arXiv subjects

Mariano Mendez

Publications and source records attributed to Mariano Mendez.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2000

An Atlas of Burst Oscillations and Spectral Properties in 4U 1728-34

We study correlations between the burst properties and the position in the color-color diagram of the low mass X-ray binary 4U 1728-34 using 21 bursts found in two data sets obtained with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. Using spectral fits we analyze the spectral evolution during the bursts and determine the burst peak flux, temperature, rise time and fluence. Using dynamical power spectra we study the properties of the ~363 Hz burst oscillations. We find correlations between fluence, peak flux, the occurrence of radius expansion and the presence of burst oscillations, and the position of the source in the color-color diagram. The radius expansion bursts with and without burst oscillations differ both with respect to where they occur in the color-color diagram and in how the radius expansion takes place. We compare our results with those of a similar study by Muno et al. (2000) for KS 1731-26. Both KS 1731-260 and 4U 1728-34 show more or less the same behavior with respect to the dependence of the presence/absence of the burst oscillations on the position of the source in the color-color diagram, but the dependence of most of the spectral burst parameters on the position in the color-color diagram is clearly different. We find that the systematic absence in 4U 1728-34 of burst oscillations in the ``island'' state of the color-color diagram is not explained by the bursts involving mixed H-He burning, as may be the case in KS 1731--260 (Cumming & Bildsten 2000).

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arXiv2000

Correlated X-ray Spectral and Timing Behavior of the Black Hole Candidate XTE J1550-564: A New Interpretation of Black Hole States

We present an analysis of RXTE data of the X-ray transient XTE J1550-564. The source went through several states, which were divided into spectrally soft and hard states. These states showed up as distinct branches in the color-color diagram, forming a structure with a comb-like topology; the soft state branch forming the spine and the hard state branches forming the teeth. Variability was strongly correlated with the position on the branches. The broad band noise became stronger, and changed from power law like to band limited, as the spectrum became harder. Three types of QPOs were found: 1-18 Hz and 102-284 Hz QPOs on the hard branches, and 16-18 Hz QPOs on and near the soft branch. The frequencies of the high and low frequency QPOs on the hard branches were correlated with each other, and anti-correlated with spectral hardness. The changes in QPO frequency suggest that the inner disc radius only increases by a factor of 3-4 as the source changes from a soft to a hard state. Our results on XTE J1550-564 strongly favor a 2-dimensional description of black hole behavior, where the regions near the spine of the comb in the color-color diagram can be identified with the high state, and the teeth with transitions from the high state, via the intermediate state (which includes the very high state) to the low state, and back. The two physical parameters underlying this behavior vary to a large extent independently and could for example be the mass accretion rate through the disk and the size of a Comptonizing region.

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arXiv2000

Discovery of a new, third kHz QPO in 4U 1608-52, 4U 1728-34, and 4U 1636-53. Sidebands to the lower kHz QPO?

We report the discovery of a third kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillation (kHz QPO) in the power spectra of the low-mass X-ray binaries 4U 1608-52 (6.3 sigma), 4U 1728-34 (6.0 sigma), and 4U 1636-53 (3.7 sigma) which is present simultaneously with the previously-known kHz QPO pair. The new kHz QPO is found at a frequency that is 52.8+-0.9 Hz, 64+-2 Hz, 58.4+-1.9 Hz higher than the frequency of the lower kHz QPO in 4U 1608-52, 4U 1728-34, and 4U 1636-53, respectively. The difference between the frequency of the new kHz QPO and the lower kHz QPO increased in 4U 1608-52 from 49.6+-1.4 Hz to 53.9+-0.5 Hz when the frequency of the lower kHz QPO increased from 672 Hz to 806 Hz. Simultaneously the difference between the frequency of the new kHz QPO and the upper kHz QPO increased by ~60 Hz, suggesting that the new kHz QPO is unrelated to the upper kHz QPO. In 4U 1636-53 a fourth, weaker, kHz QPO is simultaneously detected (3 sigma) at the same frequency separation below the lower kHz QPO, suggesting the new kHz QPOs are sidebands to the lower kHz QPO. We discuss the nature of this new kHz QPO and its implications on the models for the kHz QPOs.

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arXiv2000

Timing the Kilohertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in Low-mass X-ray Binaries

I describe a new technique that we have been using in the past few years to get precise measurements of the frequency separation of the kHz QPOs in some Low-mass X-ray binaries. I show how this technique (that we call "shift-and-add") works, and I present some of the results we obtained using it.

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arXiv2000

The Harmonic and Sideband Structure of the Kilohertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in Sco X-1

We use data from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer to search for harmonics and sidebands of the two simultaneous kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) in Sco X-1. We do not detect any of these harmonics or sidebands, with 95% confidence upper limits to their power between ~ 1% and ~ 10% of the power of the upper kHz QPO. The oscillations produced at these frequencies may be attenuated in a scattering corona around the neutron star. We find that upper limits to the unattenuated power of some of the strongest theoretically predicted harmonics and sidebands are as low as ~ 2% of the unattenuated power of the high-frequency QPO in Sco X-1.

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arXiv2000

Simultaneous Measurements of X-Ray Luminosity and Kilohertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in Low-Mass X-Ray Binaries

We measure simultaneously the properties of the energy spectra and the frequencies of the kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in fifteen low mass X-ray binaries covering a wide range of X-ray luminosities. In each source the QPO frequencies cover the same range of approximately 300 Hz to 1300 Hz, though the sources differ by two orders of magnitude in their X-ray luminosities (as measured from the unabsorbed 2-50 keV flux). So the X-ray luminosity does not uniquely determine the QPO frequency. This is difficult to understand since the evidence from individual sources indicates that the frequency and luminosity are very well correlated at least over short timescales. Perhaps beaming effects or bolometric corrections change the observed luminosities, or perhaps part of the energy in mass accretion is used to power outflows reducing the energy emitted in X-rays. It is also possible that the parameters of a QPO model are tuned in such a way that the same range of frequencies appears in all sources. Different modes of accretion may be involved for example (disk and radial) or multiple parameters may conspire to yield the same frequencies.

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arXiv2000

The power spectral properties of the Z-source GX 340+0

We present an analysis of ~390 ksec of data of the Z source GX 340+0 taken during 24 observations with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer satellite. We report the discovery of a new broad component in the power spectra. The frequency of this component varied between 9 and 14 Hz, and remained close to half that of the horizontal branch quasi-periodic oscillations (HBO). Its rms amplitude was consistent with being constant around ~5%, while its FWHM increased with frequency from 7 to 18 Hz. If this sub-HBO component is the fundamental frequency, then the HBO and its second harmonic are the second and fourth harmonic component, while the third harmonic was not detected. This is similar to what was recently found for the black hole candidate XTE J1550-564. The profiles of both the horizontal- and the normal branch quasi-periodic oscillation peaks were asymmetric when they were strongest. We describe this in terms of a shoulder component at the high frequency side of the quasi-periodic oscillation peak, whose rms amplitudes were approximately constant at ~4% and \~3%, respectively. The peak separation between the twin kHz quasi-periodic oscillations was consistent with being constant at 339+-8 Hz but a trend similar to that seen in, e.g. Sco X-1 could not be excluded. We discuss our results within the framework of the various models which have been proposed for the kHz QPOs and low frequency peaks.

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arXiv2000

Relations Between Timing Features and Colors in the X-Ray Binary 4U 0614+09

We study the correlations between timing and X-ray spectral properties in the low mass X-ray binary 4U 0614+09 using a large (265-ks) data set obtained with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. We find strong quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) of the X-ray flux, like the kilohertz QPOs in many other X-ray binaries with accreting neutron stars, with frequencies ranging from 1329 Hz down to 418 Hz and, perhaps, as low as 153 Hz. We report the highest frequency QPO yet from any low mass X-ray binary at 1329+-4 Hz, which has implications for neutron star structure. This QPO has a 3.5-sigma single-trial significance, for an estimated 40 trials the significance is 2.4-sigma. Besides the kilohertz QPOs, the Fourier power spectra show four additional components: high frequency noise (HFN), described by a broken power-law with a break frequency between 0.7 and 45 Hz, very low frequency noise (VLFN), which is fitted as a power-law below 1 Hz, and two broad Lorentzians with centroid frequencies varying from 6 to 38 Hz and 97 to 158 Hz, respectively. We find strong correlations between the frequencies of the kilohertz QPOs, the frequency of the 6 to 38 Hz broad Lorentzian, the break frequency of the HFN, the strength of both the HFN and the VLFN and the position of the source in the hard X-ray color vs. intensity diagram. The frequency of the 97 to 158 Hz Lorentzian does not correlate with these parameters. We also find that the relation between power density and break frequency of the HFN is similar to that established for black hole candidates in the low state. We suggest that the changing mass accretion rate is responsible for the correlated changes in all these parameters.

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arXiv1999

Discovery of a ~1 Hz quasi-periodic oscillation in the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1746-37

We have discovered a ~1 Hz quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the persistent X-ray emission and during type I X-ray bursts of the globular cluster source, dipper and low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) 4U 1746-37. The QPO properties resemble those of QPOs found recently in the LMXB dippers 4U 1323-62, and EXO 0748-676, which makes 4U 1746-37 the third source known to exhibit this type of QPOs. We present evidence for X-ray spectral changes in this source similar to those observed in LMXBs referred to as atoll sources. We detect two states, a low intensity and spectrally hard state, and a higher intensity and spectrally soft state. This may explain the different spectral characteristics reported for 4U 1746-37 earlier. The high intensity state resembles the banana branch state of atoll sources. The QPOs are only seen in the low intensity state, and are absent when the source is in the banana branch. This strongly suggests that either the accretion disk or an extended central source change shape between the low intensity state and the banana branch. Twelve bursts were detected, of which 5 took place while the source was on the banana branch and 7 when the source was in the low intensity state. The bursts occurring on the banana branch had an e-folding time ~3 times longer than those which occurred in the low intensity state. Whereas previously detected dips showed only a decrease in count rate of ~15%, we found in one observation a dip in which the count rate dropped from ~200 counts per second to ~20 counts per second. This dip lasted only ~250 seconds, during which clear spectral hardening occured. This is the first time strong evidence for spectral changes during a dip are reported for this source.

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arXiv1999

Relation between Kilohertz QPOs and Inferred Mass Accretion Rate in 4 LMXBs

I summarize the available RXTE data of the 4 low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) and Atoll sources Aql X-1, 4U 1728-34, 4U 1608-52, and 4U 1636-53. I concentrate on the relation between the frequencies of the quasi-periodic oscillations at kilohertz frequencies (kHz QPOs) and the X-ray flux and colors of these sources. In these 4 sources the kHz QPOs are only observed in a narrow range of spectral states (as defined from the X-ray color-color diagrams). I show that despite its complex dependence upon the X-ray flux, the frequency of the kHz QPOs is monotonically related to the position of the source in the color-color diagram. These findings strengthen the idea that in LMXBs the X-ray flux is not a good indicator of the mass accretion rate, $\dot M$, and that the observed changes in the frequency of the kHz QPOs in LMXBs are driven by changes in $\dot M$.

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arXiv1999

Precise Measurements of the Kilohertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in 4U 1728-34

We have analyzed seventeen observations of the low-mass X-ray binary and atoll source 4U 1728-34, carried out by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer in 1996 and 1997. We obtain precise measurements of the frequencies of the two simultaneous kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) in this source. We show that the frequency separation between the two QPO, $Δν$, is always significantly smaller than the frequency of the nearly-coherent oscillations seen in this source during X-ray bursts, even at the lowest inferred mass accretion rate, when $Δν$ seems to reach its maximum value. We also find that $Δν$ decreases significantly, from $349.3 \pm 1.7$ Hz to $278.7 \pm 11.6$ Hz, as the frequency of the lower frequency kHz QPO increases from 615 to 895 Hz. This is the first time that variations of the kHz QPO peak separation are measured in a source which shows nearly-coherent oscillations during bursts.

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arXiv1999

Discovery of twin kHz quasi-periodic oscillations in the high galactic la titude X-ray transient XTE J2123--058

We report the discovery of twin kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the persistent X-ray flux of the new X-ray transient XTE J2123-058. We detected the QPOs in data taken with the proportional counter array on board the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer on 1998 July 14, when the source count rate was at about 50% of its outburst peak level. The frequencies of the QPOs were 853+/-4 Hz and 1129+/-8 Hz. The peaks had widths of 32 (+11/-8) Hz and 50 (+17/-13) Hz and the rms amplitudes were 6.1% (+0.7/-0.6) and 6.5% (+0.9/-0.8), respectively. The QPO frequencies increased marginally with count rate and the amplitudes showed a small increase with photon energy. On the basis of the appearance in the color-color and hardness-intensity diagrams, the low-frequency power spectrum, and the strength of the kHz QPOs, the system can be classified as an atoll source. The source showed five type I X-ray bursts. The distance to the source is estimated to be about 10 (5-15) kpc, which combined with the high Galactic latitude of 36.2 degrees indicates the source is a located in the Galactic halo.

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arXiv1998

Measurement of Hard Lags and Coherences in the X-Ray Flux of Accreting Neutron Stars and Comparison with Accreting Black Holes

Using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer we have measured lags of the 9 to 33 keV photons relative to the 2 to 9 keV photons in the timing noise between 0.01 and 100 Hz in the accreting neutron stars 4U 0614+091 and 4U 1705-44. We performed similar measurements on the accreting black hole candidates Cyg X-1 and GX 339-4 as a comparison. During the observations these sources were all in low (hard) states. We find phase lags of between 0.03 and 0.2 radians in all these sources, with a variation in frequency much less than expected for a lag constant in time. We also measure a coherence consistent with unity in all sources. As already noted for the black hole candidates, these data are inconsistent with simple Comptonization models invoking a constant time delay. Comptonization in a non-uniform medium can perhaps explain the lags. However, the magnitudes of the lags imply that the hot electron gas extends to more than 1000 Schwarzschild radii. This may constitute an energy problem. We argue that while a large hot cloud is possible for black holes which may hide some of their accretion energy in advection, such a distribution may not be possible neutron stars where all the accretion energy is eventually released at the neutron star surface. This casts doubt on the Comptonization model, though the energy problem may be resolved for example by a wind from the inner disk.

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arXiv1998

Dependence of the Frequency of the Kilohertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations on X-ray Count Rate and Colors in 4U 1608-52

We present new results based on observations carried out with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer during the decay of an outburst of the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) and atoll source 4U 1608-52. Our results appear to resolve, at least in 4U 1608-52, one of the long-standing issues about the phenomenology of the kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs), namely, the lack of a unique relation between the frequency of the kHz QPOs and the X-ray flux. We show that despite its complex dependence on the X-ray flux, the frequency of the kHz QPOs is monotonically related to the position of the source in the color-color diagram. Our findings strengthen the idea that, as in the case of Z sources, in the atoll sources the X-ray flux is not a good indicator of $\dot M$, and that the observed changes in the frequency of the kHz QPOs in LMXBs are driven by changes in $\dot M$. These results raise some concern about the recently reported detection of the orbital frequency at the innermost stable orbit in 4U 1820-30.

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arXiv1998

Discovery of a Second Kilohertz QPO in the X-ray Binary 4U 1735-44

In recent observations with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer we have detected two simultaneous quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) peaks in the low mass X-ray binary and atoll source 4U 1735-44. The lower and higher frequency QPOs have frequencies varying between 632 and 729 Hz, and 982 and 1026 Hz, respectively. The fractional rms amplitudes are 3.7 to 8.1% and 5.0 to 5.8%. The frequency separation between the two QPOs changes from 341+-7 Hz to 296+-12 Hz. The inferred mass accretion rate during our observations is relatively low compared to that during the previous observations, where only a single QPO was present. There is weak evidence that the frequency of the QPOs correlates with the mass accretion rate, as observed in other binaries. Five X-ray bursts were recorded with no detectable oscillations with upper limits for the rms fraction of 4% to 13%.

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arXiv1998

Difference Frequency of Kilohertz QPOs Not Equal to Half the Burst Oscillation Frequency in 4U 1636-53

We have analyzed data obtained during two observations with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer on January 5 and 8, 1997, of the low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) and atoll source 4U 1636-53. We measure the frequency separation of the two simultaneous kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) in this source to be 253.7 +/- 4.7 and 246.4 +/- 5.4 Hz, respectively. These values are inconsistent with being equal to 0.5 times the frequency of the 581-Hz oscillations that have been detected previously in 4U 1636-53 during type I bursts. The weighted average discrepancy is 39.5 +/- 3.5 Hz. This result shows that a simple beat-frequency interpretation of the kHz QPOs, in which the frequency of the oscillations detected during type I bursts equals the separation between the two kHz QPOs (or twice that value), is incorrect.

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arXiv1998

Kilohertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillation Peak Separation is not Constant in the Atoll Source 4U 1608-52

We present new Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observations of the low-mass X-ray binary 4U 1608-52 during the decay of its 1998 outburst. We detect by a direct FFT method the existence of a second kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillation (kHz QPO) in its power density spectrum, previously only seen by means of the sensitivity-enhancing `shift and add' technique. This result confirms that 4U 1608-52 is a twin kHz QPO source. The frequency separation between these two QPO decreased significantly, from 325.5 +/- 3.4 Hz to 225.3 +/- 12.0 Hz, as the frequency of the lower kHz QPO increased from 470 Hz to 865 Hz, in contradiction with a simple beat-frequency interpretation. This change in the peak separation of the kHz QPOs is closely similar to that previously seen in Sco X-1, but takes place at a ten times lower average luminosity. We discuss this result within the framework of models that have been proposed for kHz QPO. Beat frequency models where the peak separation is identified with the neutron star spin rate, as well as the explanations previously proposed to account for the similar behavior of the QPOs in Sco X-1, are strongly challenged by this result.

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arXiv1998

Discovery of KiloHertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in the Z source GX 5-1

We discovered two simultaneous kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the bright low-mass X-ray binary and Z source GX 5-1 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. In the X-ray color-color and hardness-intensity diagram a clear Z track is traced out, which shifted between observations. The frequencies of the two kHz QPOs increased from ~215 Hz and ~500 Hz on the left part of the horizontal branch to ~700 Hz and ~890 Hz, respectively, on the upper part of the normal branch. With increasing frequency the FWHM and rms amplitude (8.6-60 keV) of the higher-frequency kHz QPO decreased from 300 to 30 Hz, and from 6.6 to 2.4%, respectively. The FWHM and amplitude of the lower-frequency kHz QPO (50-100 Hz and 3-4% rms) did not correlate with the position of the source on the Z track. The kHz QPO separation was consistent with being constant at 298+/-11 Hz. Simultaneously with the kHz QPOs horizontal branch oscillations (HBOs) were detected with frequencies between 18 and 56 Hz.

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