Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Statistics
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login

The radial velocity of the companion star in the low-mass X-ray binary 2S 0921-630 : limits on the mass of the compact object

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Jonker, P. G., Steeghs, D. (Danny), 1972-, Nelemans, G. and van der Klis, M.. (2005) The radial velocity of the companion star in the low-mass X-ray binary 2S 0921-630 : limits on the mass of the compact object. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol.356 (No.2). pp. 621-626. ISSN 0035-8711

[img]
Preview
Text
WRAP_Steeghs_Mass_0410151v1.pdf - Submitted Version

Download (568Kb) | Preview
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08476.x

Abstract

In this paper we report on optical spectroscopic observations of the low-mass X-ray binary 2S 0921–630 obtained with the Very Large Telescope. We found sinusoidal radial velocity variations of the companion star with a semi-amplitude of 99.1 ± 3.1 km s−1 modulated on a period of 9.006 ± 0.007 d, consistent with the orbital period found previously for this source, and a systemic velocity of 44.4 ± 2.4 km s−1. Owing to X-ray irradiation, the centre of light measured by the absorption lines from the companion star is probably shifted with respect to the centre of mass. We try to correct for this using the so-called K-correction. Conservatively applying the maximum correction possible and using the previously measured rotational velocity of the companion star, we find a lower limit to the mass of the compact object in 2S 0921–630 of MX sin3i > 1.90 ± 0.25 M⊙ (1σ errors). The inclination in this system is well constrained since partial eclipses have been observed in X-ray and optical bands. For inclinations in the range 60° < i < 90° we find 1.90 ± 0.25 < MX < 2.9 ± 0.4 M⊙. However, using this maximum K-correction we find that the ratio between the mass of the companion star and that of the compact object, q, is 1.32 ± 0.37, implying super-Eddington mass-transfer rates; however, evidence for that has not been found in 2S 0921–630. We conclude that the compact object in 2S 0921–630 is either a (massive) neutron star or a low-mass black hole.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): X-ray binaries
Journal or Publication Title: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc
ISSN: 0035-8711
Date: 2005
Volume: Vol.356
Number: No.2
Page Range: pp. 621-626
Identification Number: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08476.x
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder: United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (Great Britain) (PPARC)
Grant number: PF3–40027 (NASA)
References: Bhattacharya, D., 1995, p. 233 in X-ray binaries, eds Lewin, van Paradijs, van den Heuvel, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Branduardi-Raymont, G., Corbet, R., Parmar, A. N., Murdin, P. G., Mason, K. O., 1981, Space Science Reviews, 30, 279 Branduardi-Raymont, G., Corbet, R. H. D., Mason, K. O., Parmar, A. N., Murdin, P. G., White, N. E., 1983, MNRAS, 205, 403 Casares, J., Charles, P. A., Kuulkers, E., 1998, ApJ, 493, L39 Casares, J., Dubus, G., Shahbaz, T., Zurita, C., Charles, P. A., 2002, MNRAS, 329, 29 Casares, J., Steeghs, D., Hynes, R. I., Charles, P. A., O’Brien, K., 2003, ApJ, 590, 1041 Chevalier, C., Ilovaisky, S. A., 1981, A&A, 94, L3 Cowley, A. P., Crampton, D., Hutchings, J. B., 1982, ApJ, 256, 605 Eggleton, P. P., 1983, ApJ, 268, 368 Hilditch, R. W., 2001, An Introduction to Close Binary Stars, R.W. Hilditch. Cambridge University Press, 2001, 392 pp. Jonker, P. G., van der Klis, M., Groot, P. J., 2003, MNRAS, 339, 663 Kallman, T. R., Angelini, L., Boroson, B., Cottam, J., 2003, ApJ, 583, 861 Lattimer, J. M., Prakash, M., 2001, ApJ, 550, 426 Marsh, T. R., Robinson, E. L.,Wood, J. H., 1994, MNRAS, 266, 137 Mason, K. O., Branduardi-Raymont, G., Codova, F. A., Corbet, R. H. D., 1987, MNRAS, 226, 423 Nauenberg, M., Chapline, G. J., 1973, ApJ, 179, 277 Nice, D. J., Splaver, E. M., Stairs, I. H., 2003, in ASP Conf. Ser. 302: Radio Pulsars, p. 75, astro–ph 0210637 Nice, D. J., Splaver, E. M., Stairs, I. H., 2004, in ASP Conf. Ser. TBD: Radio Pulsars, eds. F.A. Radio & I.H. Stairs, astro-ph 0311296 Orosz, J. A., Kuulkers, E., 1999, MNRAS, 305, 132 Paczynski, B., 1971, ARA&A, 9, 183 Podsiadlowski, P., Rappaport, S., Pfahl, E. D., 2002, ApJ, 565, 1107 Shahbaz, T., Naylor, T., Charles, P. A., 1993, MNRAS, 265, 655 Shahbaz, T., Kuulkers, E., Charles, P. A., van der Hooft, F., Casares, J., van Paradijs, J., 1999, A&A, 344, 101 Tassoul, J., 1988, ApJ, 324, L71 Tauris, T. M., van den Heuvel, E. P. J., Savonije, G. J., 2000, ApJ, 530, L93 Thorsett, S. E., Chakrabarty, D., 1999, ApJ, 512, 288 Timmes, F. X., Woosley, S. E., Weaver, T. A., 1996, ApJ, 457, 834 van den Heuvel, E. P. J., Bitzaraki, O., 1995, A&A, 297, L41 van Paradijs, J., McClintock, J. E., 1995, p. 58 in X-ray Binaries, eds.W.H.G. Lewin, J. van Paradijs, and E.P.J. van den Heuvel, Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press Wade, R. A., Horne, K., 1988, ApJ, 324, 411
URI: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/50088

Request changes to a record

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...
twitter

Email us: publications@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us