Firm detection of 7-year X-ray periodicity from X Persei
Abstract
We report on the detection of long-term X-ray periodicity from the Be/X-ray binary pulsar X Persei. Based on over 23 years of X-ray data observed using RXTE/ASM, Swift/BAT and MAXI/GSC, we confirmed that X Persei exhibits quasi-periodic X-ray flares with a period of ∼7 years. The recurrence timescale corresponds to approximately 10 times its binary orbital period of 250 days. Spectral and hardness ratio changes were not detected along with long-term periodic activity. If we interpret the observed 7 year periodicity of X-ray band flux as a superorbital modulation, then this would be the first observation among the Be/X-ray binaries.
- Publication:
-
High-mass X-ray Binaries: Illuminating the Passage from Massive Binaries to Merging Compact Objects
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S1743921319001820
- Bibcode:
- 2019IAUS..346..131N
- Keywords:
-
- pulsars:individual(X Persei);
- X-rays:stars