Observation of Centaurus X-3 by HAKUCHO.
Abstract
The binary X-ray pulsar Cen X-3 was observed by the X-ray astronomy satellite Hakucho between 1981 March 21 - 26. A pulsation period of 4.8317231 ± 0.0000004 s and an orbital epoch of JD 2,444,686.44760 ± 0d.00005 were obtained from the pulse-timing analysis. The long-term spin-up rate in the pulsation period of Cen X-3 between 1977 and 1981 shows a decrease by a factor of 5 from that in 1975. The orbital period of 2.0871061 ± 0d.0000002 averaged between 1979 and 1981 exhibits a small but significant decrease. The present result confirms the trend of steady decrease of the orbital period. Possible mechanisms for the decrease of the pulsar spin-up rate and the decrease in the orbital period of Cen X-3 are discussed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1086/160625
- Bibcode:
- 1983ApJ...264..563M
- Keywords:
-
- Binary Stars;
- Pulsars;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- X Ray Sources;
- Astronomical Spectroscopy;
- Periodic Variations;
- Astronomy