X-ray Transient Sources (Multifrequency Laboratories) The Case of the Prototype A0535+26/HDE 245770

Authors

  • F. Giovannelli
  • L. Sabau-Graziati

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14311/1310

Keywords:

X-ray/Be systems, X-ray pulsars, be stars, optical, spectroscopy, photometry, X-rays, individual, A0535 26 ? 1A 0535 26 ? 4U 0538 26 ? 1H 0536 263 ? 1RXS J053855.1 261843, HDE 245770 ? BD 26? 883 ? V 725 Tau ? AAVSO 0532 26 ?

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to discuss the behaviour of the X-ray transient source A0535+26 which is considered for historical reasons and for the huge amount of multifrequency data, spread over a period of 35 years, as the prototype of this class of objects. Transient sources are formed by a Be star — the primary — and a neutron star X-ray pulsar — the secondary — and constitute a sub-class of X-ray binary systems. We will emphasize the discovery of low-energy indicators of high-energy processes. They are UBVRI magnitudes and Balmer lines of the optical companion. Particular unusual activity of the primary star — usually at the periastron passage of the neutron star – indicates that an X-ray flare is drawing near. The shape and intensity of X-ray outbursts are dependent on the strength of the activity of the primary. We derive the optical orbital period of the system as 110.856 ± 0.02 days. By using the optical flare of December 5, 1981 (here after 811205-E) that triggered the subsequent X-ray outburst of December 13, 1981, we derive the ephemeris of the system as JD Popt−outb = JD0 (2, 444, 944) ± n(110.856 ± 0.02). Thus the passage of the neutron star at the periastron occurs with a periodicity of 110.856 ± 0.02 days and the different kinds of X-ray outbursts of A0535+26 — following the definitions reported in the review by Giovannelli & Sabau-Graziati (1992) — occur just after ∼ 8 days. The delay between optical and X-ray outbursts is just the transit time of the material coming out from the optical companion to reach the neutron star X-ray pulsar. The occurrence of X-ray “normal outbursts”, “anomalous outbursts” or “casual outbursts” is dependent on the activity of the Be star: “quiet state: steady stellar wind”, “excited state: stellar wind plus puffs of material”, and “expulsion of a shell”, respectively. In the latter case, the primary manifests a strong optical activity and the consequent strong X-ray outburst can occur in any orbital phase, with a preference at the periastron passage of the neutron star, because of its gravitational effects on the Be star.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2011-01-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Giovannelli, F., & Sabau-Graziati, L. (2011). X-ray Transient Sources (Multifrequency Laboratories) The Case of the Prototype A0535+26/HDE 245770. Acta Polytechnica, 51(1). https://doi.org/10.14311/1310