We report the detection of mHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in four NuSTAR observations of 4U 1626-67 during its recent spin-down episode. By using a novel method based on the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT), we present the first QPO-phase-resolved timing and spectral analysis of accreting X-ray pulsars in low mass X-ray binaries. Broadband QPO waveforms have been reconstructed and exhibit approximately sinusoidal shapes, with fractional amplitudes that vary with energy. In addition, we find that spin pulse profiles exhibit stable shapes between different QPO phases with different instantaneous fluxes, while the fractional root-mean-square (rms) is distinct for different observations. In this source, both QPO-phase-resolved and averaged spectra can be modeled with a negative and positive powerlaws exponential (NPEX) model, and their spectral evolutions show a similar trend, suggesting that the QPO modulation is caused by accretion rate variability instead of a geometric obscuration. These results provide new constraints on accretion physics in strongly magnetized neutron stars and the underlying mechanisms of QPOs.
Dwarf novæ (DNe) and low mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are compact binaries showing variability on time scales from years to less than seconds. Here, we focus on explaining part of the rapid fluctuations in DNe, following the framework of recent studies on the monthly eruptions of DNe that use a hybrid disk composed of an outer standard disk and an inner magnetized disk. We show that the ionization instability, that is responsible for the monthly eruptions of DNe, is also able to operate in the inner magnetized disk. Given the low density and the fast accretion time scale of the inner magnetized…
The presence of a surface at the inner boundary, such as in a neutron star or a white dwarf, allows the existence of a standing shock in steady spherical accretion.The standing shock can become unstable in 2D or 3D; this is called the {\em standing accretion shock instability} (SASI).Two mechanisms -- advective-acoustic and purely acoustic -- have been proposed to explain SASI. Using axisymmetric hydrodynamic (HD) and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, we find that the advective-acoustic mechanism better matches the observed oscillation timescales in our simulations. The global shock oscil…
An extended magnetosphere of a strongly magnetized accreting white dwarf (known as a polar) prevents the formation of an accretion disk and the matter is channelled to the magnetic pole(s). A few such sources show quasi-periodic oscillations in their optical light curves. These high-frequency oscillations are thought to be generated from the post-shock accretion column. The kinetic energy of the accretion flow is finally emitted from this post-shock region and the involved radiation processes decide the state of the matter. Here we study the structure and the dynamical properties of such accre…
Low mass x-ray binaries (LMXBs), with either a neutron star (NS) or a black hole, show in their power spectra quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs). Those at highest frequencies show up in pairs and are named twin peak high frequency QPOs (HF QPOs). Their central frequencies are typical of the orbital motion timescale close to the compact object. HF QPOs are believed to carry unique information on the matter moving in the extreme gravitational field around the compact object. In previous works we highlighted the work done by strong tides on clumps of plasma orbiting in the accretion disk as suitab…
Evidence for Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in the Recurrent Emission from Magnetars and their Implications on the Neutron Star Properties and Equation of State
A Phase-resolved View of Millihertz Quasi-periodic Oscillations in the Ultraluminous X-ray Source M51 ULX-7: Evidence for a Magnetically Truncated Disk and Geometrical Beaming
Magnetars are a kind of pulsars powered mainly by superhigh magnetic fields. They are popular sources with many unsolved issues in themselves, but also linked to various high energy phenomena, such as QPOs, giant flares, fast radio bursts and super-luminous supernovae. In this work, we first review our recent works on the dissipation of toroidal magnetic fields in magnetars and rotationally powered pulsars, then review the spin-down evolution of young and strongly magnetized pulsars, especially of magnetars. We present an interesting and important relation between the magnetization parameter, …
We run two GRRMHD simulations of super-Eddington accretion disks around a black hole and a non-magnetized, non-rotating neutron star. The neutron star was modeled using a reflective inner boundary condition. We observe the formation of a transition layer in the inner region of the disk in the neutron star simulation which leads to a larger mass outflow rate and a lower radiative luminosity over the black hole case. Sphereization of the flow leads to an observable luminosity at infinity around the Eddington value when viewed from all directions for the neutron star case, contrasting to the blac…
A high concentration of ultra-high-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) events, called a hotspot, was reported by the Telescope Array (TA) experiment, but its origin still remains unsolved. One of the obstacles is that there is no astronomical object, which could be the source, behind the TA hotpot. In an effort to understand the origin of the TA hotspot, we suggested a model based on the magnetized cosmic web structure. The UHECRs were produced from sources in the Virgo cluster and were initially confined by cluster magnetic fields for a certain period. Next, some of them preferentially escaped to and p…
The discovery of 3:2 quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 1313 X-1 suggests it harbors an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH). We test this numerically by modelling the 3:2 QPOs and the associated X-ray spectrum based on the epicyclic resonance model and a disk-corona model with large-scale magnetic fields generated by the Cosmic Battery mechanism. The combined QPO-frequency and spectral fitting indicates that the BH mass ranges from 2524M_sun to 6811M_sun confirming its IMBH nature, and the BH spin is probably higher than ~0.3.
Observations of powerful radio waves from neutron star magnetospheres raise the question of how strong waves interact with particles in a strong background magnetic field $B_{bg}$. This problem is examined by solving the particle motion in the wave. Remarkably, waves with amplitudes $E_0>B_{bg}$ pump particle energy via repeating resonance events, quickly reaching the radiation reaction limit. As a result, the wave is scattered with a huge cross section. This fact has implications for models of fast radio bursts and magnetars. Particles accelerated in the wave emit gamma-rays, which can trigge…
In order to explain unusually high luminosity and spectral nature of ultra-luminous X-ray sources (ULXs), some of the underlying black holes are argued to be of intermediate mass, between several tens to million solar masses. Indeed, there is a long standing question of missing mass of intermediate range of black holes. However, as some ULXs are argued to be neutron stars too, often their unusual high luminosity is argued by super-Eddington accretions. Nevertheless, all the models are based on non-magnetized or weakly magnetized accretion. There are, however, evidences that magnetic fields in …
Revisiting the observation-theory confrontation in high-frequency QPOs:a new QPO in NGC 5506, intermediate mass black holes, and the crucial role of accretion state
The numerous compact sources associated with neutron stars and white dwarfs discovered in recent decades are analyzed in terms of the Gravimagnetic Rotator model (GMR paradigm - Lipunov, 1987a; Lipunov, 1992). We offer the instrument for understanding of various observed features and evolutionary relationships of neutron stars and white dwarfs. We depict in a single diagram all objects from radio pulsars and dwarf novae to ultra luminous X-ray sources and a radio pulsating white dwarf. This diagram directly demonstrates the genetic link between different types of compact sources thereby making…
We explore the possibility that soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) and anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) are powered by highly magnetized white dwarfs (B-WDs). We take a sample of SGRs and AXPs and provide the possible parameter space in mass, radius, and surface magnetic field based on their observed properties (period and its derivative) and the assumption that these sources obey the mass-radius relation derived for the B-WDs. The radius and magnetic field of B-WDs are adequate to explain energies in SGRs/AXPs as the rotationally powered energy. In addition, B-WDs also adequately explain the perpl…
We present high time resolution optical photometric data of the polar VV Puppis obtained simultaneously in three filters (u', HeII $λ$4686, r') with the ULTRACAM camera mounted at the ESO-VLT telescope. An analysis of a long 50 ks XMM-Newton observation of the source, retrieved from the database, is also provided. Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are clearly detected in the optical during the source bright phase intervals when the accreting pole is visible, confirming the association of the QPOs with the basis of the accretion column. QPOs are detected in the three filters at a mean frequenc…
We study the neutrino scattering off a rotating black hole with a realistic accretion disk permeated by an intrinsic magnetic field. Neutrino trajectories in curved spacetime as well as the particle spin evolution in dense matter of an accretion disk and in the magnetic field are accounted for exactly. We obtain the fluxes of outgoing ultrarelativistic neutrinos taking into account the change of the neutrino polarization owing to spin oscillations. Using the conservative value of the neutrino magnetic moment and realistic radial distributions of the matter density and the magnetic field streng…
We study neutrinos gravitationally scattered off a rotating supermassive black hole which is surrounded by a thin accretion disk with a realistic magnetic field. Neutrinos are supposed to be Dirac particles having a nonzero magnetic moment. Neutrinos move along arbitrary trajectories, with the incoming flux being parallel to the equatorial plane. We exactly account for the influence of both gravity and the magnetic field on the neutrino motion and its spin evolution. The general statement that the helicity of an ultrarelativistic neutrino is constant in the particle scattering in an arbitrary …
Maximum likelihood fitting of X-ray power density spectra: Application to high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations from the neutron star X-ray binary 4U1608-522
