14090535
An Accurate Determination of the Optical Periodic Modulation in the X-Ray Binary SAX J1808.4-3658
We report on optical imaging of the X-ray binary SAX J1808.4 – 3658 with the 8 m Gemini South Telescope. The binary, containing an accretion-powered millisecond pulsar, appears to have a large periodic modulation in its quiescent optical emission. In order to clarify the origin of this modulation, we obtained three time-resolved r'-band light curves (LCs) of the source over five days. The LCs can be described by a sinusoid, and the long time-span between them allows us to determine optical period P = 7251.9 s and phase 0.671 at MJD 54599.0 (TDB; phase 0.0 corresponds to the ascending node of the pulsar orbit), with uncertainties of 2.8 s and 0.008 (90% confidence), respectively. This periodicity is highly consistent with the X-ray orbital ephemeris. By considering this consistency and the sinusoidal shape of the LCs, we rule out the possibility of the modulation arising from the accretion disk. Our study supports the previous suggestion that the X-ray pulsar becomes rotationally powered in quiescence, with its energy output irradiating the companion star, causing the optical modulation. While it has also been suggested that the accretion disk would be evaporated by the pulsar, we argue that the disk exists and gives rise to the persistent optical emission. The existence of the disk can be verified by long-term, multiwavelength optical monitoring of the source in quiescence, as an increasing flux and spectral changes from the source would be expected based on the standard disk-instability model.
119233030
Dynamics of neutrino-driven winds: inclusion of accurate weak interaction rates in strong magnetic fields
Solving Newtonian steady-state wind equations while considering the accurate weak interaction rates and magnetic fields (MFs) of young neutron stars, we study the dynamics and nucleosynthesis of neutrino-driven winds (NDWs) from proto neutron stars (PNSs). For a typical 1.4 M ⊙ PNS model, we find that the nucleosynthesis products are closely related to the luminosity of neutrinos and anti-neutrinos. The lower the luminosity is, the larger is the effect on the NDWs caused by weak interactions and MFs. At a high anti-neutrino luminosity of typically 8 × 10 51 erg s −1 , neutrinos and anti-neutrinos dominate the processes in an NDW and the MFs hardly change the wind’s properties. But at a low anti-neutrino luminosity of 10 51 erg s −1 at the late stage of an NDW the mass of the product and process of nucleosynthesis are changed significantly in strong MFs. Therefore, in most of the models considered for the NDWs from PNSs, based on our calculations, the influences of MFs and the net weak interactions on the nucleosynthesis are not significant.
14349816
The Near-infrared Counterpart to the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 1e 1048.1−5937
We report our discovery of the likely near-infrared counter part to the anomalous X-ray pulsar (AXP) 1E 1048.1−5937, using observations from the 6.5 m Baade (Magellan I) te lescope in Chile. We derived a precise position for the X-ray source using archival data from t heChandra X-Ray Observatory. Since this position is inconsistent with a position reported earlier from XMM-Newton, we conservatively considered eight optical and near-infrared sources within both error circles as cand id te counterparts, although we also show that the XMM-Newton observation likely suffered from attitude reconstruction problems. Two of the infrared objects have unusual colors, and one of these has colors consistent with t hose of the identified counterparts of two other AXPs. The latter object is the only source detected within the Chandra error circle, and we identify it as the counterpart to 1E 1048.1 −5937. This is the first AXP counterpart detected in multiple i nfrared bands, with magnitudes J=21.7(3),H=20.8(3), andK=19.4(3). There is marginal evidence for spectral flattenin g at longer wavelengths. Subject headings: pulsars: individual (1E 1048.1 −5937) — stars: neutron
18351437
Search for the Optical Counterparts of Southern Anomalous X-Ray Pulsars and Radio-Quiet Neutron Stars in Young Supernova Remnants
We report on our search for the optical counterparts of the Southern Hemisphere anomalous X-ray pulsar 1E1048.1-5937 and the radio-quiet neutron stars in supernova remnants Puppis A, RCW 103, and PKS 1209-52. The observations were carried out with the new MIT/CfA MagIC camera on the Magellan-I 6.5 m telescope in Chile. We present deep multiband optical images of the X-ray error circles for each of these targets and discuss the resulting candidates and limits.
839810
Discovery of a 692.5 s period in the X-ray Binary 4U 1820-30: an indication of a superhumper?
The X-ray source 4U 1820−30 in the globular cluster NGC 6624 is known as the most compact binary among the identified X-ray binaries. Having an orbital period of 685.0 s, the source consists of a neutron star primary and likely a 0.06–0.08 M⊙ white dwarf secondary. Here we report on far-ultraviolet (FUV) observations of this X-ray binary, made with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope. From our Fourier spectral analysis of the FUV timing data, we obtain a period of 692.5±1.1 s, which is significantly different from the orbital period. The light curve folded at this period can be described by a sinusoid, with a fractional semiamplitude of 6.3%. While the discovered FUV period may be consistent with a hierarchical triple system model considered for 4U 1820−30, we suggest that it could instead be the indication of the binary being a superhump source. The X-ray and FUV periods would be the orbital and superhump periods, respectively, indicating a 1% superhump excess and a white-dwarf/neutron-star mass ratio around 0.06. We discuss possible methods for further identification of 4U 1820−30 as a superhump source. Subject headings: binaries: close — stars: individual (4U 1820−30) — X-rays: binary — stars: lowmass — stars: neutron
119069538
Search for gamma-ray emission from four accreting millisecond pulsars with Fermi/LAT
We report our search for -ray emission in the energy range from 100 MeV to 300 GeV from four Accreting Millisecond Pulsars (AMPs), SAX J1808.4 3658, IGR J00291+5934, XTE J1814 338, and XTE J0929 314. The data are from four-year observations carried out by Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi -ray Space Telescope. The AMPs were not detected, and their -ray luminosity upper limits we obtain are 5.1 × 10 33 ergs s −1 for SAX J1808.4 3658, 2.1 × 10 33 ergs s −1 for IGR J00291+5934, 1.2 × 10 34 ergs s −1 for XTE J1814 338, and 2.2 × 10 33 ergs s −1 for XTE J0929 314. We compare our results with -ray irradiation luminosities required for producing optical modulations seen from the companions in the AMPs, which has been suggested by Takata et al. (2012), and our upper limits have excluded -ray emission as the heating source in these systems except XTE J0929 314, the upper limit of which is not deep enough. Our results also do not support the model proposed by Takata et al. (2012) that relatively strong -ray emission could arise from the outer gap of a high-mass neutron star controlled by the photon-photon pair-creation for the AMPs. Two AMPs, SAX J1808.4 3658 and IGR J00291+5934, have the measurements of their spin-down rates, and we derive the upper limits of their -ray conversion efficiencies, which are 57% and 3%, respectively. We discuss the implications to the AMP systems by comparing the efficiency upper limit values with that of 20 -ray millisecond pulsars (MSP) detected by Fermi and the newly discovered transitional MSP binary J1023+0038. Subject headings: pulsars: general – stars: neutron – binaries: close – gamma rays: stars
119266949
MULTIBAND STUDIES OF THE OPTICAL PERIODIC MODULATION IN THE X-RAY BINARY SAX J1808.4–3658 DURING ITS QUIESCENCE AND 2008 OUTBURST
We report on time-resolved optical imaging of the X-ray binary SAX J1808.4-3658 during its quiescent state and 2008 outburst. The binary, containing an accretion-powered millisecond pulsar, has a large sinusoidal-like modulation in its quiescent optical emission. We employ a Markov chain Monte Carlo technique to fit our multi-band light curve data in quiescence with an irradiated star model, and derive a tight constraint of 50(-5)(+6) deg on the inclination angle i of the binary system. The pulsar and its companion are constrained to have masses of 0.97(-0.22)(+0.31) M-circle dot and 0.04(-0.01)(+0.02) M-circle dot (both 1 sigma ranges), respectively. The dependence of these results on the measurements of the companion's projected radial velocity is discussed. We also find that the accretion disk had nearly constant optical fluxes over a similar to 500 day period in the quiescent state our data covered, but started brightening 1.5 months before the 2008 outburst. Variations in modulation during the outburst were detected in our four observations made 7-12 days after the start of the outburst, and a sinusoidal-like modulation with 0.2 mag amplitude changed to have a smaller amplitude of 0.1 mag. The modulation variations are discussed. We estimate the albedo of the companion during its quiescence and the outburst, which was approximately 0 and 0.8 (for isotropic emission), respectively. This large difference probably provides additional evidence that the neutron star in the binary turns on as a radio pulsar in quiescence.
55540815
Abelian and non-Abelian anyons in integer quantum anomalous Hall effect and topological phase transitions via superconducting proximity effect
We study the quantum anomalous Hall effect described by a class of two-component Haldane models on square lattices. We show that the latter can be transformed into a pseudospin triplet p + ip-wave paired superfluid. In the long wavelength limit, the ground-statewave function is described by Halperin's ( 1,1,-1) state of neutral fermions analogous to the double-layer quantum Hall effect. The vortex excitations are charge e/2 Abelian anyons which carry a neutral Dirac fermion zero mode. The superconducting proximity effect induces "tunneling" between "layers" which leads to topological phase transitions whereby the Dirac fermion zero mode fractionalizes and Majorana fermions emerge in the edge states. The charge e/2 vortex excitation carrying a Majorana zero mode is a non-Abelian anyon. The proximity effect can also drive a conventional insulator into a quantum anomalous Hall effect state with a Majorana edge mode and the non-Abelian vortex excitations.
119215939
Statistical dynamics of a non-Abelian anyonic quantum walk
We study the single particle dynamics of a mobile non-Abelian anyon hopping around many pinned anyons on a surface. The dynamics is modelled by a discrete time quantum walk and the spatial degree of freedom of the mobile anyon becomes entangled with the fusion degrees of freedom of the collective system. Each quantum trajectory makes a closed braid on the world lines of the particles establishing a direct connection between statistical dynamics and quantum link invariants. We find that asymptotically a mobile Ising anyon becomes so entangled with its environment that its statistical dynamics reduces to a classical random walk with linear dispersion in contrast to particles with Abelian statistics which have quadratic dispersion.
15172685
SEARCH FOR MID-INFRARED FLUX VARIATIONS FROM THE ANOMALOUS X-RAY PULSAR 4U 0142+61
We report on our Spitzer observations of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 4U 0142+61, made following a large X-ray burst that occurred on 2007 February 7. To search for mid-infrared flux variations, four imaging observations were carried out at 4.5 and 8.0 μm with the Infrared Array Camera from February 14 to 21. No significant flux variations were detected, and the average fluxes were 32.1 ± 2.0 μJy at 4.5 μm and 59.8 ± 8.5 μJy at 8.0 μm, consistent with those obtained in 2005. The nondetection of variability is interesting in light of reported rapid variability from this source in the near-infrared but consistent with the fact that the source already went back to its quiescent state before our observations began, as indicated by contemporaneous X-ray observations. In order to understand the origin of the near-infrared variability, frequent, simultaneous multiwavelength observations are needed.
119395992
Dilepton production from p-p to CaCa at the Bevalac
Abstract The DLS collaboration has recently completed a high statistics study of dilepton production at the Bevalac. In particular, we have measured dielectrons (e + e − ) from p - p and p - d collisions to understand the basic dilepton production mechanisms in the energy range from 1.05 – 4.9 GeV. These data can be used to determine the basic processes which contribute to nucleon-nucleon dilepton production such as hadronic bremsstrahlung, vector meson processes, and hadronic Dalitz decay. The data show that a simple elastic bremsstrahlung calculation is insufficient to explain the data. Theoretical models are compared with the data. A new high statistics study of Ca  Ca at 1.05 A·GeV has been made to study the collectivity of A - A collisions.