Long-term Stability of Non-thermal X-ray Modulation in the Gamma-ray Binary LS 5039

Details Long-term Stability of Non-thermal X-ray Modulation in the Gamma-ray Binary LS 5039 Long-term Stability of Non-thermal X-ray Modulation in the Gamma-ray Binary LS 5039

2009-04-07

arxiv.org/abs/0904.1064v4

Astrophys.J.697:L1-L5,2009

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

5 pages, 2 figures, accepted in ApJ Letters

Scientific paper

10.1088/0004-637X/697/1/L1

We report on long-term stability of X-ray modulation apparently synchronized with an orbital period of 3.9 days in the gamma-ray binary LS 5039. Recent observations with the Suzaku satellite in the year 2007, which covered continuously more than one orbital period, have provided us with detailed characterization of X-ray flux and spectral shape as a function of orbital phase. Motivated by the results from Suzaku, we have re-analyzed the X-ray data obtained with ASCA, XMM-Newton, and Chandra between 1999 and 2005, to investigate long-term behavior of LS 5039 in the X-ray band. We found that the modulation curves in 1999--2007 are surprisingly stable. Even fine structures in the light curves such as spikes and dips are found to be quite similar from one orbit to another. The spectral characteristics observed in the past are consistent with those seen with Suzaku for some orbital phase segments. We suggest that magneto-hydrodynamical collisions between the relativistic outflow from a compact object and the stellar wind from the O star explain the clock-like non-thermal X-ray emission over eight years through remarkably stable production of high-energy particles near the binary system.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Long-term Stability of Non-thermal X-ray Modulation in the Gamma-ray Binary LS 5039 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Long-term Stability of Non-thermal X-ray Modulation in the Gamma-ray Binary LS 5039, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Long-term Stability of Non-thermal X-ray Modulation in the Gamma-ray Binary LS 5039 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-313759