De-Hua Wang

EVOLUTION OF THE CROSS-CORRELATION AND TIME LAG OF 4U 1735-44 ALONG THE BRANCHES

We analyze the cross-correlation function between the soft and hard X-rays of atoll source 4U 1735-44 with RXTE data, and find anti-correlated soft and hard time lags of about a hecto-second. In the island state, the observations do not show any obvious correlations, and most observations of the banana branch show a positive correlation. However, anti-correlations are detected in the upper banana branch. These results are different from those of Z-sources (Cyg X-2, GX 5-1), where anti-correlations are detected in the horizontal branch and upper normal branch. In this case, the lag timescales of both this atoll and Z-sources are found to be similar, at a magnitude of several tens to hundreds of seconds. As a comparison, it is noted that anti-correlated lags lasting thousands of seconds have been reported from several black hole candidates in their intermediate states. In addition, for an observation containing four segments that show positive or anti-correlation, we analyze the spectral evolution with the hybrid model. In the observation, the anti-correlation is detected at the highest flux. The fitting results show that the Comptonized component is not the lowest at the highest flux, which suggests that the anti-correlation corresponds to the transition between the soft and hard states. Finally, we compare the corresponding results of atoll source 4U 1735-44 with those observed in Z-sources and black hole candidates, and the possible origins of the anti-correlated time lags are discussed.

Statistical properties of twin kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries

We collect the data of twin kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) published before 2012 from 26 neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) sources, then we analyze the centroid frequency (\nu) distribution of twin kHz QPOs (lower frequency \nu_1 and upper frequency \nu_2) both for Atoll and Z sources. For the data without shift-and-add, we find that Atoll and Z sources show the different distributions of \nu_1, \nu_2 and \nu_2/\nu_1, but the same distribution of \Delta\nu (difference of twin kHz QPOs), which indicates that twin kHz QPOs may share the common properties of LXMBs and have the same physical origins. The distribution of \Delta\nu is quite different from constant value, so is \nu_2/\nu_1 from constant ratio. The weighted mean values and maxima of \nu_1 and \nu_2 in Atoll sources are slightly higher than those in Z sources. We also find that shift-and-add technique can reconstruct the distribution of \nu_1 and \Delta\nu. The K-S test results of \nu_1 and \Delta\nu between Atoll and Z sources from data with shift-and-add are quite different from those without it, and we think that this may be caused by the selection biases of the sample. We also study the properties of the quality factor (Q) and the root-mean-squared (rms) amplitude of 4U 0614+09 with the data from the two observational methods, but the errors are too big to make a robust conclusion. The NS spin frequency (\nu_s) distribution of 28 NS-LMXBs show a bigger mean value (about 408Hz) than that (about 281 Hz) of the radio binary millisecond pulsars (MSPs), which may be due to the lack of the spin detections from Z sources (systematically lower than 281 Hz). Furthermore, on the relations between the kHz QPOs and NS spin frequency \nu_s, we find the approximate correlations of the mean values of \Delta\nu with NS spin and its half, respectively.

Investigation of the emission radii of kHz QPOs for the accreting millisecond X-Ray pulsars, Atoll and Z sources

We infer the emission positions of twin kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) in neutron star low mass X-ray binaries (NS-LMXBs) based on the Alfven wave oscillation model (AWOM). For most sources, the emission radii of kHz QPOs cluster around a region of 16-19 km with the assumed NS radii of 15 km. Cir X-1 has the larger emission radii of 23-38 km than those of the other sources, which may be ascribed to its large magnetosphere-disk radius or strong NS surface magnetic field. SAX J1808.4-3658 is also a particular source with the relative large emission radii of kHz QPOs of 20 - 23 km, which may be due to its large inferred NS radius of 18 - 19 km. The emission radii of kHz QPOs for all the sources are larger than the NS radii, and the possible explanations of which are presented. The similarity of the emission radii of kHz QPOs (16-19 km) for both the low/high luminosity Atoll/Z sources is found, which indicates that both sources share the similar magnetosphere- disk radii.

Statistical analysis for the Q-factor of twin kHz QPOs

Using the recently published data of twin kHz quasi-period oscillations (QPOs) in neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), we study the different profiles between bright Z sources and less luminous Atoll sources in a statistical way. We find the quality factors of upper kHz QPOs show a narrow distribution both for Z sources and Atoll sources, which concentrate at 7.98 and 9.75 respectively, the quality factors of lower kHz QPOs show a narrow distribution for Z sources and a broader distribution for Atoll sources, which concentrate at 5.25 and 86.22 respectively. In order to investigate the relation between the quality factor and the peakfrequency of kHz QPOs, we fit the data with power-law, linear and exponential functions, respectively. There is an obvious trend that the quality factors increase with the peak frequencies both for upper and lower QPOs. The implications of our results are discussed.

Similarity of PSR J1906+0746 to PSR J0737–3039: a Candidate of a New Double Pulsar System?

PSR J1906+0746 is a nonrecycled strong magnetic field neutron star (NS), sharing the properties of the secondary-formed NS PSR J0737–3039B in the double pulsar system PSR J0737–3039AB. By comparing the orbital parameters of PSR J1906+0746 with those of PSR J0737–3039AB, we conclude that both systems have a similar origin and evolution history, involving an e-capture process for forming the second-born NS, like in the case of PSR J0737–3039B. We expect the companion of PSR J1906+0746 to be a long-lived recycled pulsar with radio beams that currently cannot be observed from Earth. We suggest possible ways to detect its presence. To compare PSR J1906+0746 with PSR J0737–3039, we also present the mass distribution of eight pairs of double NSs and find that in double NSs the mass of the recycled pulsar is usually larger than that of the nonrecycled one, which may be the result of accretion.

The Accretion Rate Independence of Horizontal Branch Oscillation in XTE?J1701-462

We study the temporal and energy spectral properties of the unique neutron star low-mass X-ray binary XTE J1701462. Assuming the horizontal branch/normal branch (HB/NB) vertex as a reference position of the accretion rate, the horizontal branch oscillation (HBO) of the HB/NB vertex is roughly 50 Hz. It indicates that the HBO is independent of the accretion rate or the source intensity. The spectral analysis shows Rin proportional to M-Disk(2.9 +/- 0.09) Disk in the HB/NB vertex and Rin proportional to M-Disk(1.7 perpendicular to 0.06) Disk in the NB/flaring branch (FB) vertex, which implies that different accretion rates may be produced in the HB/NB and NB/FB vertex. The Comptonization component could be fitted by a constrained broken power law or nthComp. Unlike GX 17+ 2, the frequencies of HBO positively correlate with the inner disk radius, which contradict with the prediction of the Lense-Thirring precession model. XTE J1701-462, both in the Cyg-like phase and in the Sco-like phase, follows a positive correlation between the break frequency of broadband noise and the characteristic frequency of HBO, which is called the W-K relation. An anticorrelation between the frequency of HBO and photon energy is observed. Moreover, the rms of HBO increases with photon energy until similar to 10 keV. We discuss the possible origin of HBO from the corona in XTE J1701-462.

Probing the accretion disc structure by the twin kHz QPOs and spins of neutron stars in LMXBs

We analyze the relation between the emission radii of twin kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) and the co-rotation radii of the 12 neutron star low mass X-ray binaries (NS-LMXBs) which are simultaneously detected with the twin kHz QPOs and NS spins. We find that the average co-rotation radius of these sources is r_co about 32 km, and all the emission positions of twin kHz QPOs lie inside the corotation radii, indicating that the twin kHz QPOs are formed in the spin-up process. It is noticed that the upper frequency of twin kHz QPOs is higher than NS spin frequency by > 10%, which may account for a critical velocity difference between the Keplerian motion of accretion matter and NS spin that is corresponding to the production of twin kHz QPOs. In addition, we also find that about 83% of twin kHz QPOs cluster around the radius range of 15-20 km, which may be affected by the hard surface or the local strong magnetic field of NS. As a special case, SAX J1808.4-3658 shows the larger emission radii of twin kHz QPOs of r about 21-24 km, which may be due to its low accretion rate or small measured NS mass (< 1.4 solar mass).

Correlations between the frequencies of twin kHz QPOs and spins of neutron stars in LMXBs

We investigate the correlation between the frequencies of the twin kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) and the neutron star (NS) spins in low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), based on the data sets of 12 sources with simultaneously detected twin kHz QPOs and NS spins, and find that the histogram of the ratio between the frequency difference of twin kHz QPOs ({\Delta}{\nu} = {\nu}2 - {\nu}1) and NS spin {\nu}s shows a non-uniform distribution with a gap at {\Delta}{\nu}/{\nu}s ~ 0.65. We try to classify the 12 sources into two categories according to this gap: (I) The slow rotators with ~ 311 Hz, XTE J1807.4-294, 4U 1915-05, IGR J17191-2821, 4U 1702-43, 4U 1728-34 and 4U 0614+09 follow a relation {\Delta}{\nu}/{\nu}s > 0.65; (II) The fast rotators with ~ 546 Hz, SAX J1808.4-3658, KS 1731-260, Aql X-1, 4U 1636-53, SAX J1750.8-2900 and 4U 1608-52 satisfy the relation {\Delta}{\nu}/{\nu}s ~ 3 : 2, which shows no obvious correlation with NS spins.

The kHz QPOs as a probe of the X-ray color-color diagram and accretion-disk structure for the atoll source 4U 1728-34

We have taken the kHz QPOs as a tool to probe the correlation between the tracks of X-ray color-color diagram (CCD) and magnetosphere-disk positions for the atoll source 4U 1728-34, based on the assumptions that the upper kHz QPO is ascribed to the Keplerian orbital motion and the neutron star (NS) magnetosphere is defined by the dipole magnetic field. We find that from the island to the banana state, the inner accretion disk gradually approaches the NS surface with the radius decreasing from r ~33.0km to ~15.9 km, corresponding to the magnetic field from B(r) ~4.8*10^6 G to ~4.3*10^7 G. In addition, we note the characteristics of some particular radii of magnetosphere-disk -r are: firstly, the whole atoll shape of the CCD links the disk radius range of ~15.9 - 33.0 km, which is just located inside the corotation radius of 4U 1728-34 -r_co ( ~34.4 km), implying that the CCD shape is involved in the NS spin-up state. Secondly, the island and banana states of CCD correspond to the two particular boundaries: (I)-near the corotation radius at r ~27.2 - 33.0 km, where the source lies in the island state; (II)-near the NS surface at r ~15.9 - 22.3 km, where the source lies in both the island and banana states. Thirdly, the vertex of the atoll shape in CCD, where the radiation transition from the hard to soft photons occurs, is found to be near the NS surface at r ~16.4 km. The above results suggest that both the magnetic field and accretion environment are related to the CCD structure of atoll track, where the corotation radius and NS hard surface play the significant roles in the radiation distribution of atoll source.

Investigating the multifrequency pulse profiles of PSRs B0329+54 and B1642–03 in an inverse Compton scattering model

Emission geometries, including emission region heights, beam shapes and radius-to-frequency mapping, are important clues for pulsar radiation models. Multiband radio observations reveal this valuable information. In this paper, we study two bright pulsars, PSRs B0329+54 and B1642-03, and observe them at high frequencies: 2.5, 5 and 8 GHz. The newly acquired data, together with historical archives, provide an atlas of multifrequency profiles spanning from 100 MHz to 10 GHz. We study the frequency evolution of pulse profiles as well as radiation regions using these data. First, we fit the pulse profiles with Gaussian functions to determine the phase of each component, and then we calculate the radiation altitudes of different emission components and radiation regions. We find that the inverse Compton scattering (ICS) model can reproduce the radiation geometry of these two pulsars. However, for PSR B0329+54, the radiation can be generated in either an annular gap (AG) or a core gap (CG), while the radiation of PSR B1642-03 can only be generated in a CG. This difference is caused by the inclination angle and the impact angle of these two pulsars. The relationship between the beaming angle (the angle between the radiation direction and the magnetic axis) and the radiation altitude versus frequency is also presented by modelling the beam-frequency evolution in the ICS model. The multiband pulse profiles of these two pulsars can be described well by the ICS model combined with the CG and AG.