Brian A. Vaughan

Observations of accreting pulsars

We discuss recent observations of accreting binary pulsars with the all-sky BATSE instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. BATSE has detected and studied nearly half of the known accreting pulsar systems. Continuous timing studies over a two-year period have yielded accurate orbital parameters for 9 of these systems, as well as new insights into long-term accretion torque histories.

Discovery of submillisecond quasi-periodic oscillations in the x-ray flux of scorpius X-1

We report the discovery, with NASAs Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), of the first submillisecond oscillations found in a celestial X-ray source. The quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) come from Sco X-1 and have a frequency of ~1100 Hz and amplitudes of 0.6%-1.2% (rms) and are relatively coherent, with Q up to ~102. The frequency of the QPOs increases with accretion rate, rising from 1050 to 1130 Hz when the source moves from top to bottom along the normal branch in the X-ray color-color diagram, and shows a strong, approximately linear correlation with the frequency of the well-known 6-20 Hz normal/flaring-branch QPOs. We also report the discovery of QPOs with a frequency near 800 Hz that occur, simultaneously with the 1100 Hz QPOs, in the upper normal branch. We discuss several possible interpretations, one involving a millisecond X-ray pulsar whose pulses we see reflected off accretion flow inhomogeneities. Finally, we report the discovery of ~45 Hz QPOs, most prominent in the middle of the normal branch, which might be magnetospheric beat-frequency QPOs.

X-Ray Variability Coherence: How to Compute It, What It Means, and How It Constrains Models of GX 339–4 and Cygnus X-1

We describe how the coherence function—a Fourier frequency–dependent measure of the linear correlation between time series measured simultaneously in two energy channels—can be used in conjunction with energy spectra, power spectra, and time delays between energy channels to constrain models of the spectrum and variability of X-ray binaries. Here we present a procedure for estimating the coherence function in the presence of counting noise. We apply this method to the black hole candidates Cyg X-1 and GX 33924 and find that the near-perfect coherence between low- and high-energy X-ray photons rules out a wide range of models that postulate spatially extended fluctuating emission, thermal flares, and overlapping shot noise.

Searches for millisecond pulsations on low-mass x-ray binaries

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Torque Reversal and Spin-Down of the Accretion-Powered Pulsar 4U 1626-67

Over 5 yr of hard X-ray (20-60 keV) monitoring of the 7.66 s accretion-powered pulsar 4U 1626-67 with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory/BATSE large-area detectors has revealed that the neutron star is now steadily spinning down, in marked contrast to the steady spin-up observed during 1977-1989. This is the second accreting pulsar (the other is GX 1+4) that has shown extended, steady intervals of both spin-up and spin-down. Remarkably, the magnitudes of the spin-up and spin-down torques differ by only 15%, with the neutron star spin changing on a timescale |ν/dot ν| ≈ 5000 yr in both states. The current spin-down rate is itself decreasing on a timescale |dot ν/bar ν| ≈ 26 yr. The long-term timing history shows small-amplitude variations on a 4000 day timescale, which are probably due to variations in the mass transfer rate. The pulsed 20-60 keV emission from 4U 1626-67 is well-fitted by a power-law spectrum with photon index γ = 4.9 and a typical pulsed intensity of 1.5 × 10^(-10) ergs cm^(-2) s^(-1). The low count rates with BATSE prohibited us from constraining the reported 42 minute binary orbit, but we can rule out long-period orbits in the range 2 days lesssim Porb lesssim 900 days. We compare the long-term torque behavior of 4U 1626-67 to other disk-fed accreting pulsars and discuss the implications of our results for the various theories of magnetic accretion torques. The abrupt change in the sign of the torque is difficult to reconcile with the extremely smooth spin-down now observed. The strength of the torque noise in 4U 1626-67, ~10^(-22) Hz^2 s^(-2) Hz^(-1), is the smallest ever measured for an accreting X-ray pulsar, and it is comparable to the timing noise seen in young radio pulsars. We close by pointing out that the core temperature and external torque (the two parameters potentially relevant to internal sources of timing noise) of an accreting neutron star are also comparable to those of young radio pulsars.

Discovery in 4U 1636–53 of Two Simultaneous Quasi-periodic Oscillations near 900 Hz and 1176 Hz

Using the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer, we observed the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1636-53 on 1996 February 28, April 23, and May 29. On February 28, two simultaneous quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) occurred at frequencies between 890 and 920 Hz and between 1150 and 1193 Hz. The rms amplitude and FWHM of the lower frequency QPO were 7.3% ± 0.4% and 26 ± 4 Hz, whereas those of the higher frequency QPO were 6.1% ± 0.8% and 64 ± 25 Hz. Averaged over minutes, the FWHM of the lower frequency QPO was sometimes as low as 4 Hz. The rms amplitudes of the QPOs increase with photon energy. The frequency of the lower frequency QPO increases, and its amplitude decreases, with accretion rate as inferred from the position of the source in the X-ray color-color diagram. The frequency difference between the two QPOs is consistent with being constant at 276 ± 10 Hz. The frequency of the higher frequency QPO is the highest so far observed in a low-mass X-ray binary. Assuming that this frequency is the orbital frequency of gas in stable Keplerian orbit around the neutron star, we derive upper limits on the mass and radius of the neutron star of 2.1 M☉ and 16.5 km. On April 23 we detected no kilohertz QPOs (95% confidence upper limits were typically 3%-5.5% rms in the frequency range 100-2000 Hz). On May 29 we detected a single 853-896 Hz QPO with an amplitude of ~7% rms that increases with photon energy and decreases with QPO frequency. There was no significant correlation between the frequency of this QPO and the count rate or spectral changes.

Rapid Spin-Up Episodes in the Wind-Fed Accreting Pulsar GX 301-2

The accreting pulsar GX 301-2 (P = 680 s) has been observed continuously by the large-area detectors of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory since 1991 April 5. Orbital parameters determined from these data are consistent with previous measurements, with improved accuracy in the current orbital epoch. The most striking features in the pulsar frequency history are two steady and rapid spin-up episodes, with ν˙~(3-5)×10^(-12) Hz s^(-1), each lasting for about 30 days. They probably represent the formation of transient accretion disks in this wind-fed pulsar. Except for these spin-up episodes, there are virtually no net changes in the neutron star spin frequency on long timescales. We suggest that the long-term spin-up trend observed since 1984 (ν˙~2×10^(-13) Hz s^(-1)) may be due entirely to brief (~20 days) spin-up episodes similar to those we have discovered. We assess different accretion models and their ability to explain the orbital phase dependence of the observed flux. In addition to the previously observed preperiastron peak at orbital phase 0.956 +/- 0.022, we also find a smaller peak close to apastron at orbital phase 0.498 +/- 0.057. We show that if the companion stars effective temperature is less than 22,000 K, then it must have a mass M_c < 70 M_⊙ and a radius R_c < 85 R_⊙ so as not to overfill the tidal lobe at periastron. In order not to overflow the Roche lobe at periastron, the corresponding values are M_c < 55 M_⊙ and R_c < 68 R_⊙. These constraints are nearly at odds with the reclassification by Kaper et al. of the companion as a B1 Ia + hypergiant.

Discovery of 800 Hz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in 4U 1608-52

We present results of Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer observations of the low-mass X-ray binary and atoll source 4U 1608-52 made over 9 days during the decline of an X-ray intensity outburst in 1996 March. A fast-timing analysis shows a strong and narrow quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) peak at frequencies between 850 and 890 Hz on March 3 and 6, as well as a broad peak around 690 Hz on March 9. Observations on March 12 show no significant signal. On March 3, the X-ray spectrum of the QPO is quite hard; its strength increases steadily from 5% at ~2 keV to ~20% at ~12 keV. The QPO frequency varies between 850 and 890 Hz on that day, and the peak widens and its rms decreases with centroid frequency in a way very similar to the well-known horizontal branch oscillations (HBO) in Z sources. We apply the HBO beat frequency model to atoll sources and suggest that, whereas the model could produce QPOs at the observed frequencies, the lack of correlation we observe between QPO properties and X-ray count rate is hard to reconcile with this model.

On the Dramatic Spin-up/Spin-down Torque Reversals in Accreting Pulsars

Dramatic torque reversals between spin-up and spin-down have been observed in half of the persistent X-ray pulsars monitored by the BATSE all-sky monitor on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Theoretical models developed to explain early pulsar timing data can explain spin-down torques via a disk-magnetosphere interaction if the star nearly corotates with the inner accretion disk. To produce the observed BATSE torque reversals, however, these equilibrium models require the disk to alternate between two mass accretion rates, with ˙M5 producing accretion torques of similar magnitude but always of opposite sign. Moreover, in at least one pulsar (GX 114) undergoing secular spin-down, the neutron star spins down faster during brief (~20 day) hard X-ray flares—this is opposite the correlation expected from standard theory, assuming that BATSE pulsed flux increases with mass accretion rate. The 10 day to 10 yr intervals between torque reversals in these systems are much longer than any characteristic magnetic or viscous timescale near the inner disk boundary and are more suggestive of a global disk phenomenon. We discuss possible explanations of the observed torque behavior. Despite the preferred sense of rotation defined by the binary orbit, the BATSE observations are urprisingly consistent with an earlier suggestion for GX 1+4: the disks in these systems somehow alternate between episodes of prograde and retrograde rotation. We are unaware of any mechanism that could produce a stable retrograde disk in a binary undergoing Roche lobe overflow, but such flip-flop behavior does occur in numerical simulations of wind-fed systems. One possibility is that the disks in some of these binaries are fed by an X-ray–excited wind.

Discovery of kiloHertz quasi-periodic oscillations in GX 17+2

We observed the low-mass X-ray binary and Z source GX 17+2 with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer during 1997 February 6-8, April 1-4, and July 26-27. The X-ray color-color diagram shows a clear Z track. Two simultaneous kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are present in each observation, whose frequencies are well correlated with the position of the source on the Z track. At the left end of the horizontal branch (HB), only the higher frequency peak is observed, at 645 +/- 9 Hz, with an rms amplitude of 5.7% +/- 0.5% and an FWHM of 183 +/- 35 Hz. When the source moves down the Z track to the upper normal branch, the frequency of the kHz QPO increases to 1087 +/- 12 Hz, and the rms amplitude and FWHM decrease by a factor of 2. Farther down the Z track, the QPO becomes undetectable, with rms upper limits typically of 2.0%. Halfway down the HB, a second QPO appears in the power spectra with a frequency of 480 +/- 23 Hz. The frequency of this QPO also increases when the source moves along the Z track, up to 781 +/- 11 Hz halfway down the normal branch, while the rms amplitude and FWHM stay approximately constant at 2.5% and 70 Hz. The QPO frequency difference is constant at 293.5 +/- 7.5 Hz. Simultaneously with the kHz QPOs, we detect HB QPOs (HBOs). The simultaneous presence of HBOs and kHz QPOs excludes the magnetospheric beat-frequency model as the explanation for at least one of these two phenomena.