arXiv subjects

France A. Cordova

Publications and source records attributed to France A. Cordova.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2006

Spitzer IRS Spectroscopy of Intermediate Polars: Constraints on Mid-Infrared Cyclotron Emission

We present Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) observations of eleven intermediate polars (IPs). Spectra covering the wavelength range from 5.2 to 14 $μ$m are presented for all eleven objects, and longer wavelength spectra are presented for three objects (AE Aqr, EX Hya, and V1223 Sgr). We also present new, moderate resolution (R $\sim$ 2000) near-infrared spectra for five of the program objects. We find that, in general, the mid-infrared spectra are consistent with simple power laws that extend from the optical into the mid-infrared. There is no evidence for discrete cyclotron emission features in the near- or mid-infrared spectra for any of the IPs investigated. If cyclotron emission is occurring in the 5.2 to 14.0 $μ$m bandpass it constitutes less than 1% of the bolometric luminosity of any of the IPs. We discuss our results in the context of the standard model for IPs.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The Nature of the Secondary Star in the Black Hole X-Ray Transient V616 Mon (=A0620-00)

We have used NIRSPEC on Keck II to obtain $K$-band spectroscopy of the low mass X-ray binary V616 Mon (= A0620$-$00). V616 Mon is the proto-typical soft x-ray transient containing a black hole primary. As such it is important to constrain the masses of the binary components. The modeling of the infrared observations of ellipsoidal variations in this system lead to a derived mass of 11.0 M$_{\sun}$ for the black hole. The validity of this derivation has been called into question due to the possiblity that the secondary star's spectral energy distribution is contaminated by accretion disk emission (acting to dilute the variations). Our new $K$-band spectrum of V616 Mon reveals a late-type K dwarf secondary star, but one that has very weak $^{\rm 12}$CO absorption features. Comparison of V616 Mon with SS Cyg leads us to estimate that the accretion disk supplies only a small amount of $K$-band flux, and the ellipsoidal variations are not seriously contaminated. If true, the derived orbital inclination of V616 Mon is not greatly altered, and the mass of the black hole remains large. A preliminary stellar atmosphere model for the $K$-band spectrum of V616 Mon reveals that the carbon abundance is approximately 50% of the solar value. We conclude that the secondary star in V616 Mon has either suffered serious contamination from the accretion of supernova ejecta that created the black hole primary, or it is the stripped remains of a formerly more massive secondary star, one in which the CNO cycle had been active.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Probing the Pulsar Wind Nebula of PSR B0355+54

We present XMM-Newton and Chandra X-ray observations of the middle-aged radio pulsar PSR B0355+54. Our X-ray observations reveal emission not only from the pulsar itself, but also from a compact diffuse component extending ~50'' in the opposite direction to the pulsar's proper motion. There is also evidence for the presence of fainter diffuse emission extending ~5' from the point source. The compact diffuse feature is well-fitted with a power-law, the index of which is consistent with the values found for other pulsar wind nebulae. The morphology of the diffuse component is similar to the ram-pressure confined pulsar wind nebulae detected for other sources. The X-ray emission from the pulsar itself is described well by a thermal plus power-law fit, with the thermal emission most likely originating in a hot polar cap.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Low State, Phase-Resolved IR Spectroscopy of VV Puppis

We present phase-resolved low resolution $JHK$ and higher resolution $K$-band spectroscopy of the polar VV Pup. All observations were obtained when VV Pup was in a low accretion state having a K magnitude near 15. The low resolution observations reveal cyclotron emission in the $J$ band during some phases, consistent with an origin near the active 30.5 MG pole on the white dwarf. The secondary in VV Pup appears to be a normal M7V star and we find that the $H$ and $K$ band fluxes are entirely due to this star at all orbital phases during the low accretion state. We use our higher resolution Keck spectroscopy to produce the first $K$-band radial velocity curve for VV Pup. Our orbital solution yields $K_2$=414$\pm27$ km sec$^{-1}$ and leads to mass estimates of M$_1$=0.73$\pm$0.05 M$_{\odot}$ and M$_2$=0.10$\pm$0.02 M$_{\odot}$. We find that the mass accretion rates during the normal low states of the polars VV Pup, EF Eri, and EQ Cet are near 10$^{-13}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$. The fact that M is not zero in low state polars indicates active secondary stars in these binary systems, including the sub-stellar donor star present in EF Eri.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Why Are The Secondary Stars in Polars So Normal?

We have used NIRSPEC on Keck II to obtain $K$-band spectroscopy of several magnetic cataclysmic variables. These data reveal that the secondary stars in these binary systems have spectra that are consistent with normal, late-type dwarfs in both their atomic and molecular line strengths, as well as in the slopes of their continuua. This result is in stark contrast to the infrared spectra of their non-magnetic cousins, nearly all of which show peculiar abundances, especially of CNO species and their isotopes. It appears that the evolutionary path taken by the secondary stars in magnetic systems differs from that for the non-magnetic systems. We discuss the implications of this result.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

X-ray Observations of the Boundary Layer in Dwarf Novae at Low Accretion Rates

We present a spectral analysis of XMM-Newton data of ten dwarf novae, nine of which were observed during a quiescent state. The X-ray spectra indicate the presence of a hot, optically thin plasma with a temperature distribution consistent with a simple, isobaric cooling flow. The likely origin of the X-ray emission is cooling plasma in the boundary layer settling onto the white dwarf. Using a cooling flow model, we derive the temperatures, accretion rates, rotational velocities, and elemental abundances of the X-ray emitting gas. We discuss the implications of our findings for the structure of the boundary layer. A comparison of X-ray and ultraviolet luminosities finds no evidence of underluminous boundary layers in any of the quiescent dwarf novae. The X-ray spectrum of EI UMa differs significantly from those of the other objects, showing a strong fluorescent Fe K-alpha line and a strong O VII line triplet. Based on the observational evidence, we argue that EI UMa is most likely an intermediate polar and not as previously thought a dwarf nova.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Irregular Mass Transfer in the Polars VV Puppis and V393 Pavonis during the Low State

The polars VV Pup and V393 Pav were observed with XMM-Newton during states of low accretion rate with peak X-ray luminosities of ~1 x 10^30 and ~1 x 10^31 erg/s, respectively. In both polars, accretion onto the white dwarf was extremely irregular, and the accretion rate varied by more than 1 order of magnitude on timescales of ~1 hr. Our observations suggest that this type of irregular accretion is a common phenomenon in polars during the low state. The likely cause of the accretion rate fluctuations are coronal mass ejections or solar flares on the companion star that intermittently increase the mass transfer into the accretion stream. Our findings demonstrate that the companion stars in cataclysmic variables possess highly active atmospheres.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

FUSE Spectroscopy of the Transitional Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable V405 Aurigae

We present Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer observations of the magnetic cataclysmic variable V405 Aurigae. Together with four other DQ Her type binaries, V405 Aur forms a small subclass of intermediate polars which are likely to evolve into low magnetic field strength polars, similar to AM Her. Our co-added FUSE spectrum exhibits broad O VI and C III emission-lines as well as a narrow O VI emission-line component which likely forms near the white dwarf surface. The O VI 1032/1038 narrow emission line flux ratio is near 2.0 throughout the orbit, indicative of its formation in an optically thin gas. Radial velocity measurements of the narrow O VI emission-lines restrict any orbital modulation to a very low amplitude (Kwd = 2.5+/- 0.5 km/s) indicating, along with other single peaked broad disk emission lines in the UV and optical, that the binary system is at low inclination.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

XMM-Newton Observations of PSR B1706-44

We report on the XMM-Newton observations of the young, 102 ms pulsar PSR B1706-44. We have found that both a blackbody plus power-law and a magnetized atmospheric model plus power-law provide an excellent fit to the EPIC spectra. The two scenarios are therefore indistinguishable on a statistical basis, although we are inclined to prefer the latter on physical grounds. In this case, assuming a source distance of ~2.3 kpc, the size of the region responsible for the thermal emission is R~13 km, compatible with the surface of a neutron star. A comparison of the surface temperature of PSR B1706-44 obtained from this fit with cooling curves favor a medium mass neutron star with M~1.45 solar masses or M~1.59 solar masses, depending on two different models of proton superfluidity in the interior. The large collecting area of XMM-Newton allows us to resolve a substructure in the broad soft X-ray modulation detected by Chandra, revealing the presence of two separate peaks with pulsed fractions of 7 +/- 4% and 15 +/- 3%, respectively.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

X-ray and UV observations of the dwarf nova VW Hyi in quiescence

We present an analysis of X-ray and ultra-violet data of the dwarf nova VW Hyi that were obtained with XMM-Newton during the quiescent state. The X-ray spectrum indicates the presence of an optically thin plasma in the boundary layer that cools as it settles onto the white dwarf. The plasma has a continuous temperature distribution that is well described by a power-law or a cooling flow model with a maximum temperature of 6-8 keV. We estimate from the X-ray spectrum a boundary layer luminosity of 8*10^30 erg/s, which is only 20 per cent of the disk luminosity. The rate of accretion onto the white dwarf is 5*10^-12 solar masses per year, about half of the rate in the disk. From the high-resolution X-ray spectra, we estimate that the X-ray emitting part of the boundary layer is rotating with a velocity of 540 km/s, which is close the rotation velocity of the white dwarf but significantly smaller than the Keplerian velocity. We detect a 60-s quasi-periodic oscillation of the X-ray flux that is likely due to the rotation of the boundary layer. The X-ray and the ultra-violet flux show strong variability on a time scale of ~1500 s. We find that the variability in the two bands is correlated and that the X-ray fluctuations are delayed by ~100 s. The correlation indicates that the variable ultra-violet flux is emitted near the transition region between the disk and the boundary layer and that accretion rate fluctuations in this region are propagated to the X-ray emitting part of the boundary layer within ~100 s. An orbital modulation of the X-ray flux suggests that the inner accretion disk is tilted with respect to the orbital plane. The elemental abundances in the boundary layer are close to their solar values.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Detection of Pulsed X-ray Emission from XMM-Newton Observations of PSR J0538+2817

We report on the XMM-Newton observations of the 143 ms pulsar PSR J0538+2817. We present evidence for the first detections of pulsed X-rays from the source at a frequency which is consistent with the predicted radio frequency. The pulse profile is broad and asymmetric, with a pulse fraction of 18 +/- 3%. We find that the spectrum of the source is well-fit with a blackbody with T^{infty} = (2.12^{+0.04}_{-0.03}) x 10^6 K and N_{H} = 2.5 x 10^21 cm^{-2}. The radius determined from the model fit of 1.68 +/- 0.05 km suggests that the emission is from a heated polar cap. A fit to the spectrum with an atmospheric model reduces the inferred temperature and hence increases the radius of the emitting region, however the pulsar distance determined from the fit is then smaller than the dispersion distance.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

XMM-Newton observes flaring in the polar UZ For during a low state

During an XMM-Newton observation, the eclipsing polar UZ For was found in a peculiar state with an extremely low X-ray luminosity and occasional X-ray and UV flaring. For most of the observation, UZ For was only barely detected in X-rays and about 800 times fainter than during a high state previously observed with ROSAT. A transient event, which lasted about 900 s, was detected simultaneously by the X-ray instruments and, in the UV, by the Optical Monitor. The transient was likely caused by the impact of 10^17-10^18 g of gas on the main accretion region of the white dwarf. The X-ray spectrum of the transient is consistent with 7 keV thermal bremsstrahlung from the shock-heated gas in the accretion column. A soft blackbody component due to reprocessing of X-rays in the white dwarf atmosphere is not seen. The likely origin of the UV emission during the transient is cyclotron radiation from the accretion column. We conclude from our analysis that the unusual flaring during the low state of UZ For was caused by intermittent increases of the mass transfer rate due to stellar activity on the secondary.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

First XMM-Newton observations of strongly magnetic cataclysmic variables - II. Timing studies of DP Leo and WW Hor

XMM-Newton was used to observe two eclipsing, magnetic cataclysmic variables, DP Leo and WW Hor, continuously for three orbital cycles each. Both systems were in an intermediate state of accretion. For WW Hor we also obtained optical light curves with the XMM-Newton Optical Monitor and from ground-based observations. Our analysis of the X-ray and optical light curves allows us to constrain physical and geometrical parameters of the accretion regions and derive orbital parameters and eclipse ephemerides of the systems. For WW Hor we directly measure horizontal and vertical temperature variations in the accretion column. From comparisons with previous observations we find that changes in the accretion spot longitude are correlated with the accretion rate. For DP Leo the shape of the hard X-ray light curve is not as expected for optically thin emission, showing the importance of optical depth effects in the post-shock region. We find that the spin period of the white dwarf is slightly shorter than the orbital period and that the orbital period is decreasing faster than expected for energy loss by gravitational radiation alone.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1993

The X-ray Behavior of Two CVs: TT Ari and DP Leo

We present ROSAT PSPC observations of the nova-like, or intermediate polar, TT Ari and the eclipsing polar DP Leo. Observations of TT Ari were performed as part of a simultaneous multiwavelength campaign. The X-ray spectrum of TT Ari from ROSAT was combined with Ginga observations to suggest the presence of three distinct emission components: an optically thin plasma, a dominating bremsstrahlung continuum and one or more iron emission lines. Simultaneous and later IUE observations show modulation in the absorption component of the P Cygni-like CIV line on the spectroscopic period indicating a complex wind structure. Three eclipses were observed from the DP Leo system with intensity dips, not previously observed, occurring prior to each eclipse. The dips are interpreted as the eclipse of the main emission region by an accretion stream varying in impact position or stream shape with time. The DP Leo spectrum is well fit by either a 25 eV blackbody or a soft power law. No evidence exists for accretion onto the stronger magnetic pole and severe limits were placed upon the flux from any hard bremsstrahlung component. We constrained distances to this system based upon model fits to the data.

astro-ph↗