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Spreading of thermonuclear flames on the neutron star in sax j1808.4-3658: an observational tool
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Strohmayer, Tod E. Bhattacharyya, Sudip |
| Copyright Year | 2005 |
| Description | We analyse archival Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) proportional counter array (PCA) data of thermonuclear X-ray bursts from the 2002 outburst of the accreting millisecond pulsar SAX 51808.4-3658. We present evidence of a complex frequency modulation of oscillations during burst rise, and correlations among the time evolution of the oscillation frequency, amplitude, and the inferred burning region area. We discuss these findings in the context of a model, based on thermonuclear flame spreading on the neutron star surface, that can qualitatively explain these features. From our model, we infer that for the 2002 Oct. 15 thermonuclear burst, the ignition likely occurred in the mid-latitudes, the burning region took approx. 0.2 s to nearly encircle the equatorial region of the neutron star, and after that the lower amplitude oscillation originated from the remaining asymmetry of the burning front in the same hemisphere where the burst ignited. We emphasize that studies of the evolution of burst oscillation properties during burst rise can provide a powerful tool to understand thermonuclear flame spreading on neutron star surfaces under extreme physical conditions. |
| File Size | 736214 |
| Page Count | 13 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_20060012260 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t89h0mj7z |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 2005-01-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Astronomy Flames Frequency Modulation Neutron Stars X Rays Equatorial Regions Spreading Pulsars Ignition Oscillations Combustion X Ray Timing Explorer Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
