0000000000042512
AUTHOR
Luigi Stella
Presence of a soft excess between 0.6 keV and 0.9 keV in the energy spectrum of Cir X-1
Abstract We report on the results of a new BeppoSAX (0.12–200 keV) observation of the peculiar X–ray binary source Circinus X–1 (Cir X–1) near the apastron. We produced a color-color diagram and selected seven different zones. We fitted the spectra obtained from each zone using a model consisting of a blackbody component, at a temperature of ∼0.5 keV, and a Comptonized component, with a seed-photon temperature of ∼1 keV, electron temperature of ∼2.7 keV and optical depth of ∼11. A soft excess between 0.6 keV and 0.9 keV is present in four out of the seven extracted spectra. To fit the soft excess we tried several continuum emission models, and we find good results only adding a further blac…
On the maximum efficiency of the propeller mass-ejection mechanism
Aims. We derive simple estimates of the maximum efficiency with which matter can be ejected by the propeller mechanism in disk-fed, rotating magnetic neutron stars. Some binary evolution scenarios envisage that this mechanism is responsible for expelling to infinity the mass inflowing at a low rate from the companion star, therefore limiting the total amount of mass that can be accreted by the neutron star. Methods. We demonstrate that, for typical neutron star parameters, a maximum of ��_{pro} < 5.7 (P_{-3})^{1/3} times more matter than accreted can be expelled through the propeller mechanism at the expenses of the neutron star rotational energy (P_{-3} is the NS spin period in unit of …
Coupling Between Periodic and Aperiodic Variability in SAX J1808.4-3658
We detect a significant broadening in the wings of the 401 Hz peak in the power spectrum of the accreting millisecond binary pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658. This feature is consistent with the convolution of the red noise present in the power spectrum with the harmonic line. We conclude that the flux modulated by the spin period shows aperiodic variability similar to the red noise in the overall flux, suggesting such variability also originates at the magnetic caps close to the neutron star surface. This is analogous to the results found in some longer period, higher magnetic field pulsators in high mass X-ray binaries.
INTEGRAL and RXTE observations of accreting millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934 in outburst
Simultaneous observations of the accretion-powered millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934 by International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer during the 2004 December outburst are analysed. The average spectrum is well described by thermal Comptonization with an electron temperature of 50 keV and Thomson optical depth tau_T ~ 1 in a slab geometry. The spectral shape is almost constant during the outburst. We detect a spin-up of the pulsar with nudot=8.4x10E-13 Hz/s. The ISGRI data reveal the pulsation of X-rays at a period of 1.67 milliseconds up to ~150 keV. The pulsed fraction is shown to increase from 6 per cent at 6 keV to 12--20 per cent at 100 keV. This is n…
A new BeppoSAX observation of the Z Source GX 349+2
Abstract We report on the results from two BeppoSAX observations of the Z source GX 349+2 performed in February 2001 and covering the broad energy range 0.12–200 keV. The average spectrum is well described by a soft blackbody (kTBB∼0.5 keV) and a Comptonized component having a seed-photon temperature of kT0∼1 keV, an electron temperature of kTe∼2.7 keV, and optical depth τ∼11. To well fit the energy spectrum three gaussian lines are needed at 1.2 keV, 2.6 keV, and 6.7 keV with corresponding equivalent widths of 13 eV, 10 eV, and 39 eV, probably associated to L-shell emission of Fe XXIV, Lyα S XVI, and Fe XXV, respectively. These lines may be produced at different distances from the neutron …
On the Spectral Evolution of Cygnus X-2 along its Color-Color Diagram
We report on the results of a broad band (0.1-200 keV) spectral study of Cyg X-2 using two BeppoSAX observations taken in 1996 and 1997, respectively, for a total effective on-source time of ~100 ks. The color-color (CD) and hardness-intensity (HID) diagrams show that the source was in the horizontal branch (HB) and normal branch (NB) during the 1996 and 1997 observation, respectively. Five spectra were selected around different positions of the source in the CD/HID, two in the HB and three in the NB. These spectra are fit to a model consisting of a disk blackbody, a Comptonization component, and two Gaussian emission lines at ~1 keV and ~6.6 keV, respectively. The addition of a hard power-…
Study of Two BeppoSAX Observations of GX 340+0
We present the results of two BeppoSAX broad band (0.1–200 keV) observations of the Z-source GX 340+0 comparing our results to those of a previous observation of the source. From the color–color diagram we selected three zones and extracted the source energy spectrum from each zone. We find that the model, composed by a blackbody plus a Comptonized component, absorbed by an equivalent hydrogen column of ~6 × 10 22 cm −2 , well fits the spectra in the energy range below 30 keV. At higher energies a power law component with photon index of 2.5 is observed. The associated flux decreases going from the horizontal branch to the flaring branch of the Z-track.
A Preliminary BeppoSAX Study of the (Bright) Atoll Source GX 9+1
We report the preliminary results of a 350 ks BeppoSAX observation of the bright atoll source GX 9+1. In the field of view of the MECS instrument we discovered a X-ray pulsar, designated SAX J1802.7 - 2017, at an angular distance from GX 9+1 of ∼ 22 ′ . Since the X-ray emission of SAX J1802.7 - 2017 contaminates the energy spectrum above 10 keV we studied the energy spectrum of GX 9+1 in the energy band 0.1 - 10keV. We selected four regions in the color-color diagram and extracted one spectrum from each region. A bump below 1keV is present in the spectra using a model composed by a Comptonized component absorbed by neutral matter having an equivalent hydrogen column of 1.5 x 10 22 cm -2 . T…
X-ray bursts and burst oscillations from the slowly spinning X-ray pulsar IGR J17480−2446 (Terzan 5)
The newly discovered 11-Hz accreting pulsar, IGR J17480−2446, located in the globular cluster Terzan 5, has shown several bursts with a recurrence time as short as a few minutes. The source shows the shortest recurrence time ever observed from a neutron star. Here we present a study of the morphological, spectral and temporal properties of 107 bursts observed by the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. The recurrence time and the fluence of the bursts clearly anticorrelate with the increase in the persistent X-ray flux. The ratio between the energy generated by the accretion of mass and that liberated during bursts indicates that helium is ignited in a hydrogen-rich layer. Therefore, we conclude th…
Search for radio pulsations in four Anomalous X-ray Pulsars and discovery of two new pulsars
We report on observations of four southern Anomalous X-ray Pulsars, (1RXS J170849.0-400910, 1E 1048.1-5937, 1E 1841-045 and AX J1845-0258), obtained at 1.4 GHz using the Parkes radio telescope. Radio pulsations from these sources have been searched (i) by directly folding the time series at a number of trial periods centered on the value of the spin rate obtained from the X-ray observations; (ii) by performing a blind search; (iii) using a code sensitive to single dedispersed pulses, in the aim to detect signals similar to those of the recently discovered Rotating RAdio Transients. No evidence for radio pulsations with an upper limit of ~0.1 mJy for any of the four targets has been found. T…
An XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL view on the hard state of EXO 1745-248 during its 2015 outburst
CONTEXT - Transient low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) often show outbursts lasting typically a few-weeks and characterized by a high X-ray luminosity ($L_{x} \approx 10^{36}-10^{38}$ erg/sec), while for most of the time they are found in X-ray quiescence ($L_X\approx10^{31} -10^{33}$ erg/sec). EXO 1745-248 is one of them. AIMS - The broad-band coverage, and the sensitivity of instrument on board of {\xmm} and {\igr}, offers the opportunity to characterize the hard X-ray spectrum during {\exo} outburst. METHODS - In this paper we report on quasi-simultaneous {\xmm} and {\igr} observations of the X-ray transient {\exo} located in the globular cluster Terzan 5, performed ten days after the begin…
Preliminary Results on Intermittent Behaviour of Millisecond Pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658
We analyzed RXTE data from the burst of the year 2000 of the X-ray millisecond binary pulsar SAX J 1808.4-3658 with the intent of determining the new orbital parameters.We used the observations of SAX J1808.4-3658 performed by the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) when the source was again detected in outburst during the period January-March 2000 (Wijnands et al. 2001). In particular we examined the data from the Proportional Counter Array (РСA) (Jahoda et al. 1996). We first applied barycentric correction to the data using the optical coordinates of the source (Roche et al. 98).
Timing an Accreting Millisecond Pulsar: Measuring the Accretion Torque in IGR J00291+5934
We performed a timing analysis of the fastest accreting millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934 using RXTE data taken during the outburst of December 2004. We corrected the arrival times of all the events for the orbital (Doppler) effects and performed a timing analysis of the resulting phase delays. In this way we have the possibility to study, for the first time in this class of sources, the spin-up of a millisecond pulsar as a consequence of accretion torques during the X-ray outburst. The accretion torque gives us for the first time an independent estimate of the mass accretion rate onto the neutron star, which can be compared with the observed X-ray luminosity. We also report a revised valu…
Timing Analysis of the 2022 Outburst of the Accreting Millisecond X-Ray Pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658: Hints of an Orbital Shrinking
We present a pulse timing analysis of NICER observations of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4$-$3658 during the outburst that started on 2022 August 19. Similar to previous outbursts, after decaying from a peak luminosity of $\simeq 1\times10^{36} \, \mathrm{erg \, s^{-1}}$ in about a week, the pulsar entered in a $\sim 1$ month-long reflaring stage. Comparison of the average pulsar spin frequency during the outburst with those previously measured confirmed the long-term spin derivative of $\dot{\nu}_{\textrm{SD}}=-(1.15\pm0.06)\times 10^{-15} \, \mathrm{Hz\,s^{-1}}$, compatible with the spin-down torque of a $\approx 10^{26} \, \mathrm{G \, cm^3}$ rotating magnetic dipole.…
Search for radio pulsations in four anomalous X-ray pulsars and discovery of two new pulsars
We have performed deep searches for radio pulsations from four southern anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) to investigate their physical nature in comparison with the rotation powered pulsars. The data were acquired using the Parkes radio telescope with the 1.4 GHz multibeam receiver. No pulsed emission with periodicity matching the X-ray ephemeris have been found in the observed targets down to a limit of ∼0.1 mJy. A blind search has also been performed on all the 13 beams of the multibeam receiver (the central beam being pointed on the target AXP), leading to the serendipitous discovery of two new radio pulsars and to the further detection of 18 pulsars. Also a search for single dispersed pul…
Neutron Star Radius-to-mass Ratio from Partial Accretion Disk Occultation as Measured through Fe Kα Line Profiles
We present a new method to measure the radius-to-mass ratio (R/M) of weakly magnetic, disc-accreting neutron stars by exploiting the occultation of parts of the inner disc by the star itself. This occultation imprints characteristic features on the X-ray line profile that are unique and are expected to be present in low mass X-ray binary systems seen under inclinations higher than ~65 degrees. We analyse a NuSTAR observation of a good candidate system, 4U 1636-53, and find that X-ray spectra from current instrumentation are unlikely to single out the occultation features owing to insufficient signal-to-noise. Based on an extensive set of simulations we show that large-area X-ray detectors o…
BeppoSAX serendipitous discovery of the X-ray pulsar SAX J1802.7-2017
We report on the serendipitous discovery of a new X-ray source, SAX J1802.7-2017, ~22' away from the bright X-ray source GX 9+1, during a BeppoSAX observation of the latter source on 2001 September 16-20. SAX J1802.7-2017 remained undetected in the first 50 ks of observation; the source count rate in the following ~300 ks ranged between 0.04 c/s and 0.28 c/s, corresponding to an averaged 0.1-10 keV flux of 3.6 10^{-11} ergs cm^{-2} s^{-1}. We performed a timing analysis and found that SAX J1802.7-2017 has a pulse period of 139.612 s, a projected semimajor axis of a_x sin i ~ 70 lt-s, an orbital period of ~4.6 days, and a mass function f(M) ~ 17 Msun. The new source is thus an accreting X-ra…
The broad-band spectrum of Cyg X-2 with INTEGRAL
We study the broad band (3-100 keV) spectrum of Cygnus X-2 with INTEGRAL. We find that the spectrum is well fitted by a Comptonized component with a seed-photons temperature of ~1 keV, an electron temperature of ~3 keV and an optical depth tau ~ 8. Assuming spherical geometry, the radius of the seed-photons emitting region is ~17 km. The source shows no hard X-ray emission; it was detected only at a 3 sigma level above 40 keV. We also analyzed public ISGRI data of Cyg X--2 to investigate the presence of a hard X-ray component. We report the possible presence of hard X-ray emission in one data set.
Disappearance of Hard X-Ray Emission in the Last BeppoSAX Observation of the Z Source GX 349+2
We report on the results from two BeppoSAX observations of the Z source GX 349+2 performed in February 2001 and covering the broad energy range 0.12-200 keV. The light curve obtained from these observations shows a large flaring activity, the count rate varying from ~130 to ~260 counts/s, indicating that the source was in the flaring branch during these observations. The average spectrum is well described by a soft blackbody and a Comptonized component. To well fit the energy spectrum three gaussian lines are needed at 1.2 keV, 2.6 keV, and 6.7 keV with corresponding equivalent widths of 13 eV, 10 eV, and 39 eV, probably associated to L-shell emission of Fe XXIV, Ly-alpha S XVI, and Fe XXV,…
The discovery of the serendipitous X-ray pulsar SAX J1802.7–2017 from a BeppoSAX observation of GX 9+1
Abstract We have discovered a new X-ray source, SAX J1802.7–2017, ∼22′ away from the bright X-ray source GX 9+1, during a BeppoSAX observation of this latter one on 2001 September 16-20. The count rate of SAX J1802.7–2017 is comparable to the background (∼0.04 c/s) during the first 50 ks of the observation, then the count rate shows a large variability increasing up to ∼0.28 c/s. We have performed a temporal analysis finding that SAX J1802.7–2017 has a pulse period of ∼139.61 s, a projected orbital separation a x sin i of 48±5 lt-s and an orbital period of 3.7 +0.4 −0.2 days, allowing to classify the new object as an X-ray pulsar.
A Hard X-Ray View of Scorpius X-1 with INTEGRAL : Nonthermal Emission?
We present here simultaneous INTEGRAL/RXTE observations of Sco X-1, and in particular a study of the hard X-ray emission of the source and its correlation with the position in the Z-track of the X-ray color-color diagram. We find that the hard X-ray (above about 30 keV) emission of Sco X-1 is dominated by a power-law component with a photon index of ~3. The flux in the power-law component slightly decreases when the source moves in the color-color diagram in the sense of increasing inferred mass accretion rate from the horizontal branch to the normal branch/flaring branch vertex. It becomes not significantly detectable in the flaring branch, where its flux has decreased by about an order of…
The Large Observatory For x-ray Timing
The Large Observatory For x-ray Timing (LOFT) was studied within ESA M3 Cosmic Vision framework and participated in the final down-selection for a launch slot in 2022-2024. Thanks to the unprecedented combination of effective area and spectral resolution of its main instrument, LOFT will study the behaviour of matter under extreme conditions, such as the strong gravitational field in the innermost regions of accretion flows close to black holes and neutron stars, and the supra-nuclear densities in the interior of neutron stars. The science payload is based on a Large Area Detector (LAD, 10 m 2 effective area, 2-30 keV, 240 eV spectral resolution, 1 deg collimated field of view) and a WideFi…
Temporal Analysis of the Millisecond X-ray Pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 During the 2000 Outburst
We report a temporal analysis of the millisecond X-ray Pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 during the 2000 outburst, observed with RXTE. The observed maximum luminosity was approximately a factor of ten lower than in the other outbursts exhibited by the source, and this low flux level forced us to use a technique based on the χ2 obtained with an epoch folding search to discriminate between different possible orbital solutions, in order to correct the data for the orbital motion. In the subsequent searches for periodicities we clearly detected the 401Hz pulsation in at least two observations, but in the faintest the pulsed fraction varied from 20 % ca. to the absence of signs of coherent pulsation at al…
A BeppoSAX study of the Galactic Z-source GX 340+0
Abstract We present the results of a BeppoSAX broad band (0.1–200 keV) observation of the Z-source GX 340+0. The 1.8–30 keV continuum is well described by a blackbody ( kT BB ∼0.5 keV) plus a Comptonized component with seed photons temperature ∼ 1 keV and electron temperature ∼ 3 keV. A hard tail dominates the spectrum above 30 keV. It can be fitted using a bremsstrahlung component or, equivalently, a powerlaw (with a low-energy cutoff). We detect also a Gaussian line at ∼6.8 keV and an absorption edge at ∼9.2 keV. A low-energy (∼1 keV) unresolved feature needs further investigations.
A broad iron line in the Chandra/HETG spectrum of 4U 1705-44
We present preliminary results from a Chandra 30 ks observation of the atoll sourco 4U 1705 44. In particular we concentrate on the study of the iron Kα line, using the HEG spectrometer. The iron Kα line at ~ 6.6 keV is found to be intrinsically broad (FWHM ~ 1.7 keV); its width can be explained by reflection from a cold accretion disk extending down to ~ 17 km from the neutron star center or by Compton broadening in the hotter (~ 3 – 4 keV) corona.
Pulsating in Unison at Optical and X-Ray Energies: Simultaneous High Time Resolution Observations of the Transitional Millisecond Pulsar PSR J1023+0038
PSR J1023+0038 is the first millisecond pulsar discovered to pulsate in the visible band; such a detection took place when the pulsar was surrounded by an accretion disk and also showed X-ray pulsations. We report on the first high time resolution observational campaign of this transitional pulsar in the disk state, using simultaneous observations in the optical (TNG, NOT, TJO), X-ray (XMM-Newton, NuSTAR, NICER), infrared (GTC) and UV (Swift) bands. Optical and X-ray pulsations were detected simultaneously in the X-ray high intensity mode in which the source spends $\sim$ 70% of the time, and both disappeared in the low mode, indicating a common underlying physical mechanism. In addition, o…
Optical pulsations from a transitional millisecond pulsar
Weakly magnetic, millisecond spinning neutron stars attain their very fast rotation through a 1E8-1E9 yr long phase during which they undergo disk-accretion of matter from a low mass companion star. They can be detected as accretion-powered millisecond X-ray pulsars if towards the end of this phase their magnetic field is still strong enough to channel the accreting matter towards the magnetic poles. When mass transfer is much reduced or ceases altogether, pulsed emission generated by particle acceleration in the magnetosphere and powered by the rotation of the neutron star is observed, preferentially in the radio and gamma-ray bands. A few transitional millisecond pulsars that swing betwee…
The Multi-frequency Robotic facility REM: first results
The REM Observatory, recently installed and commissioned at la Silla Observatory Chile, is the first moderate aperture robotic telescope able to cover simultaneously the visible-NIR (0.45-2.3 microns) wavelength range. Due to its very fast pointing and its full robotization REM is conceived for fast transients observation. The high throughput Infrared Camera (REMIR) and the Visible imaging spectrograph (ROSS), simultaneously fed by a dichroic, allow to collect high S/N data in an unprecedented large spectral range on a telescope of this size. The REMobservatory is an example of a versatile and agile facility necessary complement to large telescopes in fields in which rapid response and/or t…
XMM-Newton and VLT observations of the afterglow of GRB040827
The field of the Gamma-Ray Burst GRB 040827 was observed with XMM-Newton and with the ESO/VLT starting ~6 and ~12 hours after the burst, respectively. A fading X-ray afterglow is clearly detected with the XMM-Newton/EPIC instrument, with a time decay t^(-delta), with delta=1.41+/-0.10. Its spectrum is well described by a power law (photon index Gamma=2.3+/-0.1) affected by an absorption largely exceeding (by a factor ~5) the expected Galactic one, requiring the contribution of an intrinsic, redshifted absorber. In the optical/NIR range, the afterglow emission was observed in the Ks band, as a weak source superimposed to the host galaxy, with magnitude Ks=19.44+/-0.13 (12 hours after the GRB…
Inhomogeneous Accretion Flow in X-ray Binary Pulsars
We analyze the power spectrum of SAX J1808.4‐3658, the first accreting millisecond binary pulsar discovered, to look for a broadening in the wings of the harmonic line, in analogy to what had been previously found in some high mass X‐ray binaries. We indeed detect a broadening at the base of the 401 Hz peak, which is consistent with the convolution of the low frequency noise present in the power spectrum with the harmonic line. We interpret this as the result of a coupling between a fraction of the aperiodic and periodic variability, suggesting that at least part of the noise originates in a region close to the neutron star surface at the magnetic poles.
A Broad Iron Line in the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrum of 4U 1705-44
We present the results of a Chandra 30 ks observation of the low-mass X-ray binary and atoll source 4U 1705-44. Here we concentrate on the study of discrete features in the energy spectrum at energies below ~3 keV, as well as on the iron Kalpha line, using the High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer on board the Chandra satellite. Below 3 keV, three narrow emission lines are found at 1.47, 2.0, and 2.6 keV. The 1.47 and 2.6 keV lines are probably identified with Lyalpha emission from Mg XII and S XVI, respectively. The identification of the feature at ~2.0 keV is uncertain because of the presence of an instrumental feature at the same energy. The iron Kalpha line at ~6.5 keV is found …
Swings between rotation and accretion power in a binary millisecond pulsar
It is thought that neutron stars in low-mass binary systems can accrete matter and angular momentum from the companion star and be spun-up to millisecond rotational periods1, 2, 3. During the accretion stage, the system is called a low-mass X-ray binary, and bright X-ray emission is observed. When the rate of mass transfer decreases in the later evolutionary stages, these binaries host a radio millisecond pulsar4, 5 whose emission is powered by the neutron star’s rotating magnetic field6. This evolutionary model is supported by the detection of millisecond X-ray pulsations from several accreting neutron stars7, 8 and also by the evidence for a past accretion disc in a rotation-powered milli…
The iron K-shell features of MXB 1728-34 from a simultaneous Chandra-RXTE observation
We report on a simultaneous Chandra and RossiXTE observation of the low-mass X-ray binary atoll bursting source MXB 1728-34 performed on 2002 March 3-5. We fit the 1.2-35 keV continuum spectrum with a blackbody plus a Comptonized component. Large residuals at 6-10 keV can be fitted by a broad (FWHM ~ 2 keV) Gaussian emission line or, alternatively, by two absorption edges associated with lowly ionized iron and Fe XXV/XXVI at ~7.1 keV and ~9 keV, respectively. In this interpretation, we find no evidence of broad, or narrow, emission lines between 6 and 7 keV. We test our alternative modelling of the iron K shell region by reanalysing a previous BeppoSAX observation of MXB 1728-34, finding a …
Detection of a Hard Tail in the X-Ray Spectrum of the Z Source GX 349+2
We present the results of a BeppoSAX observation of the Z source GX 349+2 covering the energy range 0.1-200 keV. The presence of flares in the light curve indicates that the source was in the flaring branch during the BeppoSAX observation. We accumulated energy spectra separately for the non-flaring intervals and the flares. In both cases the continuum is well described by a soft blackbody ($k T_{BB} \sim 0.5$ keV) and a Comptonized spectrum corresponding to an electron temperature of $k T_e \sim 2.7$ keV, optical depth $\tau \sim 10$ (for a spherical geometry), and seed photon temperature of $k T_W \sim 1$ keV. All temperatures tend to increase during the flares. In the non-flaring emissio…
X-Ray Eclipse Time Delays in 4U2129+47
4U 2129+47 was discovered in the early 80's and classified as an accretion disk corona source due to its broad and partial X-ray eclipses. The 5.24 hr binary orbital period was inferred from the X-ray and optical light curve modulation, implying a late K or M spectral type companion star. The source entered a low state in 1983, during which the optical modulation disappeared and an F8 IV star was revealed, suggesting that 4U 2129+47 might be part of a triple system. The nature of 4U 2129+47 has since been investigated, but no definitive conclusion has been reached. Here, we present timing and spectral analyses of two XMM-Newton observations of this source, carried out in May and June, 2005.…
The BeppoSAX 0.1–18 keV spectrum of the bright atoll source GX 9+1: an indication of the source distance
We report the results of a long, 350 ks, BeppoSAX observation of the bright atoll source GX 9+1 in the 0.12-18 keV energy range. During this observation GX 9+1 showed a large count rate variability in its lightcurve. From its color-color diagram we selected six zones and extracted the source energy spectrum from each zone. We find that the model, composed of a blackbody plus a Comptonized component absorbed by an equivalent hydrogen column of ~1.4 ¿ 1022 cm-2, fits the spectra in the energy range 1-18 keV well; however, below 1 keV a soft excess is present. We find that the spectrum of GX 9+1, in the 0.12-18 keV energy range, is well fitted by the model above, if we use an equivalent hydrog…
The pulse profile and spin evolution of the accreting pulsar in Terzan 5, IGR J17480−2446, during its 2010 outburst
(abridged) We analyse the spectral and pulse properties of the 11 Hz transient accreting pulsar, IGR J17480-2446, in the globular cluster Terzan 5, considering all the available RXTE, Swift and INTEGRAL observations performed between October and November, 2010. By measuring the pulse phase evolution we conclude that the NS spun up at an average rate of =1.48(2)E-12 Hz/s, compatible with the accretion of the Keplerian angular momentum of matter at the inner disc boundary. Similar to other accreting pulsars, the stability of the pulse phases determined by using the second harmonic component is higher than that of the phases based on the fundamental frequency. Under the assumption that the sec…