Quasi-spherical accretion in low-luminosity X-ray pulsars: Theory vs. observations

Quasi-spherical subsonic accretion can be realized in slowly rotating wind-fed X-ray pulsars (XPSRs) at X-ray luminosities <4 10^{36} erg/s. In this regime the accreting matter settles down subsonically onto the rotating magnetosphere, forming an extended quasi-static shell. The shell mediates the angular momentum removal from the rotating NS magnetosphere by shear turbulent viscosity in the boundary layer or via large-scale convective motions. In the last case the differential rotation law in the shell is close to iso-angular-momentum rotation. The accretion rate through the shell is determined by the ability of the plasma to enter the magnetosphere due to Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities while taking cooling into account. Measurements of spin-up/spin-down rates of quasi-spherically wind accreting XPSRs in equilibrium with known orbital periods (like e.g. GX 301-2 and Vela X-1) enable determination of the main dimensionless parameters of the model and the NS magnetic field. For equilibrium pulsars with independent measurements of the magnetic field, the stellar wind velocity from the companion can be estimated without the use of complicated spectroscopic measurements. For non-equilibrium pulsars, a maximum possible spin-down torque exerted on the accreting NS exists. From observations of the spin-down rate and X-ray luminosity in such pulsars (GX 1+4, SXP 1062, 4U 2206+54, etc.) a lower limit on the NS magnetic field is derived, which in all cases turns out to be close to the standard one and in agreement with cyclotron line measurements. The model explains the existence of super slowly rotating XPSRs without the need to hypothesize on additional accretion properties and magnetar-like magnetic fields in accreting neutron stars.

Quasi-spherical accretion in X-ray pulsars

Quasi-spherical accretion in wind-fed X-ray pulsars is discussed. At X-ray luminosities <4 10^{36} erg/s, a hot convective shell is formed around the neutron star magnetosphere, and subsonic settling accretion regime sets in. In this regime, accretion rate onto neutron star is determined by the ability of plasma to enter magnetosphere via Rayleigh-Taylor instability. A gas-dynamic theory of settling accretion is constructed taking into account anisotropic turbulence. The angular momentum can be transferred through the quasi-static shell via large-scale convective motions initiating turbulence cascade. The angular velocity distribution in the shell is found depending on the turbulent viscosity prescription. Comparison with observations of long-period X-ray wind-fed pulsars shows that an almost iso-angular-momentum distribution is most likely realized in their shells. The theory explains long-term spin-down in wind- fed accreting pulsars (e.g. GX 1+4) and properties of short-term torque-luminosity correlations. The theory can be applied to slowly rotating low-luminosity X-ray pulsars and non-stationary accretion phenomena observed in some SFXTs.