Related papers: X-ray variability of transitional millisecond puls…
We report on NuSTAR observations of transient pulsations in the neutron star X-ray binary SMC X-1. The transition from non-pulsing to pulsing states was not accompanied by a large change in flux. Instead, both pulsing and non-pulsing states…
We report NuSTAR and Chandra observations of two X-ray transients, SWIFT J174540.7$-$290015 (T15) and SWIFT J174540.2$-$290037 (T37), which were discovered by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in 2016 within $r\sim1$ pc of Sgr A*. NuSTAR…
Redback millisecond pulsars (MSPs) typically show pronounced orbital variability in their X-ray emission due to our changing view of the intrabinary shock (IBS) between the pulsar wind and stellar wind from the companion. Some redbacks…
We report the discovery of an episode of coherent millisecond X-ray pulsation in the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary Aql X-1. The episode lasts for slightly more than 150 seconds, during which the pulse frequency is consistent with being…
We show that the X-ray outburst light curves of four transient anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs), namely XTE J1810-197, SGR 0501+4516, SGR 1627-41 and CXOU J164710.2-455216, can be produced by the fallback…
Redback millisecond pulsars (hereafter redbacks) are a sub-population of eclipsing millisecond pulsars in close binaries. The formation processes of these systems are not clear. The three pulsars showing transitions between rotation- and…
Recent observations suggest that neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries rotate within a narrow range of spin frequencies clustered around 300 Hz. A proposed explanation for this remarkable fact is that gravitational radiation from a…
We report the discovery of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the High Mass X-ray Binary (HMXB) pulsar LMC X-4 in its non-flaring (persistent) state using observations with XMM-Newton. In addition to the 74 mHz coherent pulsations, the…
We have identified the third known accretion-powered millisecond pulsar, XTE J0929-314, with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer. The source is a faint, high-Galactic-latitude X-ray transient (d >~ 5 kpc) that was in outburst during 2002…
The large majority of neutron stars (NSs) in low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) have never shown detectable pulsations despite several decades of intense monitoring. The reason for this remains an unsolved problem that hampers our ability to…
We analyzed the initial rising behaviors of X-ray outbursts from two transient low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) containing a neutron-star (NS), Aql X-1 and 4U 1608-52, which are continuously being monitored by MAXI/GSC in 2--20 keV, RXTE/ASM…
High amplitude X-ray brightness oscillations during thermonuclear X-ray bursts were discovered with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) in early 1996. Spectral and timing evidence strongly supports the conclusion that these oscillations…
We discuss three modes of oscillation of accretion disks around rotating magnetized neutron stars which may explain the separations of the kilo-Hertz quasi periodic oscillations (QPO) seen in low mass X-ray binaries. The existence of these…
The ultra-luminous X-ray (ULX) source ESO 243-49 HLX-1 currently provides the strongest evidence for the existence of intermediate mass black holes. We conduct an ongoing monitoring campaign with the Swift X-ray Telescope and found that…
We present a systematic study of the evolution of intermediate- and low-mass X-ray binaries consisting of an accreting neutron star of mass $1.0-1.8 M_{\odot}$ and a donor star of mass $1.0-6.0 M_{\odot}$. In our calculations we take into…
The distribution of the spin frequencies of neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries exhibits a cut-off at 730 Hz, below the break-up frequency (mass-shedding limit) of neutron stars. The absence of the sub-millisecond pulsars presents a…
Millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are short-period pulsars that are distinguished from "normal" pulsars, not only by their short period, but also by their very small spin-down rates and high probability of being in a binary system. These…
We report the discovery of a new low-mass X-ray binary near the center of the unassociated Fermi GeV gamma-ray source 4FGL J0540.0-7552. The source shows the persistent presence of an optical accretion disk and exhibits extreme X-ray and…
We analyze the frequency evolution of millisecond oscillations observed during type I X-ray bursts with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer in order to establish the stability of the mechanism underlying the oscillations. Our sample contains 68…
A number of studies have revealed variability from neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries during quiescence. Such variability is not well characterised, or understood, but may be a common property that has been missed due to lack of multiple…