arXiv subjects

A. Baykal

Publications and source records attributed to A. Baykal.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Pulse Profiles of Swift J1626.6+5156

In this paper, we analyzed pulse profiles of Swift J1626.6+5156 using the lightcurves from RXTE-PCA observations between MJD 53724 (just after the outburst) and MJD 55113 and a Chandra-ACIS dataset on MJD 54897 with a 20 ks exposure. We found that pulse profiles show morphological variations and pulsations do not cease even $\sim 1200$ days after the outburst. Despite these variations, we did not find any significant variation in the pulsed fraction with decreasing X-ray flux.

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arXiv2011

Timing and X-ray Spectral Features of Swift J1626.6-5156

In this paper, we extend timing analysis of Baykal et al. (2010) of \src using RXTE-PCA observations between MJD 53724 and MJD 55113 together with a Chandra-ACIS observation on MJD 54897 with a 20 ks exposure. We also present X-ray spectral analysis of these RXTE and Chandra observations. We find that the spin-up rate of the source is correlated with the X-ray flux. Using this correlation, we estimate the distance and surface magnetic field of the source as $\sim 15$kpc and $\sim 9\times 10^{11}$Gauss respectively. From the spectral analysis, we found that power law index increases and Hydrogen column density decreases with decreasing flux.

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arXiv2010

The Orbital Period of Swift J1626.6-5156

We present the discovery of the orbital period of Swift J1626.6-5156. Since its discovery in 2005, the source has been monitored with Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer, especially during the early stage of the outburst and into the X-ray modulating episode. Using a data span of $\sim$700 days, we obtain the orbital period of the system as 132.9 days. We find that the orbit is close to a circular shape with an eccentricity 0.08, that is one of the smallest among Be/X-ray binary systems. Moreover, we find that the timescale of the X-ray modulations varied, which led to earlier suggestions of orbital periods at about a third and half of the orbital period of Swift J1626.6-5156.

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arXiv2010

Analysis of RXTE-PCA Observations of SMC X-1

We present timing and spectral analysis of RXTE-PCA observations of SMC X-1 between January 1996 and December 2003. From observations around 30 August 1996 with a time span of $\sim 6$ days, we obtain a precise timing solution for the source and resolve the eccentricity as 0.00089(6). We find an orbital decay rate of $\dot P_{orb}/P_{orb} =-3.402(7) \times 10^{-6}$ yr$^{-1}$ which is close to the previous results. Using our timing analysis and the previous studies, we construct a $\sim 30$ year long pulse period history of the source. We show that frequency derivative shows long (i.e. more than a few years) and short (i.e. order of days) term fluctuations. From the spectral analysis, we found that all spectral parameters except Hydrogen column density showed no significant variation with time and X-ray flux. Hydrogen column density is found to be higher as X-ray flux gets lower. This may be due to the increase in soft absorption when the pulsar is partially obscured as in Her X-1 or may just be an artifact of the tail of a soft excess in energy spectrum.

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arXiv2009

Optical and X-ray Outbursts of Be/X-ray binary system SAX J2103.5+4545

We present the relations between Halpha equivalent width, optical brightness and X-ray flux of Be/X-ray binary system SAX J2103.5+4545, by analyzing the optical photometric and spectroscopic observations together with the X-ray observations. In the photometric observations PSF photometry were applied using MIDAS and its DAOPHOT package. The reduction and analysis of spectra were done by using MIDAS and its suitable packages. The X-ray outburst of the system occurred just after the optical outburst. The nearly symmetric Halpha emission line profiles observed during the beginning of optical outburst turn into asymmetric profiles with increased EW values during the dissipation of Be disc. Halpha lines changed from emission to absorption during the observation period. The observed double peaked HeI emission lines might come from the accretion disc of neutron star which is temporarily formed at the time of X-ray outburst.

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arXiv2009

Recent Torque Reversal of 4U 1907+09

We present timing and spectral analysis of RXTE-PCA observations of the accretion powered pulsar 4U 1907+09 between June 2007 and August 2008. 4U 1907+09 had been in a spin-down episode with a spin-down rate of $-3.54\times10^{-14}$ Hz s$^{-1}$ before 1999. From RXTE observations after March 2001, the source showed a $\sim 60$% decrease in spin-down magnitude and INTEGRAL observations after March 2003 showed that source started to spin-up. We found that the source recently entered a new spin-down episode with a spin-down rate of $-3.59 \times 10^{-14}$ Hz s$^{-1}$. This spin-down rate is pretty close to the previous long term spin-down rate of the source measured before 1999. From the spectral analysis, we showed that Hydrogen column density varies with the orbital phase.

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arXiv2009

RXTE-PCA Observations of XMMU J054134.7-682550

We analyzed RXTE-PCA observations of a recent outburst of the X-ray pulsar XMMU J054134.7$-$682550. We calculated the pulse frequency history of the source. We found no sign of a binary companion. The source spins up when the X-ray flux is higher, with a correlation between the spin-up rate and X-ray flux, which may be interpreted as a sign of an accretion disk. On the other hand, the source was found to have an almost constant spin frequency when the X-ray flux is lower without any clear sign of a spin-down episode. The decrease in pulsed fraction with decreasing X-ray flux was intrepreted as a sign of accretion geometry change, but we did not find any evidence of a transition from accretor to propeller regimes. The source was found to have variable pulse profiles. Two peaks in pulse profiles were usually observed. We studied the X-ray spectral evolution of the source throughout the observation. Pulse phase resolved analysis does not provide any further evidence for a cyclotron line, but may suggest a slight variation of intensity and width of the 6.4 keV iron line with phase.

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arXiv2008

Long-term optical observations of Be/X-Ray binary system V0332+53

We have been monitoring the binary system V0332+53 (optical counterpart is BQ Cam) since 2004 using 45 cm ROTSEIIId telescope and RTT150 (Russian-Turkish 1.5 m Telescope) located at Bakirlitepe, Antalya, Turkey. We report on the long-term variability of this system up to the present date. There exists a fading of 0.2 mag in the light of BQ Cam after MJD 53400. The fading in the light curve of BQ Cam could be due to a decrease in the density or in the size of the circumstellar disk. We present optical spectroscopic observations obtained before (at MJD 54730) and during (at MJD 54768) the new X-ray activity reported by Krimm et al. (2008). The observed Ha line profiles were single-peaked and almost symmetric. The present EW values are found to be similar to the ones observed during the fading of infrared magnitudes of Negueruela et al. (1999). Ha emission lines were found to be red-shifted by ~140 km/s which were larger than the findings of Corbet et al. (1986). We suggest that brightening of the disk after MJD 54700 may be due to the precession of the disk.

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arXiv2007

Recent RXTE/ASM and ROTSEIIId Observations of EXO 2030+375

Using the archival RXTE/ASM and SWIFT/BAT observations, the new orbital phases of Type I outbursts of EXO 2030+375 are estimated. A possible correlation between the Type II outburst and optical brightness variations is investigated. In order to estimate the phases of Type I outbursts, we fitted Gaussian profiles to the RXTE/ASM and SWIFT/BAT light curves. The time corresponding to the maximum value of the profiles is treated as the arrival time of Type I outburst. We used differential magnitudes in the time-series analysis of the optical light curve. MIDAS and its suitable packages were used to reduce and analyze the spectra. Prior to the Type II outburst, orbital phases of Type I outbursts were delayed for 6 days after the periastron passage, which is consistent with findings of Wilson et al., (2002, 2005). After the giant Type II outburst, the phase of Type I outbursts underwent a sudden shift of 13 days after the periastron passage. The amplitudes of Type I outbursts were increased between MJD 52500 and 53500. These amplitudes then decreased for 10 orbital cycles until the Type II outburst was triggered. If the change of outburst amplitudes correlated with the mass accretion, then during the decrease of these amplitudes mass should be deposited in a disk around neutron star temporarily. The release of this stored mass may ignite the Type II outburst. We report that the optical light curve became fainter by 0.4 mag during the decrease of amplitude of the Type I outbursts. The observed H$α$ profiles and their equivalent widths during the decay and after the giant outburst are consistent with previous observations of the system.

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arXiv2007

Optical variabilities in Be/X-ray binary system:GRO J2058+42

We present an analysis of long-term optical monitoring observations and optical spectroscopic observations of the counterpart to CXOU J205847.5+414637 (high mass X-ray binary system). We search for a variability in the light curve of Be star. We used differential magnitudes in the time series analysis. The variability search in the optical light curve was made by using different algorithms. The reduction and analysis of spectra were done by using MIDAS and its suitable packages. We have performed a frequency search which gave us the value 2.404 1/day. This value is attributed to the non-radial pulsation of Be star. H alpha emission line profiles always show double-peaked emissions with a mean equivalent width of 2.31 \pm 0.19 Å~and a peak separation of 516 \pm 45 km/s. This suggests that Be star disk is still present. CXOU J205847.5+414637 is in X-ray quiescent state.

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arXiv2006

Timing Studies on RXTE Observations of SAX J2103.5+4545

SAX J2103.5+4545 has been continuously monitored for $\sim $ 900 days by Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) since its outburst in July 2002. Using these observations and previous archival RXTE observations of SAX J2103.5+4545, we refined the binary orbital parameters and find the new orbital period as P= (12.66536 $\pm $ 0.00088) days and the eccentricity as 0.4055$\pm$ 0.0032. With these new orbital parameters, we constructed the pulse frequency and pulse frequency derivative histories of the pulsar and confirmed the correlation between X-ray flux and pulse frequency derivative presented by Baykal, Stark and Swank (2002). We constructed the power spectra for the fluctuations of pulse frequency derivatives and found that the power law index of the noise spectra is 2.13 $\pm$ 0.6. The power law index is consistent with random walk in pulse frequency derivative and is the steepest among the HMXRBs. X-ray spectra analysis confirmed the inverse correlation trend between power-law index and X-ray flux found by Baykal, Stark and Swank (2002).

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arXiv2006

Optical observations of Be/X-ray transient system KS 1947+300

ROTSE-IIId observations of the Be/X-ray transient system KS 1947+300 obtained between September 2004 and December 2005 make it possible to study the correlation between optical and X-ray activity. The optical outburst of 0.1 mag was accompanied by an increase in X-ray flux in 2004 observations. Strong correlation between the optical and X-ray light curves suggests that neutron star directly accretes from the outflowing material of Be star. The nearly zero time lag between X-ray and optical light curves suggests a heating of the disk of Be star by X-rays. No optical brightening and X-ray enhancement was seen in 2005 observations. There is no indication of the orbital modulation in the optical light curve.

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arXiv2006

Pulsar Braking Indices, Glitches and Energy Dissipation In Neutron Stars

Almost all pulsars with anomalous positive $\ddot Ω$ measurements (corresponding to anomalous braking indices in the range 5$ $ 10$^{-7}$) as well as post glitch or interglitch $\ddot Ω$ measurements obey the scaling between $\ddot Ω$ and glitch parameters originally noted in the Vela pulsar. Negative second derivative values can be understood in terms of glitches that were missed or remained unresolved. We discuss the glitch rates and a priori probabilities of positive and negative braking indices according to the model developed for the Vela pulsar. This behavior supports the universal occurrence of a nonlinear dynamical coupling between the neutron star crust and an interior superfluid component. The implied lower limit to dynamical energy dissipation in a neutron star with spindown rate $\dot Ω$ is $\dot E_{diss}> 1.7 \times 10 ^{-6} \dot E_{rot}$. Thermal luminosities and surface temperatures due to dynamical energy dissipation are estimated for old neutron stars which are spinning down as rotating magnetic dipoles beyond the pulsar death line.

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arXiv2006

Recent Timing Studies on RXTE Observations of 4U 1538-52

The high mass X-ray binary pulsar 4U 1538-52 was observed between July 31 and August 7, 2003. Using these observations, we determined new orbital epochs for both circular and elliptical orbit models. The orbital epochs for both orbit solutions agreed with each other and yielded an orbital period derivative $\dot{P} / P = (0.4 \pm 1.8) \times 10^{-6}$ yr$^{-1}$. This value is consistent with the earlier measurement of $\dot{P} / P = (2.9 \pm 2.1) \times 10^{-6}$ yr$^{-1}$ at the $1 σ$ level and gives only an upper limit to the orbital period decay. Our determination of the pulse frequency showed that the source spun up at an average rate of $2.76 \times 10^{-14}$ Hz sec$^{-1}$ between 1991 and 2003.

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arXiv2006

Evidence of a Change in the Long Term Spin-down Rate of the X-ray Pulsar 4U 1907+09

We analyzed RXTE archival observations of 4U 1907+09 between 17 February 1996 and 6 March 2002. The pulse timing analysis showed that the source stayed at almost {\bf{constant}} period around August 1998 and then started to spin-down at a rate of $(-1.887\mp 0.042)\times 10^{-14}$ Hz s$^-1$ which is $\sim$ 0.60 times lower than the long term ($\sim 15$ years) spin-down rate (Baykal et al. 2001). Our pulse frequency measurements for the first time resolved significant spin-down rate variations since the discovery of the source. We also presented orbital phase resolved X-ray spectra during two stable spin down episodes during November 1996 - December 1997 and March 2001 - March 2002. The source has been known to have two orbitally locked flares. We found that X-ray flux and spectral parameters except Hydrogen column density agreed with each other during the flares.We interpreted the similar values of X-ray fluxes as an indication of the fact that the source accretes not only via transient retrograde accretion disc (in't Zand et al. 1998) but also via the stellar wind of the companion (Roberts et al. 2001), so that the variation of the accretion rate from the disc does not cause significant variation in the observed X-ray flux. Lack of significant change in spectral parameters except Hydrogen column density was interpreted as a sign of the fact that the change in the spin-down rate of the source was not accompanied by a significant variation in the accretion geometry.

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arXiv2005

ROTSE observations of the young cluster IC 348

CCD observations of stars in the young cluster IC 348 were obtained from 2004 August to 2005 January with a 0.45 m ROTSEIIId robotic reflecting telescope at the Turkish National Observatory site, Bakirlitepe, Turkey. The timing analysis of selected stars whose X-Ray counterpart were detected by Chandra X-Ray Observatory were studied. The time series of stars were searched for rotational periodicity by using different period search methods. 35 stars were found to be periodic with periods ranging from 0.74 to 32.3 days. Eighteen of the 35 periodic stars were new detections. Four of the new detections were CTTSs and the others were WTTSs and G type (or unknown spectral class) stars. In this study, we confirmed the stability of rotation periods of TTauri stars. The periods obtained by Cohen et al. and us were different by 1%. We also confirmed the 3.24 h pulsation period of H254 which is a delta Scuti type star as noted by Ripepi et al. but the other periods detected by them were not found. We examined correlation between X-ray luminosity and rotational period of our sample of TTSs. There is a decline in the rotational period with X-ray luminosity for late type TTSs.

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arXiv2005

X-ray Spectral Evolution of Her X-1 in a Low State and the Following Short High State

We analyzed spectral variations of $\sim 8.5$ days long RXTE monitoring observations of Her X-1 in December 2001. This set of observations enables, for the first time, frequent continuous monitoring (111 pointings in $\sim 8.5$ days) of the source with RXTE including $\sim 1.7$ days long low state part and the following $\sim 6.8$ days long short high state part. We used absorbed power law model with iron line energy complex modeled as a Gaussian to fit both the 3-60 keV PCA-HEXTE overall short high state spectrum and 3-20 keV individual PCA spectra. Additional partial cold absorber model was used for both cases. Using 3-20 keV individual PCA spectra, absorption in anomalous dips and preeclipse dips in short high state were compared. Decreasing ratio of unabsorbed flux to absorbed flux with increasing unabsorbed flux in anomalous and preeclipse dips was interpreted as an evidence of the fact that the regions causing opaque obscuration and soft absorption are not geometrically far away from each other. Higher iron line peak energies in low state and short high state ($\sim 6.6-6.9$ keV) were interpreted as a clue of the presence of iron line components other than K$α$ emission line.

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arXiv2005

X-ray outburst of 4U 0115+634 and ROTSE Observations of its Optical Counterpart V635 Cas

ROTSE IIId (The Robotic Optical Transient Experiment) observations of X-ray binary system 4U 0115+634/V635 Cas obtained during 2004 June and 2005 January make possible, for the first time, to study the correlation between optical and type II X-ray outbursts. The X-ray outburst sharply enhanced after periastron passage where the optical brightness was reduced by 0.3 magnitude for a few days. We interpret the sharp reduction of optical brightness as a sign of mass ejection from the outer parts of the disc of the Be star. After this sharp decrease, the optical brightness healed and reached the pre X-ray outburst level. Afterwards, gradual decrease of the optical brightness followed a minimum then a gradual increase started again. Qualitatively, change of optical lightcurve suggests a precession of the Be star disc around a few hundred days. We also investigate the periodic signatures from the archival RXTE-ASM (Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer - All Sky Monitor) light curve covering a time span of $\sim 9$ years. We find significant orbital modulation in the ASM light curve during the type I X-ray outburst.

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