Search

RXTE observations of the X-ray transient pulsar 2S 1417-62 between 1999 November and 2000 August with a total exposure of $\sim 394$ ksec were analyzed. Observations include a main outburst followed by a series of mini outbursts. Changes in pulse morphology and pulse fraction were found to be related to the changes in X-ray flux. Particularly low X-ray flux regions were found to have significantly lower pulse fractions with different pulse morphologies. The 3-60 keV PCA-HEXTE main outburst spectrum was modeled with an absorbed power law model with high energy cut-off and a Gaussian Iron line complex feature. Using the same spectral model, individual 3-20 keV PCA spectra were found to be softer and less absorbed in low X-ray flux regions between outbursts. Spectral studies showed that hydrogen column density was correlated, and the power law index was anti-correlated with the 3-20 keV X-ray flux. X-ray flux related spectral and timing features in 2S 1417-62 except for low X-ray flux regions were interpreted as a sign of disc accretion with a similar accretion geometry with a varying mass accretion rate ($\dot{M}$), whereas spectral and timing features of the low X-ray flux regions were interpreted as a sign of possible temporary accretion geometry change prior to the next periastron where $\dot{M}$ increases again to restore the original accretion geometry., Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

The operation of CGRO/BATSE continues to produce, after more than 5 years, a valuable database for the study of long-term variability in bright hard X-ray sources. The all-sky capability of BATSE provides, using the Earth occultation technique, up to approximately 30 flux measurements per day for each source. The long BATSE baseline and the numerous rising and setting occultation flux measurements allow searches for periodic and quasi-periodic signals from hours to hundreds of days. We present initial results from our study of the hard X-ray variability in 24 of the brightest BATSE sources. Power density spectra are computed for each source. In addition, we present profiles of the hard X-ray orbital modulations in 8 X-ray binaries (Cen X-3, Cyg X-1, Cyg X-3, GX 301-2, Her X-1, OAO1657-415, Vela X-1 and 4U1700-37), several-hundred-day modulations in the amplitude and width of the main high state in the 35-day cycle in Her X-1, and variations in outburst durations and intensities in the recurrent X-ray transients., Comment: 4 pages (LaTeX) including 3 PostScript figures; to appear in Proceedings of the 2nd INTEGRAL Workshop "The Transparent Universe" (St. Malo, France), eds. C. Winkler et al., ESA SP-382, in press

We have examined the power spectral behavior of Cygnus X-1 using approximately 1100 days of BATSE data. These data have been searched for correlations between different power spectral features, and for correlations between power spectral features and energy spectral parameters derived from BATSE occultation analysis., Comment: 3 pages, 3 Postscript figures, uses l-aa.sty. Presented at the 3rd Compton Symposium, Munich, June 12-14, 1995. To be published in Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement

We have examined fifteen days of CGRO/BATSE data, obtained during the first outburst of the black-hole candidate source GRO J1655-40, to search for rapid variability of its X-ray flux. We find no evidence for significant variability of GRO J1655-40 during our observations, with a 2 sigma upper limit to the fractional r.m.s. amplitude in the frequency range 0.03-0.488 Hz of 6.6%. We cannot, on the basis of our observations, determine the source state (low, high, or very-high state) of GRO J1655-40., Comment: 15 pages, 4 Postscript figures, uses aasms4.sty. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters

We have analyzed approximately 1100 days of Cygnus X-1 hard X-ray data obtained with BATSE to study its rapid variability. We find for the first time correlations between the slope of the spectrum and the hard X-ray intensity, and between the spectral slope and the amplitude of the rapid variations of the hard X-ray flux. We compare our results with expectations from current theories of accretion onto black holes., Comment: 17 pages, 3 Postscript figures, uses aasms4.sty. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters

We present a power spectral analysis of the Crab pulsar's timing noise, mainly using radio measurements from Jodrell Bank taken over the period 1982-1989, an interval bounded by sparse data sampling and a large glitch. The power spectral analysis is complicated by nonuniform data sampling and the presence of a steep red power spectrum that can distort power spectra measurement by causing severe power 'leakage'. We develop a simple windowing method for computing red noise power spectra of uniformly sampled data sets and test it on Monte Carlo generated sample realizations of red power-law noise. We generalize time-domain methods of generating power-law red noise with even integer spectral indices to the case of noninteger spectral indices. The Jodrell Bank pulse phase residuals are dense and smooth enough that an interpolation onto a uniform time series is possible. A windowed power spectrum is computed revealing a periodic or nearly periodic component with a period of 568 +/- 10 days and a l/f(exp 3) power-law noise component in pulse phase with a noise strength S(sub infinity)=(1.24 +/- 0.067) x 10(exp 16) cycles(exp 2)/sec(exp 2) over the analysis frequency range f=0.003- 0.1 cycles/day. This result deviates from past analyses which characterized the pulse phase timing residuals as either l/f(sub 4) power-law noise or a quasiperiodic process. The analysis was checked using the Deeter polynomial method of power spectrum estimation that was developed for the case of nonuniform sampling, but has lower spectral resolution. The timing noise is consistent with a torque noise spectrum rising with analysis frequency as f implying blue torque noise, a result not predicted by current models of pulsar timing noise. If the periodic or nearly periodic component is due to a binary companion, we find a mass function f(M) = (6.8 +/- 2.4) x 10(exp -16) solar mass and a companion mass, M(sub c) is greater than or equal to 3.2 solar mass assuming a Crab pulsar mass of 1.4 solar mass.

We have phase-connected a sequence of Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array observations of SGR 1806-20 covering 178 days. We find that a simple secular spin-down model does not adequately fit the data. The period derivative varies gradually during the observations between 8.1 x 10(exp -11) and 11.7 x 10(exp -11) s/s (at its highest, approximately 40% larger than the long-term trend), while the average burst rate as seen with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment drops throughout the time interval. The phase residuals give no compelling evidence for periodicity, but more closely resemble timing noise as seen in radio pulsars. The magnitude of the timing noise, however, is large relative to the noise level typically found in radio pulsars (Delta(sub 8) = 4.8; frequency derivative average power approximately 7 x 10(exp -20) sq cycles/cubic s). Combining these results with the noise levels measured for some anomalous X-ray pulsars, we find that all magnetar candidates have Delta(sub 8) values larger than those expected from a simple extrapolation of the correlation found in radio pulsars. We find that the timing noise in SGR 1806-20 is greater than or equal to the levels found in some accreting systems (e.g., Vela X-1, 4U 1538-52, and 4U 1626-67), but the spin-down of SGR 1806-20 has thus far maintained coherence over 6 yr. Alternatively, an orbital model with a period P(sub orb) = 733 days provides a statistically acceptable fit to the data. If the phase residuals are created by Doppler shifts from a gravitationally bound companion, then the allowed parameter space for the mass function (small) and orbital separation (large) rule out the possibility of accretion from the companion sufficient to power the persistent emission from the SGR.

GRO J2058+422 is a 196 second pulsar discovered with BATSE during a giant outburst in 1995. It underwent a series of 9 weaker outbursts from 1995 to 1997 which alternated in intensity, with a 110 day cycle in the 20-50 keV band. These outbursts did not show the same, intensity variations in the 2-10 keV observations with the RXTE ASM. Additional outbursts after this series were observed with BATSE, using a more sensitive search method which accounts for excess aperiodic noise from Cygnus X-1, and with the RXTE PCA and ASM. A set of two outbursts, one "periastron" and one "apastron" outburst (assuming a 110 day orbital period) were observed with the RXTE PCA. Pulse shape differences were found between the two outbursts. Histories of pulse frequency, pulsed flux. and total flux are presented. Pulse profiles and spectra from PCA observations are also presented.

Accreting X-ray pulsar systems can be detected and monitored by the BATSE Pulsar Monitor at full sensitivity only above the Nyquist period of 2.048 s, since it uses the DISCLA data type. Systems with shorter periods than 2 s can be observed, but with a reduced sensitivity, since only the aliased power is measured. While persistent sources in the period range below that have been found by earlier spacecraft, transient systems may still be undiscovered, due to limited time coverage of the galactic plane with all-sky instruments. BATSE data with a time resolution of 31 ms (PSR single-sweep mode) has been collected for four energy channels spanning 20-50 keV , at scheduled times for particular detectors and detector combinations which view the galactic plane. The data spans Nov 1993 to present, with a typical exposure of 15000 s per day to approximately 1/8 of the plane. An accelerated FFT-based search is in progress on these data. Data are segmented into approximately 300 second intervals, barycentered for 3 possible source directions spaced by 30 degrees about the detector normal, with the time series accelerated for each of 15 steps, each spaced by 5 x 10(exp -5). To avoid loss of coherence due to system orbital velocities, FFTs are averaged over each 1/4 day interval separately. Results of this search are presented, including examples of detection of Her X-1, Cen X-3, and other pulsars.

We report on the discovery and hard X-ray (20 - 70 keV) observations of the 4.45 s period transient X-ray pulsar GRO J1750-27 with the BATSE all-sky monitor on board CGRO. A relatively faint out- burst (less than 30 mcrab peak) lasting at least 60 days was observed during which the spin-up rate peaked at 38 pHz/s and was correlated with the pulsed intensity. An orbit with a period of 29.8 days was found. The large spin-up rate, spin period, and orbital period together suggest that accretion is occurring from a disk and that the outburst is a "giant" outburst typical of a Be/X-ray transient system. No optical counterpart has yet been reported.

The high-mass X-ray pulsar 4U 153 8-52 has been continually monitored by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory. These observations permit the construction of long-term pulse frequency and intensity histories. The frequency history reveals that a reversal of the long-term trend in the accretion torque, from spinning down to spinning up, has occurred, probably in 1988. This is the first time a long-term change is known to have occurred for this source, The magnitude of the average absolute value of (dot-nu / nu) is approximately 10(exp -11)/s over an interval of approximately 5 year is similar during spin-down and spin-up. Shorter term pulse frequency variations of either sign are also observed. The power density spectrum of fluctuations in angular acceleration is consistent with white noise on timescales from 16 to 1600 days. It can be well fit with a power law with a power-law index of 0.10 plus or minus 0.21 and white noise strength of (7.6 +/- 1.6) x 10(exp -21) (Hz/s(exp 2)/Hz). These observations are also used to set 95% confidence level lower and upper limits on the rate of orbital period change, -3.9< dot-P orb /P orb <2. 1, in units of 10(exp -6) yr(exp -1).