Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2008-11-06
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Contributed talk to appear in the proceedings of the "7th INTEGRAL Workshop - An INTEGRAL View of Compact Objects", Copenhagen
Scientific paper
In this paper we summarize some aspects of the wind accretion theory in high mass X-ray binaries hosting a magnetic neutron star and a supergiant companion. In particular, we concentrate on the different types of interaction between the inflowing wind matter and the neutron star magnetosphere that are relevant when accretion of matter onto the neutron star surface is largely inhibited; these include inhibition by the centrifugal and magnetic barriers. We show that very large luminosity swings (~10^4 or more on time scales as short as hours) can result from transitions across different regimes. This scenario is then applied to the activity displayed by supergiant fast X-ray transients (SFXTs), a new class of high mass X-ray binaries in our galaxy recently discovered with INTEGRAL. According to this interpretation we argue that SFXTs which display very large luminosity swings and host a slowly spinning neutron star are expected to be characterized by magnetar-like fields. Supergiant fast X-ray transients might thus provide a unique opportunity to detect and study accreting magnetars in binary systems.
Bozzo Emanuele
Falanga Mariarosaria
Stella Luigi
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