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J. E. Horvath

Publications and source records attributed to J. E. Horvath.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2016

Evolution of redback radio pulsars in globular clusters

We study the evolution of close binary systems composed of a normal, intermediate mass star and a neutron star considering a chemical composition typical of that present in globular clusters (Z = 0.001). We look for similarities and differences with respect to solar composition donor stars, which we have extensively studied in the past. As a definite example, we perform an application on one of the redbacks located in a globular cluster. We performed a detailed grid of models in order to find systems that represent the so-called redback binary radio pulsar systems with donor star masses between 0.6 and 2.0 solar masses and orbital periods in the range 0.2 - 0.9 days. We find that the evolution of these binary systems is rather similar to those corresponding to solar composition objects, allowing us to account for the occurrence of redbacks in globular clusters, as the main physical ingredient is the irradiation feedback. Redback systems are in the quasi-RLOF state, that is, almost filling their corresponding Roche lobe. During the irradiation cycle the system alternates between semi-detached and detached states. While detached the system appears as a binary millisecond pulsar, called a redback. Circumstellar material, as seen in redbacks, is left behind after the previous semi-detached phase. The evolution of binary radio pulsar systems considering irradiation successfully accounts for, and provides a way for, the occurrence of redback pulsars in low-metallicity environments such as globular clusters. This is the case despite possible effects of the low metal content of the donor star that could drive systems away from redback configuration.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2016

The masses of neutron stars

We present in this article an overview of the problem of neutron star masses. After a brief appraisal of the methods employed to determine the masses of neutron stars in binary systems, the existing sample of measured masses is presented, with a highlight on some very well-determined cases. We discuss the analysis made to uncover the underlying distribution and a few robust results that stand out from them. The issues related to some particular groups of neutron stars originated from different channels of stellar evolution are shown. Our conclusions are that last century's paradigm that there a single, $1.4 M_{\odot}$ scale is too simple. A bimodal or even more complex distribution is actually present. It is confirmed that some neutron stars have masses of $\sim 2 M_{\odot}$, and, while there is still no firm conclusion on the maximum and minimum values produced in nature, the field has entered a mature stage in which all these and related questions can soon be given an answer.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2015

Fragmentation of Strange Quark Matter in Astrophysical Events

We assess the fragmentation of strange quark matter in astrophysical events, showing that the application of statistical multifragmentation models suggests that most of the fragments (strangelets) should belong to an unstable baryon number $A$. While there are some caveats to be addressed, the flux of strangelets onto the Earth could be orders of magnitude lower than previous estimates, with negative prospects for the ongoing search experiments.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2015

Maximum mass of magnetic white dwarfs

We revisit in this work the problem of the maximum masses of magnetized White Dwarfs (WD). The impact of a strong magnetic field onto the structure equations is addressed. The pressures become anisotropic due to the presence of the magnetic field and split into a parallel and perpendicular components. We first construct stable solutions of TOV equations for the parallel pressures, and found that physical solutions vanish for the perpendicular pressure when $B \gtrsim 10^{13}$ G. This fact establishes an upper bound for a magnetic field and the stability of the configurations in the (quasi) spherical approximation. Our findings also indicate that it is not possible to obtain stable magnetized WD with super Chandrasekhar masses because the values of the magnetic field needed for them are higher than this bound. To proceed into the anisotropic regime, we derived structure equations appropriated for a cylindrical metric with anisotropic pressures. From the solutions of the structure equations in cylindrical symmetry we have confirmed the same bound for $B \sim 10^{13} $ G, since beyond this value no physical solutions are possible. Our tentative conclusion is that massive WD, with masses well beyond the Chandrasekhar limit do not constitute stable solutions and should not exist.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2014

The Quasi-Roche lobe overflow state in the evolution of Close Binary Systems containing a radio pulsar

We study the evolution of close binary systems formed by a normal (solar composition), intermediate mass donor star together with a neutron star. We consider models including irradiation feedback and evaporation. These non-standard ingredients deeply modify the mass transfer stages of these binaries. While models that neglect irradiation feedback undergo continuous, long standing mass transfer episodes, models including these effect suffer a number cycles of mass transfer and detachment. During mass transfer the systems should reveal themselves as low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), whereas when detached they behave as a binary radio pulsars. We show that at these stages irradiated models are in a Roche lobe overflow (RLOF) state or in a quasi-RLOF state. Quasi-RLOF stars have a radius slightly smaller than its Roche lobe. Remarkably, these conditions are attained for orbital period and donor mass values in the range corresponding to a family of binary radio pulsars known as "redbacks". Thus, redback companions should be quasi-RLOF stars. We show that the characteristics of the redback system PSR J1723-2837 are accounted for by these models. In each mass transfer cycle these systems should switch from LMXB to binary radio pulsar states with a timescale of \sim million years. However, there is recent and fast growing evidence of systems switching on far shorter, human timescales. This should be related to instabilities in the accretion disc surrounding the neutron star and/or radio ejection, still to be included in the model having the quasi-RLOF state as a general condition.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2014

Anisotropic stellar structure equations for magnetized stars

The fact that a magnetic field in a fermion system breaks the spherical symmetry suggest that the intrinsic geometry of this system is axisymmetric rather than spherical. In this work we analyze the impact of anisotropic pressures, due to the presence of a magnetic field, in the structure equations of a magnetized quark star. We assume a cylindrical metric and an anisotropic energy momentum tensor for the source. We found that there is a maximum magnetic field that the star can sustain, closely related to the violation of the virial relations.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2014

Understanding the evolution of close binary systems with radio pulsars

We calculate the evolution of close binary systems (CBSs) formed by a neutron star (behaving as a radio pulsar) and a normal donor star, evolving either to helium white dwarf (HeWD) or ultra short orbital period systems. We consider X-ray irradiation feedback and evaporation due to radio pulsar irradiation. We show that irradiation feedback leads to cyclic mass transfer episodes, allowing CBSs to be observed in-between as binary radio pulsars under conditions in which standard, non-irradiated models predict the occurrence of a low mass X-ray binary. This behavior accounts for the existence of a family of eclipsing binary systems known as redbacks. We predict that redback companions should almost fill their Roche lobe, as observed in PSR J1723-2837. This state is also possible for systems evolving with larger orbital periods. Therefore, binary radio pulsars with companion star masses usually interpreted as larger than expected to produce HeWDs may also result in such {\it quasi - Roche Lobe Overflow} states, rather than hosting a carbon-oxygen WD. We found that CBSs with initial orbital periods $\mathrm{P_{i}<1}$ day evolve into redbacks. Some of them produce low mass HeWDs, and a subgroup with shorter $\mathrm{P_{i}}$ become black widows (BWs). Thus, BWs descent from redbacks, although not all redbacks evolve into BWs. There is mounting observational evidence favoring that BW pulsars are very massive ($\mathrm{\gtrsim 2\; M_{\odot}}$). As they should be redback descendants, redback pulsars should also be very massive, since most of the mass is transferred before this stage.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2013

The Evolution of Proto-Strange Stars

We perform 1D calculations of neutrino opacities inside a young "strange star" assumed to be the result of the conversion process of a normal neutron object. We evaluate the deleptonization and cooling timescales, which happen to be longer than the proto-NS analogues, and preliminary address the features of the emerging neutrino signal.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2013

Superconducting phases of strange quark matter in the NJL model

We analyze the color-flavor-locked phase of strange quark matter modelled by the three-flavor Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) framework with and without magnetic field and discuss some additional constraints on the stability scenario when a high magnetic field is applied. We compare the results obtained by employing the MIT Bag Model and discuss the pairing gap behavior and its influence on the equation of state.

nucl-th↗
arXiv2013

Is There a Crisis in Neutron Star Physics?

We shall show in this report that the theoretical evolution of a particular class of systems containing a neutron star, the so-called "black widow" binaries, suggest masses above the $\sim 2 M_{\odot}$, a fact that would bring serious concerns about the right description of the equation of state above the saturation density. Moreover, so far the actual determinations of masses for these systems consistently give values above $2 M_{\odot}$, reinforcing the quandary. In this sense, and given that the confirmation of these ideas would create problems for the microphysical description, we argue that a crisis could be "in the works" in neutron star physics.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2013

An evolutionary model for the gamma-ray system PSR J1311-3430 and its companion

The most recent member of the millisecond pulsar with very low-mass companions and short orbital periods class, PSR J1311-3430 (Pletsch et al. 2012) is a remarkable object in various senses. Besides being the first discovered in gamma-rays, its measured features include the very low or absent hydrogen content. We show in this Letter that this important piece of information leads to a very restricted range of initial periods for a given donor mass. For that purpose, we calculate in detail the evolution of the binary system self-consistently, including mass transfer and evaporation, finding the features of the new evolutionary path leading to the observed configuration. It is also important to remark that the detailed evolutionary history of the system naturally leads to a high final pulsar mass, as it seems to be demanded by observations.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2013

Time lags of the kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations in the low-mass X-ray binaries 4U 1608--52 and 4U 1636--53

(abridged) We studied the energy and frequency dependence of the Fourier time lags and intrinsic coherence of the kHz QPOs in the NS LMXBs 4U 1608-52 and 4U 1636-53 using RXTE data. In both sources we confirmed energy-dependent soft lags of 10-100 μs for the lower kHz QPO. We also found that the time lags of the upper kHz QPO are independent of energy and inconsistent with the soft lags of the lower kHz QPO. The intrinsic coherence of the lower kHz QPO remains constant at 0.6 from 5 to 12 keV, and then drops to zero, while for the upper kHz QPO the intrinsic coherence is consistent with zero across the full energy range. The intrinsic coherence of the upper kHz QPO is consistent with zero over the full frequency range of the QPO, except in 4U 1636-53 at ~780 Hz where it increases to 0.13. In 4U 1636-53, for the lower kHz QPO the 4-12 keV photons lag the 12-20 keV ones by 25 μs in the QPO frequency range 500-850 Hz, with the lags decreasing to 15 μs at higher frequencies. In 4U 1608-52 the soft lags of the lower kHz QPO remain constant at 40 μs. In 4U 1636-53, for the upper kHz QPO the 12-20 keV photons lag the 4-12 keV ones by 11 +/- 3 μs, independent of QPO frequency; we found consistent results for the time lags of the upper kHz QPO in 4U 1608-52. The intrinsic coherence of the lower kHz QPO increases from ~0-0.4 at 600 Hz to 1 and 0.6 at 800 Hz in 4U 1636-53 and 4U 1608-52, respectively. In 4U 1636-53 it decreases to 0.5 at 920 Hz, while in 4U 1608-52 we do not have data above 800 Hz. We discuss our results in the context of scenarios in which the soft lags are either due to reflection off the accretion disc or up-/down-scattering in a hot medium close to the neutron star. We finally explore the connection between, on one hand the time lags and the intrinsic coherence of the kHz QPOs, and on the other the QPOs' amplitude and quality factor in these two sources.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2012

Self-bound Interacting QCD Matter in Compact Stars

The quark gluon plasma (QGP) at zero temperature and high baryon number is a system that may be present inside compact stars. It is quite possible that this cold QGP shares some relevant features with the hot QGP observed in heavy ion collisions, being also a strongly interacting system. In a previous work we have derived from the QCD Lagrangian an equation of state (EOS) for the cold QGP, which can be considered an improved version of the MIT bag model EOS. Compared to the latter, our equation of state reaches higher values of the pressure at comparable baryon densities. This feature is due to perturbative corrections and also to non-perturbative effects. Here we apply this EOS to the study of neutron stars, discussing the absolute stability of quark matter and computing the mass-radius relation for self-bound (strange) stars. The maximum masses of the sequences exceed two solar masses, in agreement with the recently measured values of the mass of the pulsar PSR J1614-2230, and the corresponding radii around 10-11 km.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2012

Evolutionary trajectories of ultra-compact "black widow" pulsars with very low mass companions

The existence of millisecond pulsars with planet-mass companions (Bailes et al., 2011) in close orbits is challenging from the stellar evolution point of view. We calculate in detail the evolution of binary systems self-consistently, including mass transfer, evaporation and irradiation of the donor by X-rays feedback, demonstrating the existence of a new evolutionary path leading to short periods and compact donors as required by the observations of PSR J1719-1438. We also point out the alternative of an exotic nature of the companion planet-mass star.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2012

The nature of the companion of PSR J1719-1438: a white dwarf or an exotic object?

We rise in this Letter the possibility that the very dense, compact companion of PSR J1719-1438, having a Jupiter-like mass is an exotic quark object rather than a light helium or carbon white dwarf. The exotic hypothesis explains naturally some of the observed features, and gives quite strong predictions for this system, to be confirmed or refuted in future feasible studies.

astro-ph.HE↗
arXiv2011

Consistency of the mass variation formula for black holes accreting cosmological fluids

We address the spherical accretion of generic fluids onto black holes. We show that, if the black hole metric satisfies certain conditions, in the presence of a test fluid it is possible to derive a fully relativistic prescription for the black hole mass variation. Although the resulting equation may seem obvious due to a form of it appearing as a step in the derivation of the Schwarzschild metric, this geometrical argument is necessary to fix the added degree of freedom one gets for allowing the mass to vary with time. This result has applications on cosmological accretion models and provides a derivation from first principles to serve as a base to the accretion equations already in use in the literature.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2011

Self-bound models of compact stars and recent mass-radius measurements

The exact composition of a specific class of compact stars, historically referred to as "neutron stars", is still quite unknown. Possibilities ranging from hadronic to quark degrees of freedom, including self-bound versions of the latter have been proposed. We specifically address the suitability of strange star models (including pairing interactions) in this work, in the light of new measurements available for four compact stars. The analysis shows that these data might be explained by such an exotic equation of state, actually selecting a small window in parameter space, but still new precise measurements and also further theoretical developments are needed to settle the subject.

astro-ph.SR↗