Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Scientific paper
2009-11-19
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Proceedings of the conference X-Ray Astronomy 2009, Present Status, multiwavelength approach and future perspectives, Septembe
Scientific paper
An XMM-Mewton observation performed in May 2008 has confirmed that the 13 seconds pulsations in the X-ray binary HD 49798/RX J0648.0-4418 are due to a rapidly rotating white dwarf. From the pulse time delays induced by the 1.55 days orbital motion, and the system's inclination, constrained by the duration of the X-ray eclipse discovered in this observation, we could derive a mass of 1.28+/-0.05 M_sun for the white dwarf. The future evolution of this post common envelope binary system will likely involve a new phase of mass accretion through Roche-lobe overflow that could drive the already massive white dwarf above the Chandrasekhar limit and produce a Type Ia supernova.
Esposito Paolo
Israel Gian Luca
La Palombara Nicola
Mereghetti Sandro
Stella Luigi
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