10–70 keV X-ray pulsation, detected with NuSTAR at 8.68917 s, was found to be also phase-modulated (at >98% confidence) at the same ∼55 ks period, or half that value. Furthermore, a brief analysis of another Suzaku data set of 4U 0142+61, acquired in 2013, reconfirmed the same 55 ks phase modulation in the 15–40 keV pulses. Thus, the hard X-ray pulse-phase modulation was detected with Suzaku (in 2009 and 2013) and NuSTAR (in 2014) at a consistent period. However, the modulation amplitude varied significantly; A ∼ 0.7 s with Suzaku (in 2009), A ∼ 1.2 s with Suzaku (in 2013), and A ∼ 0.17 s with NuSTAR. In addition, the phase modulation properties detected with NuSTAR differed considerably between the first 1/3 and the latter 2/3 of the observation. In energies below 10 keV, the pulse-phase modulation was not detected with either Suzaku or NuSTAR. These results reinforce the view of Makishima et al. (2014, Phys. Rev. Lett., 112, 171102); the neutron star in 4U 0142+61 keeps free precession, under a slight axial deformation due probably to ultra-high toroidal magnetic fields of ∼1016 G. The wobbling angle of precession should remain constant, but the pulse-phase modulation amplitude varies on time scales of months to years, presumably as asymmetry of the hard X-ray emission pattern around the star’s axis changes.
Abstract
We present timing and spectral analysis results of the NICER and NuSTAR observations of the dwarf nova MASTER OT J030227.28+191754.5 during the 2021–2022 outburst. The soft X-ray component ...was found to be dominated by blackbody radiation with a temperature of ∼30 eV and also showed prominent oxygen and neon emission lines. The blackbody luminosity exceeded 10
34
erg s
−1
, which is consistent with theoretical predictions, and then decreased more than an order of magnitude in 3.5 days. The inferred abundances of oxygen and neon in the optically thin coronal region surrounding the central white dwarf (WD) are several times higher than the respective solar values. Although inconclusive, the abundance enrichment may originate from the WD, indicating that it may be mainly composed of oxygen and neon. Assuming that the blackbody radiation comes from the belt-shaped boundary layer between the WD and the accretion disk, we estimated the WD radius to be (2.9 ± 1.1) × 10
8
cm, which corresponds to the WD mass range of 1.15–1.34
M
⊙
. If the accretion continues for another ∼1 Gyr, the WD may experience an accretion-induced collapse into a neutron star and form a so-called black widow pulsar system.
The X-ray pulsar SMC X-1 shows a superorbital modulation with an unstable cycle length in the X-ray band. We present its timing behaviors, including the spin, orbital, and superorbital modulations, ...beyond the end of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer mission. The time-frequency maps derived by the wavelet Z-transform and the Hilbert-Huang transform suggest that a new superorbital period excursion event occurred in ∼MJD 57,100 (2015 March). This indicates that the excursion is recurrent and probably (quasi)periodic. The hardness ratio obtained with the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) suggests increased absorption during the transition from the high to the low state in the superorbital cycle. Compared to the regular epochs, the superorbital profile during the excursion epochs has a shallower and narrower valley, likely caused by a flatter warp. By tracking the spin period evolution with the MAXI Gas Slit Camera in 2-20 keV, we derive an averaged spin-up rate of ˙ = 2.515 ( 3 ) × 10 − 11 s−2 during the period between MJD 55,141 (2009 November) and 58,526 (2019 February). We obtain no positive correlation between the spin frequency residual and the superorbital frequency, but a torque change accompanying the superorbital period excursion is possible. We suggest that the accretion torque on the neutron star could be changed by various mechanisms, including the change of mass accretion rate and the warp angle. We update the value of the orbital decay as P ˙ orb P orb = − 3.380 ( 6 ) × 10 − 6 yr−1. Finally, we reconfirm the detection of the superorbital modulation in the optical band and its coherence in phase with the X-ray modulation.
PDF
