A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Spin-up/spin-down of neutron star in Be-X-ray binary system GX 304-1




AuthorsK. A. Postnov, A. I. Mironov, A. A. Lutovinov, N. I. Shakura, A. Yu. Kochetkova, S. S. Tsygankov

PublisherOXFORD UNIV PRESS

Publication year2015

JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Journal name in sourceMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Journal acronymMON NOT R ASTRON SOC

Volume446

Issue1

First page 1013

Last page1019

Number of pages7

ISSN0035-8711

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stu2155


Abstract

We analyse spin-up/spin-down of the neutron star in Be-X-ray binary system GX 304-1 observed by Swift/X-ray telescope (XRT) and Fermi/gamma-ray burst monitor (GBM) instruments in the period of the source activity from 2010 April to 2013 January and discuss possible mechanisms of angular momentum transfer to/from the neutron star. We argue that the neutron star spin-down at quiescent states of the source with an X-ray luminosity of L-x similar to 10(34) erg s(-1) between a series of Type I outbursts and spin-up during the outbursts can be explained by quasi-spherical settling accretion on to the neutron star. The outbursts occur near the neutron star periastron passages, where the density is enhanced due to the presence of an equatorial Be-disc tilted to the orbital plane. We also propose an explanation to the counterintuitive smaller spin-up rate observed at higher luminosity in a double-peak Type I outburst due to lower value of the specific angular momentum of matter captured from the quasi-spherical wind from the Be-star by the neutron star moving in an elliptical orbit with eccentricity e >= 0.5.




Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 11:06