No Arabic abstract
We consider the current observed ensemble of pulsing ultraluminous X-ray sources (PULXs). We show that all of their observed properties (luminosity, spin period, and spinup rate) are consistent with emission from magnetic neutron stars with fields in the usual range $10^{11} - 10^{13}, {rm G}$, which is collimated (`beamed) by the outflow from an accretion disc supplied with mass at a super-Eddington rate, but ejecting the excess, in the way familiar for other (non-pulsing) ULXs. The observed properties are inconsistent with magnetar-strength fields in all cases. We point out that all proposed pictures of magnetar formation suggest that they are unlikely to be members of binary systems, in agreement with the observation that all confirmed magnetars are single. The presence of magnetars in ULXs is therefore improbable, in line with our conclusions above.
We present the preliminary results of two Gemini campaigns to constrain the mass of the black hole in an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) via optical spectroscopy. Pilot studies of the optical counterparts of a number of ULXs revealed two candidates for further detailed study, based on the presence of a broad He II 4686 Angstrom emission line. A sequence of 10 long-slit spectra were obtained for each object, and the velocity shift of the ULX counterpart measured. Although radial velocity variations are observed, they are not sinusoidal, and no mass function is obtained. However, the broad He II line is highly variable on timescales shorter than a day. If associated with the reprocessing of X-rays in the accretion disc, its breadth implies that the disc must be close to face-on.
We represent noise strength analysis of Anomalous X-Ray Pulsars (AXPs) 4U 0142+61, 1RXS J170849.9-400910, 1E 1841-045, 1E 2259+586 and Soft Gamma Repeaters (SGRs) SGR J1833-0832, SWIFT J1822.3-1606 and SWIFT J1834.9-0846 together with the X-Ray binaries GX 1+4 and 4U 1907+09 for comparison with accreting sources. Using our timing solutions, we extracted residuals of pulse arrival times after removal of spin down trends and we calculated assoicated noise strength of each source. Our preliminary results indicate that the noise strength is scaling up with spin-down rate. This indicates that, increase in spin-down rate leads to more torque noise on the magnetars. In addition, we present our analysis with Bayesian statistics on the previously reported transient QPO feature of 4U 1907+09.
We develop a model for the radio afterglow of the giant flare of SGR 1806-20 arising due to the interaction of magnetically-dominated cloud, an analogue of Solar Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), with the interstellar medium (ISM). The CME is modeled as a spheromak-like configuration. The CME is first advected with the magnetars wind and later interacts with the ISM, creating a strong forward shock and complicated backwards exhaust flow. Using three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations, we study various relative configurations of the magnetic field of the CME with respect to the ISMs magnetic field. We show that the dynamics of the forward shock mostly follows the Sedov-Taylor blastwave, while the internal structure of the shocked medium is considerably modified by the back flow, creating a multiple shock configuration. We calculate synthetic synchrotron emissivity maps and light curves using two assumptions: (i) magnetic field compression; (ii) amplification of the magnetic field at the shock.We find that models with magnetic field amplification account better for the observed radio emission.
Magnetars are young and highly magnetized neutron stars which display a wide array of X-ray activity including short bursts, large outbursts, giant flares and quasi-periodic oscillations, often coupled with interesting timing behavior including enhanced spin-down, glitches and anti-glitches. The bulk of this activity is explained by the evolution and decay of an ultrastrong magnetic field, stressing and breaking the neutron star crust, which in turn drives twists of the external magnetosphere and powerful magnetospheric currents. The population of detected magnetars has grown to about 30 objects and shows unambiguous phenomenological connection with very highly magnetized radio pulsars. Recent progress in magnetar theory includes explanation of the hard X-ray component in the magnetar spectrum and development of surface heating models, explaining the sources remarkable radiative output.
Two classes of X-ray/$gamma$-ray sources, the Soft Gamma Repeaters and the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars have been identified with isolated, slowly spinning magnetars, neutron stars whose emission draws energy from their extremely strong magnetic field ($sim 10^{15}-10^{16}$ G). Magnetars are believed to form with millisecond spin period and to represent an important fraction of the whole population of young neutron stars. Newborn magnetars can convert very quickly their rotational energy into electromagnetic and/or gravitational waves, by virtue of their strong magnetic fields and fast spins. This chapter provides a brief summary of astrophysical problems and scenarios in which millisecond magnetars are believed to play a key role: these include Gamma Ray Bursts, Supernovae, Gravitational Wave events and Fast Radio Bursts.