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Oscillations During Thermonuclear X-ray Bursts: A New Probe of Neutron StarsObservations of thermonuclear (also called Type 1) X-ray bursts from neutron stars in low mass X-ray binaries (LMXB) with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) have revealed large amplitude, high coherence X-ray brightness oscillations with frequencies in the 300 - 600 Hz range. Substantial spectral and timing evidence point to rotational modulation of the X-ray burst flux as the cause of these oscillations, and it is likely that they reveal the spin frequencies of neutron stars in LMXB from which they are detected. Here we review the status of our knowledge of these oscillations and describe how they can be used to constrain the masses and radii of neutron stars as well as the physics of thermonuclear burning on accreting neutron stars.
Document ID
20020078212
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Strohmayer, Tod E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
White, Nicholas E.
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: X-Ray Astronomy, Stellar Endpoints, AGN and the Diffuse X-Ray Background
Location: Bologna
Country: Italy
Start Date: September 6, 1999
End Date: September 10, 1999
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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