An analysis of the pulse profiles of the binary X-ray pulsars.
Abstract
Pulse profiles of the known binary X-ray pulsars are analyzed to derive information on beaming geometries and the structure of the plasma magnetosphere. The X-ray light curves are interpreted, and the pulsars are considered individually. The frequency-to-frequency variation of the pulse profiles is also discussed with emphasis on the origin of phase differences. Evidence for a bias of the magnetic and rotation axes of the underlying neutron stars toward alignment is found, and the light curves of some of the less luminous pulsars are modeled on the basis of broad isotropically-emitting hot spots. Fan-beam geometries are required for most of the faster, more luminous sources, and geometrical effects are found to produce very sharp features in the X-ray light curves.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- September 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981A&A...102...97W
- Keywords:
-
- Binary Stars;
- Light Curve;
- Plasma Oscillations;
- Pulsars;
- Stellar Atmospheres;
- X Ray Sources;
- Gyromagnetism;
- Stellar Luminosity;
- Stellar Magnetic Fields;
- Stellar Mass Accretion;
- Astrophysics