6533b853fe1ef96bd12ad711
RESEARCH PRODUCT
The puzzling case of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar IGR J00291+5934: flaring optical emission during quiescence
Luciano BurderiT. Muñoz DariasNanda ReaP. D'avanzoSergio CampanaT. Di SalvoMaria Cristina BaglioDiego F. TorresAlessandro Papittosubject
Gran Telescopio CanariasAstrophysics::High Energy Astrophysical Phenomenaneutron X-rays: binaries accretion accretion disks [stars]FOS: Physical sciencesAstrophysics01 natural sciencesSettore FIS/05 - Astronomia E AstrofisicaPulsarAccretion discstars: neutron X-rays: binaries accretion accretion disks0103 physical sciencesAstrophysics::Solar and Stellar Astrophysics010303 astronomy & astrophysicsSolar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)Astrophysics::Galaxy AstrophysicsHigh Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE)PhysicsMillisecond010308 nuclear & particles physicsAstrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for AstrophysicsAstronomy and AstrophysicsLight curveOrbital period3. Good healthAstrophysics - Solar and Stellar AstrophysicsSpace and Planetary ScienceOptical emission spectroscopyAstrophysics::Earth and Planetary AstrophysicsAstrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical PhenomenaX-ray pulsardescription
We present an optical (gri) study during quiescence of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar IGR J00291+5934 performed with the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) in August 2014. Despite the source being in quiescence at the time of our observations, it showed a strong optical flaring activity, more pronounced at higher frequencies (i.e. the g band). Once the flares were subtracted, we tentatively recovered a sinusoidal modulation at the system orbital period in all bands, even if a significant phase shift with respect to an irradiated star, typical of accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars is detected. We conclude that the observed flaring could be a manifestation of the presence of an accretion disc in the system. The observed light curve variability could be explained by the presence of a superhump, which might be another proof of the formation of an accretion disc. In particular, the disc at the time of our observations was probably preparing to the new outburst of the source, that happened just a few months later, in 2015.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-04-01 |