The rotational history of a binary X-ray pulsar.
Abstract
This paper shows that the neutron star in a binary X-ray system can be spun down from a period of the order of 1 sec in a time interval of the order of 1 million yr in a relatively weak stellar wind emanating from the OB companion star. It is proposed that many X-ray pulsars will become blanketed as they speed up, unless the captured material can form a Keplerian disk. The torques on the neutron star are reexamined as a function of mass capture rate. The high proportion of observed periodicities that are greater than 100 sec but rapidly decreasing is taken to suggest that most binary X-ray pulsars are short-lived (or have several short lives).
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- May 1979
- Bibcode:
- 1979A&A....74..253W
- Keywords:
-
- Binary Stars;
- Pulsars;
- Stellar Rotation;
- X Ray Stars;
- Neutron Stars;
- Spin Reduction;
- Stellar Magnetic Fields;
- Stellar Mass Accretion;
- Astrophysics;
- Accretion:X-Ray Sources;
- Binaries:X-Ray Sources;
- Magnetospheres:X-Ray Sources;
- Mass Loss:X-Ray Sources;
- Neutron Stars:X-Ray Sources;
- Periods:X-Ray Sources;
- Rotation:X-Ray Sources