The Periods Discovered by RXTE in Thermonuclear Flash Bursts
Abstract
Oscillations in the X-ray flux of thermonuclear X-ray bursts have been observed with RXTE from at least 6 low-mass binaries, at frequencies from 330 Hz to 589 Hz. There appear to be preferred relations between the frequencies present during the bursts and those seen in the persistent flux. The amplitude of the oscillations can exceed 50 % near burst onset. Except for a systematic increase in oscillation frequency as the burst progresses, the frequency is stable. Time resolved spectra track increases in the X-ray emitting area due to propagation of the burning front over the neutron star surface, as well as radiation driven expansion of the photosphere. The neutron star mass, radius, and distance can be inferred when spectra are compared to theoretical expectations.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9801219,
title = {The Periods Discovered by RXTE in Thermonuclear Flash Bursts},
author = {T. E. Strohmayer and J. H. Swank and W. Zhang},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9801219},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
6 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Proceedings of the Symposium "The Active X-Ray Sky: Results from BeppoSAX and Rossi-XTE", Rome, Italy, 21-24 October, 1997, Nuclear Physics B Proceedings Supplements. Eds. L. Scarsi, H. Bradt, P. Giommi, and F. Fiore