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IC 10 X-1 is one of the close X-ray binaries containing a Wolf–Rayet donor, which can provide an evolutionary link between high-mass X-ray binaries and gravitational wave sources. It is still unclear about the precise nature of the accreting compact object in IC 10 X-1, although it looks more like a black hole (BH) than a neutron star. In this work, we use a binary population synthesis method to simulate the formation of IC 10 X-1–like binaries by assuming different common-envelope ejection efficiencies. This work represents a big step forward over previous studies since we adopt new criteria for mass-transfer stability. These criteria allow the formation of IC 10 X-1–like systems without experiencing common envelope evolution. Based on our calculations, we propose that the compact object in IC 10 X-1 is a BH with a mass of ∼10–30 M ⊙ and the progenitor evolution of this binary probably just experienced stable mass transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present two simultaneous NICER and NuSTAR observations of the ultracompact X-ray binary (UCXB) candidate SLX 1735−269 while the source was in two different spectral states. Using various reflection modeling techniques, we find that xillverCO, a model used for fitting X-ray spectra of UCXBs with high carbon and oxygen abundances is an improvement over relxill or relxillNS, which instead contains solar-like chemical abundances. This provides indirect evidence in support of the source being ultracompact. We also use this reflection model to get a preliminary measurement of the inclination of the system, i = 57 − 7 + 23 degrees. This is consistent with our timing analysis, where a lack of eclipses indicates an inclination of i < 80°. The timing analysis is otherwise inconclusive, and we cannot confidently measure the orbital period of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the study of X-ray binaries has led to major breakthroughs in high-energy astrophysics, their circumbinary environment at scales of ∼100–10,000 au has not been thoroughly investigated. In this paper, we undertake a novel and exploratory study by employing direct and high-contrast imaging techniques on a sample of X-ray binaries, using adaptive optics and the vortex coronagraph on Keck/NIRC2. High-contrast imaging opens up the possibility to search for exoplanets, brown dwarfs, circumbinary companion stars, and protoplanetary disks in these extreme systems. Here we present the first near-infrared high-contrast images of 13 high-mass X-ray binaries located within ∼2–3 kpc. The key results of this campaign involve the discovery of several candidate circumbinary companions ranging from substellar (brown dwarf) to stellar masses. By conducting an analysis based on Galactic population models, we discriminate sources that are likely background/foreground stars and isolate those that have a high probability (≳60%–99%) of being gravitationally bound to the X-ray binary. This paper seeks to establish a preliminary catalog for future analyses of proper motion and subsequent observations. With our preliminary results, we calculate the first estimate of the companion frequency and the multiplicity frequency for X-ray binaries: ≈0.6 and 1.8 ± 0.9, respectively, considering only the sources that are most likely bound to the X-ray binary. In addition to extending our comprehension of how brown dwarfs and stars can form and survive in such extreme systems, our study opens a new window to our understanding of the formation of X-ray binaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mechanism for the ejection of relativistic jets from slim disks is studied. Since radiation pressure is dominant in the slim disk, radiative energy flows along the pressure gradient in the vertical direction. The divergence of the radiative flux tells us that the flow of radiative energy from a bottom layer near the equatorial plane is absorbed by another layer above the boundary surface. The absorbed energy accumulates in the upper layer as the matter advances inward, and calculations show that the specific energy of the flow in the upper layer can be as large as ∼ c 2 near the black hole when the accretion rate through the upper layer is relatively low. Since the specific energy ∼ c 2 is much larger than the gravitational energy, the height of the upper layer could significantly increase then. Hence, the innermost part of the upper layer after almost all the angular momentum has been removed could have a much greater height than the size of the black hole, and the flow could collide with itself around the central axis of the disk, bouncing back from the axis while simultaneously expanding along it. The flow is expected to go outward along the central axis and to become supersonic due to the change in its cross section, finally producing relativistic jets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the phase-resolved spectral results of the first Galactic pulsating ultraluminous X-ray source (PULX) Swift J0243.6+6124, modeling its 2017–2018 outburst peak using data collected by the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT). The broad energy coverage of Insight-HXMT allows us to obtain a more accurate spectral continuum to reduce the coupling of broad iron line profiles with other components. We use three different continuum spectrum models but obtain similar iron line results. For the first time, we detect the pulse characteristics of the broad iron line in a PULX. The variation in the width and intensity of this iron line with σ ∼ 1.2–1.5 keV has a phase offset of about 0.25 from the pulse phase. We suggest that the uneven irradiation of the thick inner disk by the accretion column produces the modulated variation of the broad iron line. In addition, the nonpulsed narrow line is suggested to come from the outer disk region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black hole spin parameter, a *, was measured to be close to its maximum value of 1 in many accreting X-ray binaries. In particular, a * ≳ 0.9 was found in a number of studies of LMC X-1. These measurements were claimed to take into account both statistical and systematic uncertainties. We perform new measurements using a recent simultaneous observation by NICER and NuSTAR, providing a data set of high quality. We use the disk continuum method together with improved models for coronal Comptonization. With the standard relativistic disk model and optically thin Comptonization, we obtain values of a * similar to those obtained before. We then consider modifications to the standard model. Using a color correction of 2, we find a * ≈ 0.64–0.84. We then consider disks with dissipation in surface layers. To account for that, we assume the standard disk is covered by a warm and optically thick Comptonizing layer. Our model with the lowest χ 2 then yields a * ≈ 0.40 − 0.32 + 0.41 . In order to test the presence of such effects in other sources, we also study an X-ray observation of Cyg X-1 by Suzaku in the soft state. We confirm the previous findings of a * > 0.99 using the standard model, but then we find a weakly constrained a * ≈ 0.82 − 0.74 + 0.16 when including an optically thick Comptonizing layer. We conclude that determinations of the spin using the continuum method can be highly sensitive to the assumptions about the disk structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the multi-wavelength spectral properties of the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1348–630 using quasi-simultaneous ALMA, NICER, and Swift observations during the decay phase of the January 2019 outburst. In millimeter wavelengths, radio continuum emissions in the frequency range of 89.56–351.44 GHz are measured. We found that the flux densities at millimeter wavelength varied between 12.18 mJy and 18.47 mJy with spectral index (α ) of 0.28 ± 0.02 . The broadband spectrum suggests that the source was accompanied by weak synchrotron emission from the compact jets. Broadband spectral study indicates that MAXI J1348–630 falls in the regime of "radio-quiet" during the decay phase of the outburst. The NICER spectrum is fitted by a combined model of disk blackbody component (diskbb) along with a comptonization component (simpl) which explains the power-law continuum caused by the thermal Comptonisation of soft disk photons in a hot gas of electrons. The NICER spectrum is dominated by the comptonised components during the decay phase of the outburst close to the hard state of the source. We have investigated the correlation between X-ray and radio luminosity using quasi-simultaneous ALMA and NICER data to understand the source nature by locating the source in the L X - L R diagram. The correlation study of radio/X-ray luminosity suggests that MAXI J1348–630 did not follow the well-known track for black holes and it is a new member of a restricted group of sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the X-ray spectral and spatial evolution of the symbiotic star R Aqr. Through a multiepoch observational campaign performed with Chandra between 2017 and 2022, we study the X-ray emission of this binary system, composed of an evolved red giant star and a white dwarf (WD). This analysis is particularly timely as the WD approached the periastron in late 2018/early 2019; thus, mass transfer, jet emission, and outburst phenomena are to be expected. Through detailed spectral analysis, we detect a significant rise in the soft X-ray (0.5–2 keV) emission of R Aqr, likely linked to jet emission, followed by a decay toward the previous quiescent state. The hard X-ray emission (5–8 keV) is not immediately affected by the periastron passage; the hard component, after maintaining the same flux level between 2017 and 2021, rapidly decays after 2022. Possible explanations for this are a change in the reflection properties of the medium surrounding the binary, obscuration of the central region by material ejected during the periastron passage, or even the partial/complete destruction of the inner regions of the accretion disk surrounding the WD. In addition to this activity in the central region, extended emission is also detected, likely linked to a hot spot in a pre-outburst-emitted jet, which can be observed moving away from the system's central region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray polarization is a powerful tool to investigate the geometry of accreting material around black holes, allowing independent measurements of the black hole spin and orientation of the innermost parts of the accretion disk. We perform X-ray spectropolarimetric analysis of an X-ray binary system in the Large Magellanic Cloud, LMC X-3, that hosts a stellar-mass black hole, known to be persistently accreting since its discovery. We report the first detection of the X-ray polarization in LMC X-3 with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, and find the average polarization degree (PD) of 3.2% ± 0.6% and a constant polarization angle of −42° ± 6° over the 2–8 keV range. Using accompanying spectroscopic observations by NICER, NuSTAR, and the Neil Gehrels Swift observatories, we confirm previous measurements of the black hole spin via the X-ray continuum method, a ≈ 0.2. From polarization analysis only, we found consistent results with low black hole spin, with an upper limit of a < 0.7 at a 90% confidence level. A slight increase in the PD with energy, similar to other black hole X-ray binaries in the soft state, is suggested from the data but with a low statistical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the recent outburst of the black hole candidate EXO 1846-031, which went into an outburst in 2019 after almost 34 yr in quiescence. We use archival data from the Swift/XRT, MAXI/GSC, NICER/XTI, and NuSTAR/FPM satellites/instruments to study the evolution of the spectral and temporal properties of the source during the outburst. The low-energy (2–10 keV) X-ray flux of the outburst shows multiple peaks, making it a multipeak outburst. Evolving type-C quasi-periodic oscillations are observed in the NICER data in the hard, hard-intermediate, and soft-intermediate states. We use the physical two-component advective flow (TCAF) model to analyze the combined spectra of multiple satellite instruments. According to the TCAF model, the accreting matter is divided into Keplerian and sub-Keplerian parts, and the variation in the observed spectra in different spectral states arises out of the variable contributions of these two types of accreting matter in the total accretion rate. Studying the evolution of the accretion rates and other properties of the accretion flow obtained from the spectral analysis, we show that the multiple peaks in the outburst flux arise out of the variable supply of accreting matter from the pile-up radius. We determine the probable mass of the black hole to be 10.4 − 0.2 + 0.1 M ⊙ from the spectral analysis with the TCAF model. We also estimate the viscous timescale of the source in this outburst to be ∼8 days from the peak difference of the Keplerian and sub-Keplerian mass-accretion rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fe K α fluorescence line emission in X-ray spectra is a powerful diagnostic tool for various astrophysical objects to reveal the distribution of cold matter around photoionizing sources. The advent of the X-ray microcalorimeter on board the XRISM satellite will bring new constraints on the emission line. We present one of the first such results for the high-mass X-ray binary Centaurus X-3, which is composed of an O-type star and a neutron star (NS). We conducted a 155 ks observation covering an entire binary orbit. A weak Fe K α line was detected in all orbital phases at an equivalent width (EW) of 10–20 eV. We found for the first time that its radial velocity (RV) is sinusoidally modulated by the orbital phase. The RV amplitude is 248 ± 13 km s ^−1 , which is significantly smaller than the value (391 km s ^−1 ) expected if the emission is from the NS surface, but is consistent if the emission takes place at the O star surface. We discuss several possibilities of the line production site, including the NS surface, O star surface, O star wind, and accretion stream from the O star to the NS. We ran radiative transfer calculation for some of them assuming spherically symmetric density and velocity profiles and an isotropic distribution of X-ray emission from the NS. None of them explains the observed EW and velocity dispersion dependence on the orbital phase, suggesting that more elaborated modeling is needed. In other words, the present observational results have the capability to constrain deviations from these assumptions.

The recent observation of high-energy neutrinos from the Galactic plane implies an abundant population of hadronic cosmic-ray sources in the Milky Way. We explore the role of the coronae of accreting stellar-mass black holes as such astroparticle emitters. We show that the particle acceleration and interaction timescales in the coronal region are tied to the compactness of the X-ray source. Thus, neutrino emission processes may similarly happen in the cores of active galactic nuclei and black hole X-ray binaries (XRBs), despite their drastically different masses and physical sizes. We apply the model to the well-measured XRB Cygnus X-1 and find that the cascaded gamma rays accompanying the neutrino emission naturally explain the GeV emission that only presents during the source’s hard state, while the state-averaged gamma-ray emission explains the LHAASO observation above 20 TeV. We show that XRB coronae could contribute significantly to the Galactic cosmic-ray and Galactic plane neutrino fluxes. Our model predicts variable high-energy neutrino emission from bright Galactic XRBs that may be observed by IceCube and future neutrino observatories.

How black holes are formed remains an open and fundamental question in astrophysics. Despite theoretical predictions, it lacks observations to understand whether the black hole formation experiences a supernova explosion. Here we report the discovery of an X-ray shell north of the Galactic microquasar SS 433 harboring a stellar-mass black hole spatially associated with radio continuum and polarization emissions and an H i cloud. Its spectrum can be reproduced by a 1 keV underionized plasma, from which the shell is inferred to have been created by a supernova explosion 20–30 kyr ago, and its properties constitute evidence for canonical supernova explosions to create some black holes. Our analysis precludes other possible origins including heated by jets or blown by disk winds. According to the lower mass limit of the compact object in SS 433, we roughly deduced that the progenitor should be more massive than 25 M _⊙ . The existence of such a young remnant in SS 433 can also lead to new insights into the supercritical accretion in young microquasars and the γ -ray emission of this system. The fallback ejecta may provide accretion materials within tens of thousands of years, while the shock of the supernova remnant may play a crucial role in the cosmic-ray (re)acceleration.

The systematic properties are largely unknown for the black hole X-ray binary Swift J151857.0–572147 newly discovered in the 2024 outburst. The nature of a black hole can be completely defined by specifying the mass and dimensionless spin parameter. Therefore, accurate measurement of the two fundamental parameters is important for understanding the nature of black holes. The joint spectral fitting of a reflection component with simultaneous observations from Insight-HXMT, NICER, and NuSTAR reveals for the first time a black hole dimensionless spin of ${0.84}_{-0.26}^{+0.17}$ and an inclination angle of ${21.1}_{-3.6}^{+4.5}$ degrees for this system. Monitoring of the soft state by NICER results in disk flux and temperature following ${F}_{\mathrm{disk}}\propto {T}_{\mathrm{in}}^{3.83\pm 0.17}$ . For the standard thin disk, ${L}_{\mathrm{disk}}\approx 4\pi {R}_{\mathrm{in}}^{2}\sigma {T}_{\mathrm{in}}^{4}$ , so the relationship between the flux and temperature of the disk we measured indicates that the inner radius of the disk is stable and the disk is in the innermost stable circular orbit. With an empirical relation built previously between the black hole outburst profile and the intrinsic power output, the source distance is estimated as 5.8 ± 2.5 kpc according to the outburst profile and peak flux observed by Insight-HXMT and NICER. Finally, a black hole mass of 3.67 ± 1.79–8.07 ± 4.20 M _⊙ can be inferred from a joint diagnostic of the aforementioned parameters measured for this system. This system is also consistent with most black hole X-ray binaries with high spin and a mass in the range of 5–20 M _⊙ .

We report the results of first ever spectropolarimetric analyses of the Galactic ultraluminous X-ray pulsar Swift J0243.6+6124 during the 2023 outburst using quasi-simultaneous IXPE, NICER, and NuSTAR observations. A pulsation of period ∼9.79 s is detected in IXPE and NuSTAR observations with pulse fractions (PFs) ∼18% (2–8 keV) and ∼28% (3–78 keV), respectively. Energy-dependent study of the pulse profiles with NuSTAR indicates an increase in PF from ∼27% (3–10 keV) to ∼50% (40–78 keV). Further, epoch-dependent polarimetric measurements during the decay phase of the outburst confirm the detection of significant polarization, with the polarization degree (PD) and polarization angle ranging between ∼2%–3.1% and ∼8.°6–10.°8, respectively, in the 2–8 keV energy range. We also observe that the PD increases up to ∼4.8% at higher energies (≳5 keV) with dominating bbodyrad flux contribution (1.5 ≲ F _BB / F _PL ≲ 3.4) in the IXPE spectra. The phase-resolved polarimetric study yields PD as ∼1.7%–3.1% suggesting a marginal correlation with the pulse profiles. Moreover, the broadband (0.6–70 keV) energy spectrum of combined NICER and NuSTAR observations is well described by the combination of bbodyrad and cutoffpl components with seed photon temperature ( kT _bb ) ∼0.86 ± 0.03 keV and photon index (Γ) ∼0.98 ± 0.01. With the above findings, we infer that the observed “low” PD in Swift J0243.6+6124 is attributed possibly due to the “vacuum resonance” effect between the overheated and relatively cooler regions of the neutron star boundary layer.

We perform a detailed study of the black hole spin of Cyg X-1, using accurate broadband X-ray data obtained in the soft spectral state by simultaneous NICER and NuSTAR observations, supplemented at high energies by INTEGRAL data. We use the relativistic disk model kerrbb together with different models of the Comptonization high-energy tail and the relativistically broadened reflection features. Unlike most previous studies, we tie the spin parameters of the disk and relativistic broadening models, thus combining the continuum and reflection methods of spin determination. We also consider a likely increase of the disk color correction due to a partial support of the disk by large-scale magnetic fields. We find that such models yield a spin parameter of ${a}_{* }={0.87}_{-0.03}^{+0.04}$ if the disk inclination is allowed to be free, with $i=39{^\circ }_{-1}^{+1}$ . Assuming i = 27.°5, as determined by optical studies of the binary, worsens the fit but leads to similar values of the spin, ${a}_{* }={0.90}_{-0.01}^{+0.01}$ . In addition, we consider the presence of a warm Comptonization layer on top of the disk, motivated by successful modeling of soft X-ray excesses in other sources with such a model. This dramatically lowers the spin, to a _* ≲ 0.1, consistent with the spin measurements from black hole mergers. On the other hand, if the natal spin of Cyg X-1 was low but now a _* ≈ 0.9, a period of effective supercritical accretion had to take place in the past. Such accretion could be facilitated by photon advection, as proposed for ultraluminous X-ray sources.

Accreting black hole binaries change their properties during evolution, passing through two main luminous states, dominated by either hard or soft X-rays. In the hard state, steady compact jets emitting multiwavelength radiation are present. Those jets are usually observed in radio, and when resolved, their extent is ≲10 ^15 cm. Then, during hard-to-soft transitions, powerful ejecta in the form of blobs appear. They are observed up to distances of ∼10 ^18 cm, which are ≳1000 times larger than the extent of hard-state jets. On the other hand, estimates of the accretion rates during most luminous hard states and the hard-to-soft transitions are very similar, implying that maximum achievable powers of both types of jets are similar and cannot cause a huge difference in their propagation. Instead, we explain the difference in the propagation length by postulating that the ejecta consist of electron-ion plasmas, whereas the hard-state jets consist mostly of electron–positron pairs. The inertia of the ejecta are then much higher than those of compact jets, and the former are not readily stopped by ambient media. A related result is that the accretion flow during the hard state is of standard and normal evolution, while it is a magnetically arrested disk during transient ejections. The pairs in hard-state jets can be produced by collisions of photons of the hard spectrum emitted by hot accretion flows within the jet base. On the other hand, the X-ray spectra during the state transitions are relatively soft, and the same process produces much fewer pairs.

We study the spectral and temporal properties of the black hole (BH) X-ray transient binary SLX 1746–331 during the 2023 outburst with NICER, NuSTAR, and Insight-HXMT observations. Through the joint fitting of the spectra from NICER, NuSTAR, and Insight-HXMT, the spin and inclination angles are measured for the first time as 0.85 ± 0.03 and 53° ± 0.°5, respectively. Accordingly, the mass of the compact star is updated from the previous lower limit of 3.3 ± 2.1 M _⊙ to 5.5 ± 3.6 M _⊙ , which is consistent with 5.2 ± 4.5 M _⊙ measured with an empirical mass–luminosity correlation of BH samples. With more NICER observations covering the later decay of the outburst, we confirm that the entire outburst was dominated by the disk emissions, and the thermal spectrum follows $F\propto {T}_{\mathrm{in}}^{3.974\pm 0.003}$ , until a luminosity of over 2 magnitudes lower than the maximum of the outburst.

We report on the discovery of Swift J010902.6-723710, a rare eclipsing Be/X-ray Binary system by the Swift SMC Survey (S-CUBED). Swift J010902.6-723710 was discovered via weekly S-CUBED monitoring observations when it was observed to enter a state of X-ray outburst on 2023 October 10. X-ray emission was found to be modulated by a 182 s period. Optical spectroscopy is used to confirm the presence of a highly inclined circumstellar disk surrounding a B0-0.5Ve optical companion. Historical UV and IR photometry is then used to identify strong eclipse-like features reoccurring in both light curves with a 60.623 day period, which is adopted as the orbital period of the system. Eclipsing behavior is found to be the result of a large accretion disk surrounding the neutron star. Eclipses are produced when the disk passes in front of the OBe companion, blocking light from both the stellar surface and circumstellar disk. This is only the third Be/X-ray binary to have confirmed eclipses. We note that this rare behavior provides an important opportunity to constrain the physical parameters of a Be/X-ray binary with greater accuracy than is possible in noneclipsing systems.

We propose a method based on the Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) to recover the high-energy waveform of low-frequency quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs). Based on the method, we successfully obtain the modulation of the phase-folded light curve above 170 keV using the QPO phase reconstructed at lower energies in MAXI J1535–571 with Insight-HXMT observations. A comprehensive simulation study is conducted to demonstrate that such modulation indeed originates from the QPO. Thus, the highest energies turn out to significantly exceed the upper limit of ∼100 keV for QPOs reported previously using the Fourier method, marking the first opportunity to study QPO properties above 100 keV in this source. Detailed analyses of these high-energy QPO profiles reveal different QPO properties between the 30–100 and 100–200 keV energy ranges: the phase lag remains relatively stable, and the amplitude slightly increases below ∼100 keV, whereas above this threshold, soft phase lags and a decrease in amplitude are observed. Given the reports of a hard-tail detection in broad spectroscopy, we propose that the newly discovered QPO properties above 100 keV are dominated by the hard-tail component, possibly stemming from a relativistic jet. Our findings also indicate a strong correlation between the QPOs originating from the jet and corona, supporting the scenario of jet–corona coupling precession. We emphasize that our proposed HHT-based method can serve as an efficient manner in expanding the high-energy band for studying QPOs, thereby enhancing our understanding of their origin.

Swift J1727.8–1613 is a black hole X-ray binary newly discovered in 2023. We perform spectral analysis with simultaneous Insight-HXMT, NICER, and NuSTAR observations when the source was approaching the hard intermediate state. Such a joint view reveals an additional hard component apart from the normally observed hard component with reflection in the spectrum, to be distinguished from the usual black hole X-ray binary systems. By including this extra component in the spectrum, we have measured a high spin of ${0.98}_{-0.07}^{+0.02}$ and an inclination of around ${40}_{-0.8}^{+1.2}$ °, which is consistent with NICER results reported before. However, we find that the additional spectral component cannot be exclusively determined due to the model degeneracy. Accordingly, a possible jet/corona configuration is adjusted to account for the spectral fitting with different model trials. The extra component may originate either from a relativistic jet or a jet base/corona underneath a slow jet.

Cir X-1 is a neutron star X-ray binary characterized by strong variations in flux during its eccentric ∼16.6 day orbit. There are also strong variations in the spectral state, and it has historically shown both atoll and Z state properties. We observed the source with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer during two orbital segments, 6 days apart, for a total of 263 ks. We find an X-ray polarization degree in these segments of 1.6% ± 0.3% and 1.4% ± 0.3% at polarization angles of 37° ± 5° and −12° ± 7°, respectively. Thus, we observed a rotation of the polarization angle by 49° ± 8° along the orbit. Because variations of accretion flow, and then of the hardness ratio, are expected during the orbit, we also studied the polarization binned in hardness ratio and found the polarization angle differing by 67° ± 11° between the lowest and highest values of the hardness ratio. We discuss possible interpretations of this result that could indicate a possible misalignment between the symmetry axes of the accretion disk and the Comptonizing region caused by the misalignment of the neutron star’s angular momentum with respect to the orbital one.

Neutron stars and black holes in X-ray binaries are observed to host strong collimated jets in the hard spectral state. Numerical simulations can act as a valuable tool in understanding the mechanisms behind jet formation and its properties. Although there have been significant efforts in understanding black hole jets from general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations in recent years, neutron star jets still remain poorly explored. We present the results from three-dimensional GRMHD simulations of accreting neutron stars with oblique magnetospheres for the very first time. The jets in our simulations are produced due to the anchored magnetic field of the rotating star in analogy with the Blandford–Znajek process. We find that for accreting stars, the star–disk magnetic field interaction plays a significant role, and as a result, the jet power becomes directly proportional to ${{{\rm{\Phi }}}^{2}}_{\mathrm{jet}}$ , where Φ _jet is the open flux in the jet. The jet power decreases with increasing stellar magnetic inclination, and finally, for an orthogonal magnetosphere, it reduces by a factor of ≃2.95 compared to the aligned case. We also find that in the strong propeller regime, with a highly oblique magnetosphere, the disk-induced collimation of the open stellar flux preserves parts of the striped wind, resulting in a striped jet.

In this paper we significantly improve estimates of distance to the X-ray binary systems Cyg X-3 and GRS 1915+105. We report a highly accurate trigonometric parallax measurement for Cyg X-3 using the Very Long Baseline Array at 43 GHz, placing the source at a distance of 9.67 − 0.48 + 0.53 kpc. We also use Galactic proper motions and line-of-sight radial velocity measurements to determine three-dimensional (3D) kinematic distances to both systems, under the assumption that they have low peculiar velocities. This yields distances of 8.95 ± 0.96 kpc for Cyg X-3 and 9.4 ± 0.6 (statistical) ± 0.8 (systematic) for GRS 1915+105. The good agreement between parallax and 3D kinematic distances validates the assumption of low peculiar velocities, and hence small natal kicks, for both of the systems. For a source with a low peculiar velocity, given its parallax distance, Cyg X-3 should have a V LSR near −64 ± 5 km s−1. Our measurements imply a slightly higher inclination angle, and hence lower black hole mass, for GRS 1915+105 than found from previous work by Reid et al. and strengthen arguments from X-ray polarization that Cyg X-3 would be an ultraluminous X-ray source if viewed face-on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we find the higher-order expansion parameters α and λ of spherically symmetric parameterized Rezzolla–Zhidenko (PRZ) spacetime by using its functions of the radial coordinate. We subject the parameters of this spacetime to classical tests, including weak gravitational field effects in the solar system, observations of the S2 star that is located in the star cluster close to the Sgr A⋆, and of the frequencies of selected microquasars. Based on this spherically symmetric spacetime, we perform the analytic calculations for solar system effects such as perihelion shift, light deflection, and gravitational time delay to determine limits on the parameters by using observational data. We restrict our attention to the limits on the two higher-order expansion parameters α and λ that survive at the horizon or near the horizon of spherically symmetric metrics. The properties of the expansion of these two small parameters in PRZ parameterization are discussed. We further apply Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations to analyze and obtain the limits on the expansion parameters by using observations of the phenomena of the S2 star. Finally, we consider the epicyclic motions and derive analytic expressions of the epicyclic frequencies. Applying these expressions to the quasiperiodic oscillations of selected microquasars allows us to set further limits on the parameters of the PRZ spacetime. Our results demonstrate that the higher-order expansion parameters can be given in the range α, λ = (−0.09, 0.09) and of order ∼10−2 as a consequence of three different tests and observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the decaying phase of outbursts in the black hole (BH) X-ray binaries (BH-XRBs), we performed very long general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a geometrically thin accretion disk around a Kerr BH with slowly rotating matter injected from outside. We thoroughly studied the flow properties, dynamical behavior of the accretion rate, magnetic flux rate, and jet properties during the temporal evolution. Due to the interaction between the thin disk and injected matter, the accretion flow near the BH goes through different phases. The sequence of phases is: soft state → soft-intermediate state → hard-intermediate state → hard state → quiescent state. For the accretion rate (and hence the luminosity) to decrease (as observed) in our model, the mass injection should not decay slower than the angular momentum injection. We also observed quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) in the accretion flow. Throughout the evolution, we observed low-frequency QPOs (∼10 Hz) and high-frequency QPOs (∼200 Hz). Our simple unified accretion flow model for state transitions is able to describe outbursts in BH-XRBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have conducted long-slit spectroscopic observations and analyzed archival radio data for the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 4861 X-1. Our spectral line analysis unveils NGC 4861 X-1 as the fourth ULX situated within an X-ray photoionized nebula, following three previous findings made approximately two decades ago. Remarkably, we discover NGC 4861 X-1 also possesses a radio nebula emitting optically thin synchrotron radiation, which contradicts its X-ray photoionization and raises doubts about the four ULXs being a mere coincidence. Instead of gradually accumulating from different bands bit by bit, our multiband discovery is made all at once. Moreover, we tentatively perceive a faint continuum spectrum of the optical nebula. Further observations are needed to ascertain its radio structures and verify the optical continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although low-frequency quasiperiodic oscillations (LFQPOs) are commonly detected in the X-ray light curves of accreting black hole X-ray binaries, their origin still remains elusive. In this study, we conduct phase-resolved spectroscopy in a broad energy band for LFQPOs in MAXI J1820+070 during its 2018 outburst, utilizing Insight-HXMT observations. By employing the Hilbert–Huang transform method, we extract the intrinsic quasiperiodic oscillation (QPO) variability, and obtain the corresponding instantaneous amplitude, phase, and frequency functions for each data point. With well-defined phases, we construct QPO waveforms and phase-resolved spectra. By comparing the phase-folded waveform with that obtained from the Fourier method, we find that phase folding on the phase of the QPO fundamental frequency leads to a slight reduction in the contribution of the harmonic component. This suggests that the phase difference between QPO harmonics exhibits time variability. Phase-resolved spectral analysis reveals strong concurrent modulations of the spectral index and flux across the bright hard state. The modulation of the spectral index could potentially be explained by both the corona and jet precession models, with the latter requiring efficient acceleration within the jet. Furthermore, significant modulations in the reflection fraction are detected exclusively during the later stages of the bright hard state. These findings provide support for the geometric origin of LFQPOs and offer valuable insights into the evolution of the accretion geometry during the outburst in MAXI J1820+070. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of metastable levels is key to high-precision density diagnostics of astrophysical plasmas. In photoionized plasmas, density is used to infer the distance from the ionizing source, which is otherwise difficult to obtain. Perfecting models that compute these populations is thus crucial. The present paper presents a semianalytic hydrogenic approximation for assessing the relative importance of different processes in populating atomic levels. This approximation shows that in the presence of a radiation source, photoexcitations and collisional excitations are both important over a wide range of plasma temperatures and ionizing spectra, while radiative recombination is orders of magnitude weaker. The interesting case of Fe+21 with a collisional radiative model with photoexcitation demonstrates this effect. The population of the first excited metastable level in Fe+21 is sensitive to the electron number density in the critical range of n e = 1012–1015 cm−3; it was observed to be significantly populated in the X-ray spectrum of the 2005 outburst of the X-ray binary GRO J1655-40. The present model shows that photoexcitation is the predominant process indirectly populating the metastable level. For the photoionized plasma in the GRO J1655-40 outflow, the model indicates a measured value of n e = (2.6 ± 0.5) × 1013 cm−3, implying a distance from the source of r = (4.4 ± 0.4) × 1010 cm. Finally, we show how the computed critical density and distance of Fe+21 yield the correct ionization parameter of the ion, independent of ionization balance calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first joint NuSTAR and NICER observations of the ultracompact X-ray binary 4U 0614+091. This source shows quasiperiodic flux variations on the timescale of ∼days. We use reflection modeling techniques to study various components of the accretion system as the flux varies. We find that the flux of the reflected emission and the thermal components representing the disk and the compact object trend closely with the overall flux. However, the flux of the power-law component representing the illuminating X-ray corona scales in the opposite direction, increasing as the total flux decreases. During the lowest flux observation, we see evidence of accretion disk truncation from roughly 6 gravitational radii to 11.5 gravitational radii. This is potentially analogous to the truncation seen in black hole low-mass X-ray binaries, which tends to occur during the low/hard state at sufficiently low Eddington ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black hole candidate system SLX 1746–331 was back to business in 2023, after a long silence of roughly 13 years. An outburst was observed thoroughly by Insight-HXMT and NICER. The outburst is characterized by spectral dominance of the soft state, where the joint Insight-HXMT and NICER spectral analysis shows the temperature dependence of the disk flux follows T in 3.98 , and thus suggests that the inner disk reaches its innermost stable circular orbit during almost the entire outburst. By assuming 0.3 L Edd for the peak flux and an inclination angle of zero degrees, the lower limit of the compact object hosted in this system is estimated as 3.28 ± 2.14 M ⊙. We also look into the relation between the disk temperature and disk flux for a sample of black hole systems, and by taking the disk temperature derived in the outburst of SLX 1746–331, such a relation results in a mass estimation of 5.2 ± 4.5 M ⊙. Finally, the spin of the compact object is constrained to be larger than 0.8 with the spectral model KERRBB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spectral evolution along the "Z"-shaped track in the hardness–intensity diagram of Z sources, which are a class of luminous neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries, is crucial to probe accretion processes close to the neutron star. Here, we study the horizontal branch (HB) and the normal branch (NB) of the Z source GX 340+0 using AstroSat data. We find that the HB and the NB appear as two different types of X-ray intensity dips, which can appear in any sequence and with various depths. Our 0.8–25 keV spectra of dips and the hard apex can be modeled by the emissions from an accretion disk, a Comptonizing corona covering the inner disk, and the neutron star surface. We find that as the source moves onto the HB, the corona is replenished and energized by the disk and a reduced amount of disk matter reaches the neutron star surface. We also conclude that quasiperiodic oscillations during HB/NB are strongly associated with the corona and explain the evolution of strength and hard lag of this timing feature using the estimated coronal optical depth evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conduct one of the largest systematic investigations of bright X-ray binaries (XRBs) in both young star clusters and ancient globular clusters (GCs) using a sample of six nearby star-forming galaxies. Combining complete CXO X-ray source catalogs with optical Physics at High Angular Resolution in Nearby Galaxies-Hubble Space Telescope cluster catalogs, we identify a population of 33 XRBs within or near their parent clusters. We find that GCs that host XRBs in spiral galaxies appear to be brighter, more compact, denser, and more massive than the general GC population. However, these XRB hosts do not appear to be preferentially redder or more metal-rich, pointing to a possible absence of the metallicity-boosted formation of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) that is observed in the GCs of older galaxies. We also find that a smaller fraction of LMXBs is found in spiral GC systems when compared with those in early-type galaxies: between 8% and 50%, or an average of 20% across galaxies in our sample. Although there is a non-negligible probability of a chance superposition between an XRB and an unrelated young cluster, we find that among clusters younger than 10 Myr, which most likely host high-mass XRBs, the fraction of clusters associated with an XRB increases at higher cluster masses and densities. The X-ray luminosity of XRBs appears to increase with the mass of the cluster host for clusters younger than ∼400 Myr, while the inverse relation is found for XRBs in GCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gravitational redshift is a fundamental parameter that allows us to determine the mass-to-radius ratio of compact stellar objects, such as black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs (WDs). In the X-ray spectra of the close binary system, RX J1712.6−2414, obtained from the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating observation, we detected significant redshifts for characteristic X-rays emitted from hydrogen-like magnesium, silicon (Δ E / E rest ∼ 7 × 10−4), and sulfur (Δ E / E rest ∼ 15 × 10−4) ions, which are over the instrumental absolute energy accuracy (Δ E / E rest ∼ 3.3 × 10−4). Considering some possible factors, such as Doppler shifts associated with the plasma flow, systemic velocity, and optical depth, we concluded that the major contributor to the observed redshift is the gravitational redshift of the WD harbored in the binary system, which is the first gravitational redshift detection from a magnetic WD. Moreover, the gravitational redshift provides us with a new method of WD mass measurement by invoking the plasma-flow theory with strong magnetic fields in close binaries. Regardless of large uncertainty, our new method estimated the WD mass to be M WD > 0.9 M ⊙. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a timing and spectral analysis of a 50 ks NuSTAR observation of IGR J16320−4751 (= AX J1631.9−4752), a high-mass X-ray binary hosting a slowly rotating neutron star. In this observation from 2015, the spin period was 1308.8 ± 0.4 s giving a period derivative P ̇ ∼ 2 × 10 − 8 s s−1 when compared with the period measured in 2004. In addition, the pulsed fraction decreased as a function of energy, as opposed to the constant trend that was seen previously. This suggests a change in the accretion geometry of the system during the intervening 11 yr. The phase-averaged spectra were fit with the typical model for accreting pulsars: a power law with an exponential cutoff. This left positive residuals at 6.4 keV attributable to the known iron K α line, as well as negative residuals around 14 keV from a candidate cyclotron line detected at a significance of 5 σ. We found no significant differences in the spectral parameters across the spin period, other than the expected changes in flux and component normalizations. A flare lasting around 5 ks was captured during the first half of the observation, where the X-ray emission hardened and the local column density decreased. Finally, the binary orbital period was refined to 8.9912 ± 0.0078 days thanks to Swift/BAT monitoring data from 2005–2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate heat transport associated with compositionally driven convection driven by crystallization at the ocean–crust interface in accreting neutron stars, or growth of the solid core in cooling white dwarfs. We study the effect of thermal diffusion and rapid rotation on the convective heat transport, using both mixing length theory and numerical simulations of Boussinesq convection. We determine the heat flux, composition gradient, and Péclet number, Pe (the ratio of thermal diffusion time to convective turnover time) as a function of the composition flux. We find two regimes of convection with a rapid transition between them as the composition flux increases. At small Pe, the ratio between the heat flux and composition flux is independent of Pe, because the loss of heat from convecting fluid elements due to thermal diffusion is offset by the smaller composition gradient needed to overcome the reduced thermal buoyancy. At large Pe, the temperature gradient approaches the adiabatic gradient, saturating the heat flux. We discuss the implications for cooling of neutron stars and white dwarfs. Convection in neutron stars spans both regimes. We find rapid mixing of neutron star oceans, with a convective turnover time of the order of weeks to minutes depending on rotation. Except during the early stages of core crystallization, white dwarf convection is in the thermal-diffusion-dominated fingering regime. We find convective velocities much smaller than recent estimates for crystallization-driven dynamos. The small fraction of energy carried as kinetic energy calls into question the effectiveness of crystallization-driven dynamos as an explanation for observed magnetic fields in white dwarfs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the observations of the high-energy detector of the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT) for Scorpius X-1 from 2017 to 2020, we search for hard X-ray tails in the X-ray spectra in ∼30–200 keV. The hard X-ray tails are found throughout the Z -track on the hardness–intensity diagram, and the detected hard X-ray tails become hard and weak from the horizontal branch (HB), through the normal branch (NB), to the flaring branch (FB). Comparing the hard X-ray spectra of Insight-HXMT between Cyg X-1 and Sco X-1, it is concluded that the hard X-ray spectrum of Cyg X-1 shows a high-energy cutoff, implying a hot corona in it, but the high-energy cutoff is not seen in the hard X-ray spectrum of Sco X-1. From fitting the broadband spectrum of Sco X-1 in ∼2–200 keV, it is proposed that the hard X-ray tails in the HB and NB can be explained by the overall Comptonization COMPTB model, suggesting that the hard X-ray tails could have resulted from the Comptonization of the photons from the neutron star (NS) surface by the thermal electrons in the region between the NS and the disk and the energetic electrons in the freefall toward the NS in the converging flow onto the NS. However, this model cannot be responsible for the hard X-ray tails in the FB. Further study on the FB hard X-ray tails is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray binary systems, a subclass of high-mass X-ray binaries, show nonthermal emissions from radio to TeV. While efficient electron acceleration is considered to take place in them, the nature of the acceleration mechanism and the physical environments in these systems have been a long-standing question. In this work, we report on long-term recurrent patterns in the short-term variability of the soft X-ray emission of LS 5039, one of the brightest gamma-ray binary systems. The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) observed LS 5039 four times from 2018 to 2021. By comparing them with the previous Suzaku and NuSTAR long-exposure observations, we studied the long-term evolution of the orbital light curve in the soft X-ray band. Although the observations by NICER and Suzaku are separated by ∼14 yr, i.e., more than 103 orbits, the orbital light curves show remarkable consistency after calculating their running averages with a window width ≳70 ks. Furthermore, all of the light curves show short-term variability with a timescale of ∼10 ks. Since the column density did not vary when the flux changed abruptly, such a short-term variability seems to be an intrinsic feature of the X-ray emission. We propose that the short-term variability is caused by clumps (or inhomogeneities) of the companion star wind impacting the X-ray production site. The observed timescale matches well with the lifetime of the clumps interacting with the pulsar wind and the dynamical timescale of the relativistic intrabinary shock in the pulsar wind scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a study of weak, thermonuclear X-ray bursts from the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4−3658. We focus on a burst observed with the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer on 2019 August 9, and describe a similar burst observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer in 2005 June. These bursts occurred soon after outburst onset, 2.9 and 1.1 days, after the first indications of fresh accretion. We measure peak burst bolometric fluxes of 6.98 ± 0.50 × 10−9 and 1.54 ± 0.10 × 10−8 erg cm−2 s−1, respectively, which are factors of ≈30 and 15 less than the peak flux of the brightest, helium-powered bursts observed from this source. From spectral modeling we estimate the accretion rates and accreted columns at the time of each burst. For the 2019 burst we estimate an accretion rate of M ̇ ≈ 1.4 – 1.6 × 10 − 10 M ⊙ yr−1, and a column in the range 3.9–5.1 × 107 g cm−2. For the 2005 event the accretion rate was similar, but the accreted column was half of that estimated for the 2019 burst. The low accretion rates, modest columns, and evidence for a cool neutron star in quiescence, suggest these bursts are triggered by thermally unstable CNO cycle hydrogen burning. The post-burst flux level in the 2019 event appears offset from the pre-burst level by an amount consistent with quasi-stable hydrogen burning due to the temperature-insensitive, hot-CNO cycle, further suggesting hydrogen burning as the primary fuel source. To our knowledge, this provides the first strong observational evidence for hydrogen-triggered bursts. We discuss our results in the context of previous theoretical modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions regarding the energy dissipation in astrophysical jets remain open to date, despite numerous attempts to limit the diversity of the models. Some of the most popular models assume that energy is transferred to particles via internal shocks, which develop as a consequence of the nonuniform velocity of the jet matter. In this context, we study the structure and energy deposition of colliding plasma shells, focusing our attention on the case of initially inhomogeneous shells. This leads to the formation of distorted (corrugated) shock fronts—a setup that has recently been shown to revive particle acceleration in relativistic magnetized perpendicular shocks. Our study shows that the radiative power of the far downstream of nonrelativistic magnetized perpendicular shocks is moderately enhanced with respect to the flat-shock cases. Based on the decay rate of the downstream magnetic field, we make predictions for multiwavelength polarization properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With Very Large Telescope Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) observations, we detected highly variable helium emission lines from the optical counterpart of the supersoft ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 247 ULX-1. No Balmer lines can be seen in the source spectrum. This is the first evidence for the presence of a helium donor star in ULXs, consistent with a prediction that helium donor stars may be common in ULXs. The helium lines with an FWHM of about 200 km s−1 are likely produced on the outer accretion disk. Their strong variation implies that the central X-ray source can be significantly obscured to the outer disk. Also, a ring or a double-ring structure is revealed in the MUSE image. It is unknown whether or not it is related to the progenitor of the ULX binary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a deep optical imaging campaign on the starburst galaxy NGC 4631 with CFHT/MegaCam. By supplementing the HST/ACS and Chandra/ACIS archival data, we search for the optical counterpart candidates of the five brightest X-ray sources in this galaxy, four of which are identified as ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs). The stellar environments of the X-ray sources are analyzed using the extinction-corrected color–magnitude diagrams and the isochrone models. We discover a highly asymmetric bubble nebula around X4 that exhibits different morphology in the H α and [O iii ] images. The [O iii ]/H α ratio map shows that the H α -bright bubble may be formed mainly via the shock ionization by the one-sided jet/outflow, while the more compact [O iii ] structure is photoionized by the ULX. We constrain the bubble expansion velocity and interstellar medium density with the MAPPINGS V code and hence estimate the mechanical power injected into the bubble as P w ∼ 5 × 1040 erg s−1 and the corresponding bubble age as ∼7 × 105 yr. Relativistic jets are needed to provide such a level of mechanical power with a mass-loss rate of ∼10−7 M ⊙ yr−1. Besides the accretion, the black hole spin is likely an additional energy source for the super-Eddington jet power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic braking (MB) plays an important role in driving the evolution of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). The modified MB prescription, the convection and rotation boosted (CARB) model, is very successful in reproducing the detected mass-transfer rates of persistent neutron star (NS) LMXBs. In this work, we investigate whether the CARB MB prescription could account for the formation and evolution of some NS and black hole (BH) LMXBs with an observed orbital-period derivative. Using the MESA code, we perform a detailed binary evolution model for six NS and three BH LMXBs. Our simulations find that the CARB MB prescription can successfully reproduce the observed donor-star masses, orbital periods, and period derivatives of four NS LMXBs and one BH LMXB. Our calculated effective temperatures are in good agreement with the detected spectral types of two NS LMXBs and one BH LMXB. However, the standard MB model makes it difficult to produce the observed period derivatives of those LMXBs experiencing a rapid orbital shrinkage or expansion.

In the disk–corona model, the X-ray spectrum of a stellar-mass black hole in an X-ray binary is characterized by three components: a thermal component from a thin and cold accretion disk, a Comptonized component from a hot corona, and a reflection component produced by illumination of the cold disk by the hot corona. In this paper, we assume a lamppost corona, and we improve previous calculations of the X-ray spectrum of black hole X-ray binaries. The reflection spectrum is produced by the direct radiation from the corona as well as by the returning radiation of the thermal and reflection components and is calculated considering the actual spectrum illuminating the disk. If we turn the corona off, the reflection spectrum is completely generated by the returning radiation of the thermal component, as it may happen for some sources in soft spectral states. After choosing the radial density profile of the accretion disk, the ionization parameter is calculated self-consistently at any radial coordinate of the disk from the illuminating X-ray flux and the local electron density. We show the predictions of our model in different regimes, and we discuss its current limitations as well as the next steps to improve it.

The recently discovered bright transient black hole candidate Swift J1727.8-1613 is studied in a broad energy range (0.5–79 keV) using combined NICER and NuSTAR data taken on 2023 August 29. A prominent type C quasiperiodic oscillation (QPO) at 0.89 ± 0.01 Hz with its harmonic was observed in NICER data of 0.5–10 keV. Interestingly, the harmonic becomes weaker in the lower energy bands (0.5–1 and 1–3 keV). We also report the first detection of a soft time lag of 0.014 ± 0.001 s at the QPO frequency between harder (3–10 keV) and softer (0.5–3 keV) band photons observed with the NICER/X-ray timing instrument. This indicates that the inclination of the accretion disk in the binary system might be high. From the detailed spectral analysis with the relxill reflection model, we found the disk inclination angle of the source to be ∼85°. We discuss how the accretion flow configuration inferred from spectral analysis can help us understand the origin of QPOs and soft lag in this source.

We present the results obtained from timing and spectral studies of 15 thermonuclear X-ray bursts from 4U 1820–30 observed with the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) during its 5 yr of observations between 2017 and 2022. All bursts showed clear signs of photospheric radius expansion (PRE), where the neutron star (NS) photosphere expanded more than 50 km above the surface. One of the bursts produced a superexpansion with a blackbody emission radius of 902 km for the first time with NICER. We searched for burst oscillations in all 15 bursts and found evidence of a coherent oscillation at 716 Hz in a burst, with a 2.9 σ detection level based on Monte Carlo simulations. If confirmed with future observations, 4U 1820–30 would become the fastest-spinning NS known in X-ray binary systems. The fractional rms amplitude of the candidate burst oscillation was found to be 5.8% in the energy range of 3–10 keV. Following the variable persistent model from burst time-resolved spectroscopy, an anticorrelation is seen between the maximum scaling factor value and the (preburst) persistent flux. We detected a low value of ionization at the peak of each burst based on reflection modeling of burst spectra. A partially interacting inner accretion disk or a weakly ionized outer disk may cause the observed ionization dip during the PRE phase.

In this study, we examine 51 archival NICER observations and six archival NuSTAR observations of the neutron star ultracompact X-ray binary (UCXB) 4U 0614+091, which span over 5 yr. The source displays persistent reflection features, so we use a reflection model designed for UCXBs, with overabundant carbon and oxygen ( xillverCO ) to study how various components of the system vary over time. The flux of this source is known to vary quasiperiodically on a timescale of a few days, so we study how the various model components change as the overall flux varies. The flux of most components scales linearly with the overall flux, while the power law, representing coronal emission, is anticorrelated, as expected. This is consistent with previous studies of the source. We also find that during observations of the high-soft state, the disk emissivity profile as a function of radius becomes steeper. We interpret this as the corona receding to be closer to the compact object during these states, at which point the assumed power law illumination of xillverCO may be inadequate to describe the illumination of the disk.

Swift J1858.6−0814 (hereafter J1858) is a transient neutron star (NS) low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB). There is controversy regarding its donor mass derived from observations and theoretical calculations. In this paper, we adopt seven magnetic braking (MB) prescriptions suggested in the literature and different metallicity Z to simulate the evolution of the LMXB. Our results show that, employing the MB model proposed by A. Reiners & S. Mohanty (“rm12”), the convection- and rotation-boosted (“carb”) model, and the intermediate (“inter”) and convection-boosted (“cboost”) models in K. X. Van et al. can match (part of) the observational parameters of J1858 well. We then apply our method to other observed LMXBs and find that the “rm12” and “inter” MB laws are most promising in explaining transient LMXBs. In comparison, the simulations with the “cboost” and “carb” MB laws are more inclined to reproduce persistent LMXBs and ultracompact X-ray binaries, respectively. Our results, though subject to computational and/or observational bias, show that it is challenging to find a unified MB law that applies to the NS LMXB subpopulations simultaneously, indicating our lack of understanding of the true MB law. In addition, we explore the influence of various MB laws on the magnitude of the bifurcation periods in LMXBs.

We present the results of bicoherence analysis for Swift J1727.8−1613 during its 2023 outburst, using data from Insight-HXMT. Our analysis focused on observations with quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) of frequencies greater than 1 Hz, revealing that all of them belong to type-C QPOs. We found a strong correlation between the QPO frequency and the hardness ratio, as well as a linear relationship between the QPO rms and the hardness ratio. The bicoherence analysis revealed a transition from a “web” pattern to a “hypotenuse” pattern in the low-energy (LE) and high-energy (HE) bands. In the bicoherence patterns, there are correlations between horizontal and vertical bicoherence at f _1 = f _2 = f _QPO with count rates. The diagonal structure at f _1 + f _2 = f _QPO becomes more prominent with increasing energy. Additionally, we discovered a new bicoherence pattern in the medium energy band from 10 to 20 keV; the diagonal structure at f _1 + f _2 = f _har is prominent only in this energy band, which we refer to as the “parallel” pattern. The bicoherence analysis indicates that the source is likely a low-inclination source.