Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Scientific paper
2009-01-03
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
11 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in A&A
Scientific paper
10.1051/0004-6361/200811091
XTE J1701-407 is a newly discovered X-ray transient source. In this work we investigate its flux variability and study the intermediate long and short bursts discovered by Swift on July 17, and 27, 2008, respectively. So far, only one intermediate long burst, with a duration of ~18 minutes and ten days later a short burst, have been recorded from XTE J1701-407. We analyzed the public available data from Swift and RXTE, and compared the observed properties of the intermediate long burst with theoretical ignition condition and light curves to investigate the possible nuclear burning processes. The intermediate long burst may have exhibited a photospheric radius expansion, allowing us to derive the source distance at 6.2 kpc assuming the empirically derived Eddington luminosity for pure helium. The intermediate long burst decay was best fit by using two exponential functions with e-folding times of \tau_1=40(3) s and \tau_2=221(9) s. The bursts occurred at a persistent luminosity of L_{per}=8.3x10E36 erg/s. For the intermediate long burst the mass accretion rate per unit area onto the NS was \dot{m}=4x10E3 g/cm2/s, and the total energy released was E_{burst}=3.5x10E40 erg. This corresponds to an ignition column depth of y_{ign}=1.8x10E9 g/cm2, for a pure helium burning. We find that the energetics of this burst can be modeled in different ways, as (i) pure helium ignition, as the result of either pure helium accretion or depletion of hydrogen by steady burning during accumulation, or (ii) as ignition of a thick layer of hydrogen-rich material in a source with low metallicity. However, comparison of the burst duration with model light curves suggests that hydrogen burning plays a role during the burst, and therefore this source is a low accretion rate burster with a low metallicity in the accreted material.
Bozzo Emanuele
Chenevez Jerome
Cumming Alan
Falanga Mariarosaria
No associations
LandOfFree
The new intermediate long bursting source XTE J1701-407 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 The new intermediate long bursting source XTE J1701-407, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The new intermediate long bursting source XTE J1701-407 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-288826