RXTE All-Sky Monitor Detection of the Orbital Period of Scorpius X-1

Abstract

The orbital period of Scorpius X-1 has been accepted as 0.787313 d since its discovery in archival optical photometric data by Gottlieb, Wright, & Liller (1975). This period has been confirmed in both photometric and spectroscopic optical observations, though to date only marginal evidence has been reported for modulation of the X-ray intensity at that period. We have used data taken with the RXTE All Sky Monitor to search for such a modulation. A major difficulty in detecting the orbit in X-ray data is presented by the flaring behavior of Sco X-1, which contributes white noise to Fourier transforms of the intensity time series, and tends to obscure weak modulations. We present a new technique for substantially reducing the effects of the flaring behavior while retaining much of any periodic orbital modulation, provided only that the two temporal behaviors exhibit different spectral signatures. Through such a search, we have found evidence for orbital modulation at about the 1% level with a period of 0.78893 d, equal within our accuracy to a period which differs by 1 cycle per year from the accepted value. If we compare our results with the period of the 1 year sideband cited by Gottlieb et al. we conclude that the actual period may be 0.78901 d.