arXiv subjects

N. A. Ketsaris

Publications and source records attributed to N. A. Ketsaris.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2000

The 35-day cycle in Her X-1 as observational appearance of freely precessing neutron star and forcedly precessing accretion disk

A careful analysis of X-ray light curves and pulse profiles of Her X-1 obtained over more than 20 years strongly evidences for free precession of a magnetized neutron star with rotational axis inclined to the orbital plane as a central clock underlying the observed 35-day period. Strong asymmetric X-ray illumination of the optical star atmosphere leads to the formation of gaseous streams coming out of the orbital plane and forming a tilted accretion disk around the neutron star. Such a disk precesses due to tidal forces and dynamical action of gaseous streams from the secondary companion. The locking of these torques with neutron star precession makes the net disk precession period to be very close to that of the neutron star free precession.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

On the origin of X-ray dips in Her X-1

A strong X-ray illumination of the optical star atmosphere in Her X-1, asymmetric because of a partial shadowing by the tilted twisted accretion disk around central neutron star, leads to the formation of matter flows coming out of the orbital plane and crossing the line of sight before entering the disk. We suggest that the absorption of X-ray emission by this flow leads to the formation of pre-eclipse and anomalous dips of type I. These dips are observed during several orbits after turn-on both in the main-on and short-on state. Almost coherent action of tidal torques and matter streams enhances the disk wobbling which causes the disk edge to shield the X-ray source after the turn-on. Anomalous dips of type II and post-eclipse recovery appear due to this process only on the first orbit after turn-on.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

RXTE highlights of 34.85-day cycle of Her X-1

An analysis of the publically available RXTE archive on Her X-1 including data on 23 34.85-day cycles is performed. The turn-on times for these cycles are determined. The number of cycles with a duration of 20.5 orbits has been found exceedingly larger than of shorter (20 orbits) or longer (21 orbits). A correlation between the duration of a cycle and its mean X-ray flux is noted. The mean X-ray light curve shows a very distinct short-on state. The anomalous X-ray absorption dip is found during the first orbit after the turn-on in the main-on state for the cycles starting near the binary phase 0.25, while is present during two successive orbits in the low-on state. The post-eclipse recovery feature have not been found in the main-on state but appears at least for two orbits during the low-on state. The pre-eclipse dips are present both in main-on and low-on state and demonstrate the behaviour as in early observations. The comparison of durations of the main-on and short-on states enabled us to constrain the accretion disk semi-thickness and its inclination to the orbital plane.

astro-ph↗