A classification of the X-ray and radio states of Cyg X-3 and their long-term correlations

We present a detailed classification of the X-ray states of Cyg X-3 based on the spectral shape and a new classification of the radio states based on the long-term correlated behaviour of the radio and soft X-ray light curves. We find a sequence of correlations, starting with a positive correlation between the radio and soft X-ray fluxes in the hard spectral state, changing to a negative one at the transition to soft spectral states. The temporal evolution can be in either direction on that sequence, unless the source goes into a very weak radio state, from which it can return only following a major radio flare. The flare decline is via relatively bright radio states, which results in a hysteresis loop on the flux–flux diagram. We also study the hard X-ray light curve, and find its overall anticorrelation with the soft X-rays. During major radio flares, the radio flux responds exponentially to the level of a hard X-ray high-energy tail. We also specify the detailed correspondence between the radio states and the X-ray spectral states. We compare our results to those of black hole and neutron star binaries. Except for the effect of strong absorption and the energy of the high-energy break in the hard state, the X-ray spectral states of Cyg X-3 closely correspond to the canonical X-ray states of black hole binaries. Also, the radio/X-ray correlation closely corresponds to that found in black hole binaries, but it significantly differs from that in neutron star binaries. Overall, our results strongly support the presence of a black hole in Cyg X-3.     

Populations of Bright X-ray Sources in the Starburst Galaxies NGC 4038/4039

Assuming a naive star formation history, we construct synthetic X-ray source pop- ulations, using a population synthesis code, for comparison with the observed X-ray lumi- nosity function (XLF) of the interacting galaxies NGC 4038/4039. We have included high- and intermediate-mass X-ray binaries, young rotation-powered pulsars and fallback disk-fed black holes in modeling the bright X-ray sources detected. We find that the majority of the X-ray sources are likely to be intermediate-mass X-ray binaries, but for typical binary evolu- tion parameters, the predicted XLF seems to be steeper than observed. We note that the shape of the XLFs depends critically on the existence of XLF break for young populations, and suggest super-Eddington accretion luminosities or the existence of intermediate-mass black holes to account for the high luminosity end and the slope of the XLF in NGC 4038/4039.     

Comparing X-ray color selection in separating X-ray binary classes using color-color-intensity diagrams

X-ray binaries exhibit a wide range of properties but there are few accepted methods to determine the nature of the compact object. Color-Color-Intensity diagrams have been suggested as a means of distinguishing between systems containing black holes from those containing neutron stars. However, this technique has been verified with data from only one instrument (RXTE/ASM) with a single set of X-ray colors defined using data available only in pre-determined energy bands. We test a selection of X-ray colors with a more sensitive instrument to determine the reliability of this method. We use data from the MAXI/Gas Slit Camera, which allows users to specify energy-bands. We test X-ray colors that have been previously defined in the literature as well as ones that we define specifically in this paper. A representative set of systems are used to construct Color-Color-Intensity diagrams in each set of colors to determine which are best for separating different classes. For studying individual sources certain bands are more effective than others. For a specified energy range, the separation of soft states in black hole binaries was possible only where both soft and hard colors included information from the lowest energy band. We confirm that Color-Color-Intensity diagrams can distinguish between systems containing black holes or neutron stars in all X-ray colors tested; this suggests an universality in the accretion processes governing these different classes. We suggest possible physical processes driving different classes of X-ray binaries to different locations in Color-Color-Intensity diagrams.     

On the neutron star–disc interaction in Be/X-ray binaries

We have investigated the long-term X-ray variability, defined as the root-mean-square (rms) of the All Sky Monitor Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (ASM RXTE ) light curves, of a set of galactic Be/X-ray binaries and searched for correlations with system parameters, such as the spin period of the neutron star and the orbital period and eccentricity of the binary. We find that systems with larger rms are those harbouring fast-rotating neutron stars, low eccentric and narrow orbits. These relationships can be explained as the result of the truncation of the circumstellar disc. We also present an updated version of the Hα equivalent width–orbital period diagram, including sources in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). This diagram provides strong observational evidence of the interaction of neutron star with the circumstellar envelope of its massive companion.     

Observations of the X-ray binaries 4U 1700-37 and GRO J1655-40 during the Grif experiment onboard the mir orbiting station

Various areas of the sky, including the Galactic-center region and the region with the X-ray binaries 4U 1700-37 and GRO J1655-40, were observed in the hard (10–300 keV) energy range during the Grif experiment onboard the Mir orbiting station. An epoch-folding analysis of the data has revealed periodicities with periods of 82 and 62 h, which are equal to the orbital periods of 4U 1700-37 and GRO J1655-40. Previously, these periodicities were observed during the Prognoz-9 X-ray experiment. Periodicities with periods in the range of days, 98 and 152 h, which were also observed during the Prognoz-9 experiment, were not revealed by the Grif data. We obtained upper limits on the intensities of these periodicities in various energy ranges. For the 62-h periodicity, we constructed an average 25–50-keV light curve and estimated the spectral flux density, which characterizes the intensity of the periodic component at different energies in different observing intervals during 1995–1997. The Prognoz-9 and Grif observations of GRO J1655-40 are compared with its CGRO, RXTE, and BeppoSax observations. The orbital periodicity is shown to manifest itself in the hard emission from the extremely bright X-ray transient GRO J1655-40, a likely black-hole candidate, even at the epochs between its X-ray outbursts.     

A catalogue of stars suspected of bright active regions

We present a catalogue of field stars across the HR diagram suspected of bright active regions in their atmospheres.We aim at developing the first version of a database of active stars with bright regions (bright spots). Using a variety of databases and the internet we found and gathered all relevant archival data starting about 1973 and being important for developing such a catalogue. We found that the phenomenon starspot is now common to a variety of spectral type and luminosity classes. Our primary goal was to identify active solar and late type stars suspicious of bright active regions but the search offers expanded results including young T Tauri stars, eclipsing binaries with equal or mixed spectral types components (Algols,WUMa stars) and in some cases other types of objects. Moreover, the light curves analyses for eclipsing binaries offer reliable estimates for spot properties and it was found that 20% of binaries in the catalogue had a spot located near the L point (neck zone). At present, the catalogue consists of 134 stars and overall characteristics for them are organised in several files in ASCII format. The catalogue is electronically available (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

X-ray and UV variability in the core of M15: the nature of X2127+119/AC211

The prototypical post-core-collapse globular cluster M15 provides an ideal environment for the formation of exotic binaries, it being already known to contain a luminous LMXB (X2127+119, optically identified with the 17.1-h eclipsing binary AC211) and 6 millisecond-pulsars in the core. However, the X-ray properties of X2127+119 are strange in that it appears to be a high inclination accretion disc corona source (ADC) from which we only see scattered X-radiation, and yet it has produced extremely luminous type I X-ray bursts, which may or may not have come from AC211. We have therefore examined the ∼5-year RXTE/ASM light curve of this object in order to search for long-term modulations which might shed light on this unusual behaviour, and which led to our discovery of further X-ray bursts. Furthermore, we have used archival HST UV images of the M15 core to search for other variable objects which might indicate the presence of a second LMXB. From these we have found one highly variable (>5 mag) object which we interpret as a dwarf nova.     

Spectral variability of the X-ray pulsar Hercules X-1

We present the results of our comparative timing and spectral analysis of the high and low (off) states in the X-ray pulsar Her X-1 based on data from the ART-P telescope onboard the Granat observatory. A statistically significant (several mCrab) persistent flux with a simple power-law spectrum was detected during the low state. The spectral slope changed from observation to observation by almost a factor of 2. Pulsations were detected only during the high state of the source, when its flux was a factor of ～25 larger than the low-state flux. The spectral shape of Her X-1 in its high state was complex, with the parameters depending on pulse phase.     

Optical follow-up of new Small Magellanic Cloud wing Be/X-ray binaries

We investigate the optical counterparts of recently discovered Be/X-ray binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). In total four sources, SXP101, SXP700, SXP348 and SXP65.8 were detected during the Chandra survey of the wing of the SMC. SXP700 and SXP65.8 were previously unknown. Many optical ground-based telescopes have been utilized in the optical follow-up, providing coverage in both the red and blue bands. This has led to the classification of all of the counterparts as Be stars and confirms that three lie within the Galactic spectral distribution of known Be/X-ray binaries. SXP101 lies outside this distribution and is the latest spectral type known. Monitoring of the Hα emission line suggests that all the sources barring SXP700 have highly variable circumstellar discs, possibly a result of their comparatively short orbital periods. Phase-resolved X-ray spectroscopy has also been performed on SXP65.8, revealing that the emission is indeed harder during the passage of the X-ray beam through the line of sight.     

Cutoff in the hard X-ray spectra of the ultraluminous X-ray sources HoIX X-1 and M82 X-1

Using data from the XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL observatories, we have detected a cutoff at energies above 10 keV in the X-ray spectra of the ultraluminous X-ray sources HoIX X-1 and M82 X-1. The spectra obtained can be described by amodel of Comptonization of radiation in a gas cloud of moderate temperature (kT ～ 2–3 keV) and high optical depth (τ ～ 15–25). Such conditions can be fulfilled during supercritical accretion of matter onto a stellar-mass black hole accompanied by a strong gas outflow. The results of this work confirm the existence of a spectral state specific to ultraluminous X-ray sources, which is unlike any of the known spectral states in normal X-ray binaries.     

The nature of the infrared counterpart of IGR J19140+0951

The International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory observatory has been (re-)discovering new X-ray sources since the beginning of nominal operations in early 2003. These sources include X-ray binaries, active galactic nuclei, cataclysmic variables, etc. Amongst the X-ray binaries, the true nature of many of these sources has remained largely elusive, though they seem to make up a population of highly absorbed high-mass X-ray binaries. One of these new sources, IGR J19140+0951, was serendipitously discovered on 2003 March 6 during an observation of the galactic microquasar GRS 1915+105. We observed IGR J19140+0951 with the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope in order to identify the infrared counterpart. Here we present the H - and K -band spectra. We determined that the companion is a B0.5-type bright supergiant in a wind-fed system, at a distance ≲5 kpc.     

Correlated optical/X-ray variability in the high-mass X-ray binary SAX J2103.5+4545

SAX J2103.5+4545 is the Be/X-ray binary (BeX) with the shortest orbital period. It shows extended bright and faint X-ray states that last for a few hundred days. The main objective of this work is to investigate the relationship between the X-ray and optical variability and to characterize the spectral and timing properties of the bright and faint states. We have found a correlation between the spectral and temporal parameters that fit the energy and power spectra. Softer energy spectra correspond to softer power spectra. That is to say, when the energy spectrum is soft, the power at high frequencies is suppressed. We also present the results of our monitoring of the Hα line of the optical counterpart since its discovery in 2003. There is a correlation between the strength and shape of the Hα line, originated in the circumstellar envelope of the massive companion and the X-ray emission from the vicinity of the neutron star. Hα emission, indicative of an equatorial disc around the B-type star, is detected whenever the source is bright in X-rays. When the disc is absent, the X-ray emission decreases significantly. The long-term variability of SAX J2103.5+4545 is characterized by fast episodes of disc loss and subsequent reformation. The time-scales for the loss and reformation of the disc (about 2 yr) are the fastest among BeXs.     

Parallel tracks in infrared versus X-ray emission in black hole X-ray transient outbursts: a hysteresis effect?

We report the discovery of a new hysteresis effect in black hole X-ray binary state transitions, that of the near-infrared (NIR) flux (which most likely originates in the jets) versus X-ray flux. We find, looking at existing data sets, that the IR emission of black hole X-ray transients appears to be weaker in the low/hard state rise of an outburst than the low/hard state decline of an outburst at a given X-ray luminosity. We discuss how this effect may be caused by a shift in the radiative efficiency of the inflowing or outflowing matter, or variations in the disc viscosity or the spectrum/power of the jet. In addition we show that there is a correlation (in slope but not in normalization) between IR and X-ray luminosities on the rise and decline, for all three low-mass black hole X-ray binaries with well-sampled IR and X-ray coverage:   L _NIR∝ L ^0.5–0.7_X  . In the high/soft state this slope is much shallower;   L _NIR∝ L ^0.1–0.2_X  , and we find that the NIR emission in this state is most likely dominated by the viscously heated (as opposed to X-ray heated) accretion disc in all three sources.     

Broadband spectrum of the total X-ray emission from the galaxy M31

We present the results of measurements of the total X-ray flux from the Andromeda galaxy (M31) in the 3-100 keV band based on data from the RXTE/PCA, INTEGRAL/ISGRI, and SWIFT/BAT space experiments. We show that the total emission from the galaxy has a multicomponent spectrum whose main characteristics are specified by binaries emitting in the optically thick and optically thin regimes. The galaxy’s luminosity at energies 20–100 keV gives about 6% of its total luminosity in the 3–100 keV band. The emissivity of the stellar population in M31 is L _{2–20 keV} ～ 1.1 × 10²⁹ erg s^?1 M _⊙ ^?1 in the 2–20 keV band and L _{20–100 keV} ～ 8 × 10²⁷ erg s^?1 M _⊙ ^?1 in the 20–100 keV band. Since low-mass X-ray binaries at high luminosities pass into a soft state with a small fraction of hard X-ray emission, the detection of individual hard X-ray sources in M31 requires a sensitivity that is tens of times better (up to 10^?13 erg s^?1 cm^?2) than is needed to detect the total hard X-ray emission from the entire galaxy. Allowance for the contribution from the hard spectral component of the galaxy changes the galaxy’s effective Compton temperature approximately by a factor of 2, from ～1.1 to ～2.1 keV.     

Onboard performance of the RT-2 detectors

The RT-2 Experiment onboard the CORONAS-PHOTON satellite is designed to study the spectral, temporal, and spatial details of solar hard X-ray flares in the 15–150 keV range. Above this energy (and upto 1000 keV), it also acts as an omni-directional gamma-ray detector with a capability to study gamma-ray bursts (GRB), bright solar flares, and X-ray pulsars. With an ensemble of hard X-ray detectors with different fields of view and coding devices, it also has the capability to investigate the spectrum of Cosmic Diffuse X-ray Background. The performance of the detectors from 2009 February to November is described in this paper. Results obtained on a few GRBs and solar flares are also briefly discussed.     

Catalog of short gamma-ray transients detected in the SPI/INTEGRAL experiment

We analyzed the data obtained by the SPI telescope onboard the INTEGRAL observatory to search for short transient events with a duration from 1 ms to a few tens of seconds. An algorithm for identifying gamma-ray events against the background of a large number of charged particle interactions with the detector has been developed. The classification of events was made. Apart from the events associated with cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) confirmed by other space experiments and the activity of known soft gamma repeaters (for example, SGR 1806-20), previously unreported GRBs have been found. GRB candidates and short gamma-ray events probably associated with the activity of known SGRs and AXPs have been selected. The spectral evolution of 28 bright GRBs from the catalog has been studied extensively. A new method for investigating the spectral evolution is proposed. The energy dependence of the spectral lag for bursts with a simple structure of their light curves and for individual pulses of multipulse events is shown to be described by a logarithmic function, lag ～ Alog(E). It has been established that the parameter A depends on the pulse duration, with the dependence being universal for all of the investigated GRBs. No negative spectral lags have been detected for bursts with a simple structure of their light curves.     

On Be/X-ray binaries with an intermediate-mass black hole

We adopt the tidal truncation model proposed by Negueruela and Okazaki for Be/X-ray binaries to investigate the influence of intermediate-mass black holes(IMBHs)on Be-star disks.We show that the viscous decretion disks around Be stars are generally truncated ineffectively under the tidal force of IMBHs.Combining this with observations of Be/X-ray binaries,we suggest that Be/IMBH X-ray binaries may appear as recurrent luminous X-ray transients with quasi-periodic X-ray outbursts.     

Neutron Stars in X-ray Binaries and their Environments

Neutron stars in X-ray binary systems are fascinating objects that display a wide range of timing and spectral phenomena in the X-rays. Not only parameters of the neutron stars, like magnetic field strength and spin period evolve in their active binary phase, the neutron stars also affect the binary systems and their immediate surroundings in many ways. Here we discuss some aspects of the interactions of the neutron stars with their environments that are revelaed from their X-ray emission. We discuss some recent developments involving the process of accretion onto high magnetic field neutron stars: accretion stream structure and formation, shape of pulse profile and its changes with accretion torque. Various recent studies of reprocessing of X-rays in the accretion disk surface, vertical structures of the accretion disk and wind of companion star are also discussed here. The X-ray pulsars among the binary neutron stars provide excellent handle to make accurate measurement of the orbital parameters and thus also evolution of the binray orbits that take place over time scale of a fraction of a million years to tens of millions of years. The orbital period evolution of X-ray binaries have shown them to be rather complex systems. Orbital evolution of X-ray binaries can also be carried out from timing of the X-ray eclipses and there have been some surprising results in that direction, including orbital period glitches in two X-ray binaries and possible detection of the most massive circum-binary planet around a Low Mass X-ray Binary.     

High-mass X-ray binaries and the spiral structure of the host galaxy

We investigate the manifestation of the spiral structure in the distribution of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) over the host galaxy. We construct the simplest kinematic model. It shows that the HMXBs should be displaced relative to the spiral structure observed in such traditional star formation rate indicators as the Hα and far-infrared emissions because of their finite lifetimes. Using Chandra observations of M51, we have studied the distribution of X-ray sources relative to the spiral arms of this galaxy observed in Hα. Based on K-band data and background source number counts, we have separated the contributions from high-mass and low-mass X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei. In agreement with model predictions, the distribution of HMXBs is wider than that of bright H II regions concentrated in the region of ongoing star formation. However, the statistical significance of this result is low, as is the significance of the concentration of the total population of X-ray sources to the spiral arms. We also predict the distribution of HMXBs in our Galaxy in Galactic longitude. The distribution depends on the mean HMXB age and can differ significantly from the distributions of such young objects as ultracompact H II regions.