Precession in cataclysmic and X-ray binaries - Star or disc?

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics

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Accretion Disks, Cataclysmic Variables, Stellar Orbits, Stellar Oscillations, X Ray Binaries, Precession, Radial Velocity

Scientific paper

In intermediate polars and X-ray pulsars spin and orbital periods are identified unambiguously in X-ray pulsations and radial velocity curves, respectively. However, in rare systems, e.g., HZ Her (Her X-1), an additional long-period modulation is present. The modulation was attributed to either precession of an accretion disk or a neutron star. Recently a new class of intermediate polars which exhibit this third period was discovered. We review their properties and discuss plausible models. Since free precession of a white dwarf is too slow, we conclude that only models involving precessing or oscillating disks remain viable. Similarly, since free precession of black holes is not possible, the long periods observed in Cyg X-1 and other black hole binaries must be tied to the accretion disks. For low mass X-ray binaries we can state that among proposed mechanisms for their long periods, only disk precession was proven actually to work in a binary, albeit in a different environment in CVs and black hole X-ray binaries discussed in the present paper.

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