The puzzling orbital period evolution of the LMXB AX J1745.6-2901

Ponti, G and De, K and Munoz-Darias, T and Stella, L and Nandra, K. (2017) The puzzling orbital period evolution of the LMXB AX J1745.6-2901. In: MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 464 (1). pp. 840-849.

PDF MNRAS_464-1_840_2017.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (304kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

The orbital period evolution of X-ray binaries provides fundamental clues to understanding mechanisms of angular momentum transfer and loss in these systems. We present an X-ray eclipse timing analysis of the transient low-mass X-ray binary AX J1745.6-2901. This system shows full eclipses and thus is one of the few objects of this class for which accurate orbital evolution studies can be carried out. We report on XMM-Newton and ASCA observations covering 30 complete X-ray eclipses spanning an interval of more than 20 yr. We improve the determination of the orbital period to a relative precision of 2 x 10(-8), two orders of magnitudes better than previous measurements. We determine, for the first time, a highly significant rate of decrease of the orbital period. P-orb = -4.03 +/- 0.32 x 10 (11) s s(-1). This is at least one order of magnitude larger than expected from conservative mass transfer and angular momentum losses due to gravitational waves and magnetic braking, and might result from either non-conservative mass transfer or magnetic activity changing the quadrupole moment of the companion star. Imprinted on the long-term evolution of the orbit, we observe highly significant eclipse leads-delays of similar to 10-30 s, characterized by a clear state dependence in which, on average, eclipses occur earlier during the hard state.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
Additional Information:	Copy right for this article belongs to the OXFORD UNIV PRESS, GREAT CLARENDON ST, OXFORD OX2 6DP, ENGLAND
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	03 Apr 2017 04:50
Last Modified:	03 Apr 2017 04:50
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/56455

Actions (login required)

View Item