Analytical model of compact star in low-mass X-ray binary with de Sitter spacetime

In this article, we suggest a Sitter model in favor of compact stars in low-mass X-ray binaries.Here, we have considered the presence of a cosmological constant(on a small scale) to investigate the stellar structure. We conclude that this approach is very suitable for the familiar physical model of compact stars in low-mass X-ray binaries. We calculate the probable radius, compactness(u) and surface redshift(Z_s) of six compact stars in low-mass X-ray binaries, namely Cyg X-2, V395 Carinae/2 S 0921–630, XTE J2123–058,X1822–371(V691 CrA), 4 U 1820–30 and GR Mus(XB 1254–690). We also offer a possible equation of state(EOS) for the stellar objects.     

Investigation of near-contact semi-detached binary W UMi through observations and evolutionary models

W UMi is a near contact, semi-detached, double-lined eclipsing binary star with an orbital period of 1.7 d. Simultaneous analysis of new BV R multi-color light curves and radial velocity data yields the main astrophysical parameters of the binary and its component stars. We determined mass and radius to be M_1 = 3.22 ± 0.08 M_⊙, R_1 = 3.63 ± 0.04 R_⊙ for the primary star and M_2 = 1.44 ± 0.05 M_⊙,R_2 = 3.09 ± 0.03 R_⊙ for the secondary star. Based on analysis of mid-eclipse times, variation in the orbital period is represented by a cyclic term and a downward parabola. Mass loss from the system is suggested for a secular decrease(-0.02 s yr~(-1)) in the period. Both the mechanisms of a hypothetical tertiary star orbiting around W UMi and the surface magnetic activity of the less massive cooler companion were used to interpret periodic changes. Observational parameters were found to be consistent with binary stellar evolution models produced in the non-conservative approach of MESA at a higher metallicity than the Sun and an age of about 400 Myr for the system. Evidence that the system is rich in metal was obtained from spectral and kinematic analysis as well as evolution models. W UMi, a high mass ratio system compared to classical semi-detached binaries, is an important example since it is estimated from binary evolutionary models that the system may reach its contact phase in a short time interval.     

BVRI photometric observations,light curve solutions and orbital period analysis of BF Pav

A new ephemeris,period change analysis and light curve modeling of the W UMa-type eclipsing binary BF Pav are presented in this study.Light curves of the system taken in BVRI filters from two observatories,in Australia and Argentina,were modeled using the Wilson-Devinney code.The results of this analysis demonstrate that BF Pav is a contact binary system with a photometric mass ratio q=1.460 ± 0.014,a fillout factor f=12.5%,an inclination of 87.97 ± 0.45 deg and a cold spot on the secondary component.By applying the distance modulus formula,the distance of BF Pav was calculated to be d=268 ± 18 pc which is in good agreement with the Gaia EDR3 distance.We obtain an orbital period increase at a rate of 0.142 s century-1 due to a quadratic trend in the O-C diagram.Also,an alternative sudden period jump probably occurred which could be interpreted as a rapid mass transfer from the lower mass star to its companion of about ΔM=2.45 × 10~(-6) M_⊙.Furthermore,there is an oscillatory behavior with a period of 18.3±0.3 yr.Since BF Pav does not seem to have significant magnetic activity,this behavior could be interpreted as the light-time effect caused by an undetected third body in this system.In this case,the probability for the third body to be a low mass star with M≥ 0.075 M_⊙or a brown dwarf is 5.4% and 94.6% respectively.If we assume i'=90°,a_3=8.04±0.33 AU.The mass of the secondary component was also determined following two different methods which result close to each other.     

Effect of non-stationary accretion on spectral state transitions:An example of a persistent neutron star LMXB 4U 1636–536

Observations of black hole and neutron star X-ray binaries show that the luminosity of the hard-to-soft state transition is usually higher than that of the soft-to-hard state transition,indicating additional parameters other than mass accretion rate are required to interpret spectral state transitions.It has been found in some individual black hole or neutron star soft X-ray transients that the luminosity corresponding to the hard-to-soft state transition is positively correlated with the peak luminosity of the following soft state. In this work,we report the discovery of the same correlation in the single persistent neutron star low mass X-ray binary(LMXB) 4 U 1636–536 based on data from the All Sky Monitor(ASM) on board RXTE,the Gas Slit Camera(GSC) on board MAXI and the Burst Alert Telescope(BAT) on board Swift. We also found such a positive correlation holds in this persistent neutron star LMXB in a luminosity range spanning about a factor of four. Our results indicate that non-stationary accretion also plays an important role in driving X-ray spectral state transitions in persistent accreting systems with small accretion flares,which is much less dramatic compared with the bright outbursts seen in many Galactic LMXB transients.     

The orbital period variations of AH Virginis

We present a study of orbital period changes in AH Virginis. We perform a careful literature search for all available minima times, from which we derived a new linear ephemeris and constructed an O- C curve. We found that the orbital period of AH Virginis shows a long-term increase, d P/dt =(2.1869 ± 0.0161) × 10-7d yr-1,and a small periodic variation with a period of 37.19 yr. Since AH Virginis is an overcontact system and the primary component shows strong Hα and Mg II emission lines,we discuss the possible connection between mass transfer, magnetic activity and orbital period changes.     

Constraints on individual supermassive binary black holes using observations of PSR J1909-3744

We perform a search for gravitational waves(GWs) from several supermassive binary black hole(SMBBH) candidates(NGC 5548, Mrk 231, OJ 287, PG 1302–102, NGC 4151, Ark 120 and 3C 66B) in long-term timing observations of the pulsar PSR J1909-3744 obtained using the Parkes radio telescope.No statistically significant signals were found. We constrain the chirp masses of those SMBBH candidates and find the chirp mass of NGC 5548 and 3C 66B to be less than 2.4 × 10~9 M_⊙ and 2.5 × 10~9 M_⊙(with 95% confidence), respectively. Our upper limits remain a factor of 3 to 370 above the likely chirp masses for these candidates as estimated from other approaches. The observations processed here provide upper limits on the GW strain amplitude that improve upon the results from the first Parkes Pulsar Timing Array data release by a factor of 2 to 7. We investigate how information about the orbital parameters can help to improve the search sensitivity for individual SMBBH systems. Finally, we show that these limits are insensitive to uncertainties in the Solar System ephemeris model.     

The ROSAT bright source 1RXS J201607.0＋251645： an active Algol-type binary

1RXS J201607.0＋251645 is identified as an eclipsing binary. We present preliminary observations in the V band with the 0.6-m telescope for three years and extensive observations in the V and R bands with the 0.8-m telescope for six nights, respectively. The light curve of the system is E13 type. Five light minimum times were obtained and the orbital period of 0.388058^d（±0.00044d） is determined. The photometric solution given by the 2003-version of the Wilson-Devinney program suggests that the binary is a semidetached system with photometric mass ratio 0.895（±0.006）, which is probably comprised of a G5 primary and an oversized K5 secondary. The tess massive component has completely filled its Roche lobe, while the other one almost fills its Roche lobe with a filling factor of 93.4%. The system shows a varying O＇Connell effect in its phase folded diagrams from 2005 to 2007, and is X-ray luminous with log Lx/Lbol - -3.27. Possible mechanisms to account for these two phenomena are discussed. Finally, we infer that the binary may be in thermal oscillation or may evolve into a contact binary.     

A Two—Temperature Supernova Fallback Disk Model for Anomalous X—ray Pulsars

We present a case study of the relevance of the radially pulsational instability of a two-temperature accretion disk around a neutron star to anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs). Our estimates are based on the approximation that such a neutron star disk with mass in the range of 10^-6-10^-5M⊙ is formed by supernova fallback. We derive several peculiar properties of the accretion disk instability: a narrow interval of X-ray pulse periods; lower X-ray luminosities; a period derivative and an evolution time scale. All these results are in good agreement with the observations of the AXPs.     

Spin Evolution of Neutron Stars in OB／X-ray Binaries

We have investigated the relation between the orbital period Porb and the spin period Ps of neutron stars in OB/X-ray binaries. By simulating the time-development of the mass loss rate and radius expansion of a 20A⊙ donor star, we have calculated the detailed spin evolution of the neutron star before steady wind accretion occurs (that is, when the break spin period is reached), or when the OB star begins evolving off the main sequence or has filled its Roche lobe. Our results are compatible with the observations of OB/X-ray binaries. We find that in relatively narrow systems with orbital periods less than tens of days, neutron stars with initial magnetic field B0 stronger than about 3×1012 G can reach the break spin period to allow steady wind accretion in the main sequence time, whereas neutron stars with B0 < 3×1012 G and/or in wide systems would still be in one of the pulsar, rapid rotator or propeller phases when the companion evolves off the main sequence or fills its Roche lobe. Our results may     

The surviving companions in type Ia supernova remnants

The single-degenerate(SD)model is one of the most popular progenitor models of type Ia supernovae(SNe Ia),in which the companion star can survive after an SN Ia explosion and show peculiar properties.Therefore,searching for the surviving companion in type Ia supernova remnants(SNRs)is a potential method to verify the SD model.In the SN 1604 remnant(Kepler’s SNR),although Chandra X-ray observation suggests that the progenitor is most likely a WD+AGB system,the surviving companion has not been found.One possible reason is rapid rotation of the white dwarf(WD),causing explosion of the WD to be delayed for a spin-down timescale,and then the companion evolved into a WD before the supernova explosion,so the companion is too dim to be detected.We aim to verify this possible explanation by carrying out binary evolution calculations.In this paper,we use Eggleton’s stellar evolution code to calculate the evolution of binaries consisting of a WD+red giant(RG).We assume that the rapidly rotating WD can continuously increase its mass when its mass exceeds the Chandrasekhar mass limit(MCh=1.378 M_⊙)until the mass-transfer rate decreases to be lower than a critical value.Eventually,we obtain the final masses of a WD in the range 1.378 M_⊙ to 2.707 M_⊙.We also show that if the spin-down time is less than 10~6 yr,the companion star will be very bright and easily observed;but if the spin-down time is as long as~10~7 yr,the luminosities of the surviving companion would be lower than the detection limit.Our simulation provides guidance in hunting for the surviving companion stars in SNRs,and the fact that no surviving companion has been found in Kepler’s SNR may not be definite evidence disfavoring the SD origin of Kepler’s SN.     

Temporal variations and spectral properties of the Be/X-ray pulsar GRO J1008–57 studied by INTEGRAL

The spin period variations and hard X-ray spectral properties of the Be/Xray pulsar GRO J1008–57 are studied with INTEGRAL observations during two outbursts in 2004 June and 2009 March.The pulsation periods of～93.66 s in 2004and～93.73 s in 2009 are determined.Pulse profiles of GRO J1008–57 during outbursts are strongly energy dependent with a double-peaked profile from 3–7 keV and a single-peaked profile in hard X-rays above 7 keV.Combined with previous measurements,we find that GRO J1008–57 has undergone a spin-down trend from 1993–2009 with a rate of～4.1×10-5s d-1,and could have changed into a spin-up trend after 2009.We find a relatively soft spectrum in the early phase of the 2009 outburst with cutoff energy～13 keV.Above a hard X-ray flux of～10-9erg cm-2s-1,the spectra of GRO J1008–57 during outbursts need an enhanced hydrogen absorption with column density～6×1022cm-2.The observed dip-like pulse profile of GRO J1008–57 in soft X-ray bands could be caused by this intrinsic absorption.Around the outburst peaks,a possible cyclotron resonance scattering feature at～74 keV is detected in the spectra of GRO J1008–57 which is consistent with the feature that was reported in MAXI/GSC observations,making the source a neutron star with the highest known magnetic field(～6.6×1012G)among accreting X-ray pulsars.This marginal feature is supported by the present detections in GRO J1008–57 following the correlation between the fundamental line energies and cutoff energies in accreting X-ray pulsars.Finally we discovered two modulation periods at～124.38 d and～248.78 d using RXTE/ASM light curves of GRO J1008–57.Two flare peaks appearing in the folded light curve had different spectral properties.The normal outburst lasting 0.1 of an orbital phase had a hard spectrum and could not be significantly detected below 3 keV.The second flare lasting ten days showed a very soft spectrum without significant detections above 5 keV.GRO J1008–57 is a good candidate of an accreting system with an equatorial circumstellar disk around the companion star.The neutron star passing the disk of the Be star near periastron and apastron produces two X-ray flares.The soft spectral properties in the secondary flares still need further detailed studies with soft X-ray spectroscopy.     

Double-detonation model of type Ia supernovae with a variable helium layer ignition mass

Although Type Ia supernovae(SNe Ia) play an important role in the study of cosmology, their progenitors are still poorly understood. Thermonuclear explosions from the helium double-detonation sub-Chandrasekhar mass model have been considered as an alternative method for producing SNe Ia. By adopting the assumption that a double detonation occurs when a He layer with a critical ignition mass accumulates on the surface of a carbon–oxygen white dwarf(CO WD), we perform detailed binary evolution calculations for the He double-detonation model, in which a He layer from a He star accumulates on a CO WD. According to these calculations, we obtain the initial parameter spaces for SNe Ia in the orbital period and secondary mass plane for various initial WD masses. We implement these results into a detailed binary population synthesis approach to calculate SN Ia birthrates and delay times. From this model,the SN Ia birthrate in our Galaxy is ～0.4- 1.6 × 10-3yr-1. This indicates that the double-detonation model only produces part of the SNe Ia. The delay times from this model are ～ 70- 710 Myr, which contribute to the young population of SNe Ia in the observations. We found that the CO WD + sdB star system CD-30 11223 could produce an SN Ia via the double-detonation model in its future evolution.     

New CCD photometric investigation of the early-type overcontact binary BH Cen in the young star-forming Galactic cluster IC 2944

BH Cen is a short-period early-type binary with a period of 0.792 din the extremely young star-forming cluster IC 2944. New multi-color CCD photometric light curves in U, B, V, R and I bands are presented and are analyzed by using the Wilson-Devinney code. It is detected that BH Cen is a high-mass-ratio overcontact binary with a fill-out factor of 46.4% and a mass ratio of 0.89. The derived orbital inclination i is 88.9 degrees, indicating that it is a totally eclipsing binary and the photometric parameters can be determined reliably. By adding new eclipse times, the orbital period changes in the binary are analyzed. It is confirmed that the period of BH Cen shows a long-term increase while it undergoes a cyclic oscillation with an amplitude of A_3 = 0.024 d and a period of P_3 = 50.3 yr. The high mass ratio, overcontact configuration and long-term continuous increase in the orbital period all suggest that BH Cen is in the evolutionary state after the shortest-period stage of Case A mass transfer.The continuous increase in period can be explained by mass transfer from the secondary component to the primary one at a rate of˙M_2 = 2.8×10~(-6) M_⊙per year. The cyclic change can be plausibly explained by the presence of a third body because both components in the BH Cen system are early-type stars. Its mass is determined to be no less than 2.2 M_⊙at an orbital separation of about 32.5 AU. Since no third light was found during the photometric solution, it is possible that the third body may be a candidate for a compact object.     

Search for pulsations in the LMXB EXO 0748-676

We present here results from our search for X-ray pulsations of the neutron star in the low mass X-ray binary EXO 0748-676 at a frequency near the burstoscillation frequency of 44.7Hz.Using the observations made with the Proportional Counter Array onboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer,we did not find any pulsations in the frequency band of 44.4Hz to 45.0Hz and obtained a 3σ upper limit of 0.47% on the pulsed fraction for any possible underlying pulsation in this frequency band.We also discuss the importan...     

A sample of metal-poor galaxies identified from the LAMOST spectral survey

We present a sample of 48 metal-poor galaxies at z 0.14 selected from 92 510 galaxies in the LAMOST survey. These galaxies are identified by their detection of the auroral emission line[OⅢ]λ4363 above the 3σ level, which allows a direct measurement of electron temperature and oxygen abundance. The emission line fluxes are corrected for internal dust extinction using the Balmer decrement method. With electron temperature derived from [OⅢ]λλ4959, 5007/[OⅢ]λ4363 and electron density from [SⅡ]λ6731/[SⅡ]λ6717, we obtain the oxygen abundances in our sample which range from 12 + log(O/H) = 7.63(0.09 Z_⊙) to 8.46(0.6 Z_⊙). We find an extremely metal-poor galaxy with 12 + log(O/H) = 7.63 ± 0.01. With multiband photometric data from FUV to NIR and Hαmeasurements, we also determine the stellar masses and star formation rates, based on the spectral energy distribution fitting and Hα luminosity, respectively. We find that our galaxies have low and intermediate stellar masses with 6.39 ≤ log(M/M_⊙) ≤ 9.27, and high star formation rates(SFRs) with-2.18 ≤ log(SFR/M_⊙yr~(-1)) ≤ 1.95. We also find that the metallicities of our galaxies are consistent with the local T_e-based mass–metallicity relation, while the scatter is about 0.28 dex. Additionally,assuming the coefficient of α = 0.66, we find most of our galaxies follow the local mass–metallicity–SFR relation, but a scatter of about 0.24 dex exists, suggesting the mass–metallicity relation is weakly dependent on SFR for those metal-poor galaxies.     

Explaining recently studied intermediate luminosity optical transients(ILOTs) with jet powering

We apply the jet-powered ILOT scenario to two recently studied intermediate luminosity optical transients(ILOTs),and find the relevant shell mass and jets' energy that might account for the outbursts of these ILOTs.In the jet-powered ILOT scenario,an accretion disk around one of the stars of a binary system launches jets.The interaction of the jets with a previously ejected slow shell converts kinetic energy to thermal energy,part of which is radiated away.We apply two models of the jet-powered ILOT scenario.In the spherical shell model,the jets accelerate a spherical shell,while in the cocoon toy model the jets penetrate into the shell and inflate hot bubbles,the cocoons.We find consistent results.For the ILOT(ILRT:intermediate luminosity red transient) SNhunt120 we find the shell mass and jets' energy to be Ms■0.5-1 M_☉ and E_(2 j)■5×10~(47) erg,respectively.The jets' half opening angle is α_j■30°-60°.For the second peak of the ILOT(luminous red nova) AT 2014 ej we find these quantities to be M_s1-2 M_☉ and E_(2 j)1.5×10~(48) erg,with αj■20°-30°.The models cannot tell whether these ILOTs were powered by a stellar merger that leaves one star,or by mass transfer where both stars survived.In both cases the masses of the shells and energies of the jets suggest that the binary progenitor system was massive,with a combined mass of M_1+M_210 ■M_☉.     

Photometric analysis of the eclipsing polar MN Hya

As an eclipsing polar with a 3.39 h orbital period, MN Hya was going through a state change when we observed it during 2009–2016. Ten new mid-eclipse times, along with others obtained from literature, allow us to give a new ephemeris. The residuals of a linear fit show that period decreased during the phase of state change, which means angular momentum was lost during this phase. The associated X-ray observation indicates the mass accretion rate was about 3.6 × 10~(-9) M⊙yr~(-1). The period decrease indicates that at least 60% of mass being transferred from the secondary was lost,maybe in the form of spherically symmetric stellar wind. In the high state, the data show the intensity of flickering reduced when the system had a higher accretion rate, and that flickering sticks out with a primary timescale of about 2 min, which implies the position of the threading point was about 30 white dwarf radii above its surface. The trend of light curves for the system in its high state follows that of the low state for a large fraction of the phase interval from phase 0 to phase 0.4 since, starting at phase0.4, the cyclotron feature is visible, and the primary intensity hump of the light curves near phase 0.7 when the system is in the high state did not appear on the curve when it was in the low state. Those facts contradict predictions of the two-pole model.     

An investigation of a magnetic cataclysmic variable with a period of 14.1 ks

Magnetic cataclysmic variables(CVs) contain a white dwarf(WD) with a magnetic field strong enough to control the accretion flow from a late type secondary. In this paper, we identify a magnetic CV(CXOGSG J215544.4+380116) from the Chandra archive data. The X-ray light curves show a significant period of 14.1 ks, and the X-ray spectra can be described by a multi-temperature hot thermal plasma, suggesting the source is a magnetic CV. The broad dip in the X-ray light curve is due to the eclipse of the primary magnetic pole, and the additional dip in the bright phase of the soft and medium bands may be caused by the accretion stream crossing our line of sight to the primary pole.Follow-up optical spectra show features of an M2–M4 dwarf dominating the red band and a WD which is responsible for the weak upturn in the blue band. The mass(~ 0.4 M⊙) and radius(~0.4 R⊙) for the M dwarf are obtained using CV evolution models and empirical relations between the orbital period and the mass/radius. The estimated low X-ray luminosity and accretion rate may suggest the source is a low-accretion-rate polar. In addition, Very Large Array observations reveal a possible radio counterpart to the X-ray source, but with a low significance. Further radio observations with high quality are needed to confirm the radio counterpart and explore the properties of this binary system.     

A Study on the Correlations between the Twin kHz QPO Frequencies in Sco X-1

For the bright neutron star low-mass X-ray binary Sco X-1, we analyzed all updated frequencies of the twin kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs), their correlations and distributions. We found that the frequency separation of the kHz QPO peaks appears not to be a constant, rather, it decreases with increasing inferred mass accretion rate. We show that the currently available data of Sco X-1 by Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer are inconsistent with the proposals of the beat model that the frequency separation is a constant. Our conclusions are consistent with those of some previous researchers and we discuss further implications for the kilohertz QPO models.     

Past and future of the central double-degenerate core of Henize 2–428

It has been suggested that Type Ia supernovae(SNe Ia) could be produced in the conditions of the violent merger scenario of the double-degenerate model, in which a thermonuclear explosion could be produced when a double carbon-oxygen white dwarf(CO WD) merges. It has been recently found that the nucleus of the bipolar planetary nebula Henize 2–428 consists of a double CO WD system that has a total mass of~1.76 M⊙, a mass ratio of~1 and an orbital period of~4.2 h, which is the first and only discovered progenitor candidate for an SN Ia predicted by the violent merger scenario. In this work, we aim to reproduce the evolutionary history of the central double CO WD of Henize 2–428. We find that the planetary nebula Henize 2–428 may originate from a primordial binary that has a~5.4 M⊙primary and a~2.7 M⊙secondary with an initial orbital period of~15.9 d. The double CO WD was formed after the primordial binary experienced two Roche-lobe overflows and two common-envelope ejection processes.According to our calculations, it takes about~840 Myr for the double CO WD to merge and form an SN Ia driven by gravitational wave radiation after their birth. To produce the current status of Henize 2–428,a large common-envelope parameter is needed. We also estimate that the rate of SNe Ia from the violent merger scenario is at most 2.9 × 10~(-4) yr~(-1), and that the delay time is in the range of~90 Myr to the Hubble time.