X-ray Bursts in Neutron Star and Black Hole Binaries from USA and RXTE Data: Detections and Upper Limits

Details X-ray Bursts in Neutron Star and Black Hole Binaries from USA and RXTE Data: Detections and Upper Limits X-ray Bursts in Neutron Star and Black Hole Binaries from USA and RXTE Data: Detections and Upper Limits

2003-03-21

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0303480v2

Astrophys.J. 595 (2003) 1058-1065

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

24 pages, 3 figures, submitted to ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/377431

Narayan and Heyl (2002) have developed a theoretical framework to convert suitable upper limits on type I X-ray bursts from accreting black hole candidates (BHCs) into evidence for an event horizon. However, no appropriate observational limit exists in the literature. In this paper we survey 2101.2 ks of data from the Unconventional Stellar Aspect (USA) X-ray timing experiment and 5142 ks of data from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) experiment to obtain a formal constraint of this type. 1122 ks of neutron star data yield a population averaged mean burst rate of 1.69 x 10-5 bursts s-1 while 6081 ks of BHC data yield a 95% confidence level upper limit of 4.9 x 10-7 bursts s-1. This is the first published limit of this type for Black Hole Candidates. Applying the theoretical framework of Narayan and Heyl (2002) we calculate regions of unstable luminosity where the neutron stars are expected to burst and the BHCs would be expected to burst if they had a surface. In this unstable luminosity region 464 ks of neutron star data yield an averaged mean burst rate of 4.1 x 10-5 bursts s-1 and 1512 ks of BHC data yield a 95% confidence level upper limit of 2.0 x 10-6 bursts s-1, and a limit of > 10\sigma that BHCs do not burst with a rate similar to the rate of neutron stars in these unstable regions. This gives further evidence that BHCs do not have surfaces unless there is some new physics occurring on their surface.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

X-ray Bursts in Neutron Star and Black Hole Binaries from USA and RXTE Data: Detections and Upper Limits 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 X-ray Bursts in Neutron Star and Black Hole Binaries from USA and RXTE Data: Detections and Upper Limits, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and X-ray Bursts in Neutron Star and Black Hole Binaries from USA and RXTE Data: Detections and Upper Limits will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-153598