Orbital Decay in M82 X-2
The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 937, pp. 125
Abstract
Abstract M82 X-2 is the first pulsating ultraluminous X-ray source discovered. The luminosity of these extreme pulsars, if isotropic, implies an extreme mass transfer rate. An alternative is to assume a much lower mass transfer rate, but with an apparent luminosity boosted by geometrical beaming. Only an independent measurement of the mass transfer rate can help discriminate between these two scenarios. In this paper, we follow the orbit of the neutron star for 7 yr, measure the decay of the orbit ( P ̇ orb / P orb ≈ − 8 · 10 − 6 yr − 1 ), and argue that this orbital decay is driven by extreme mass transfer of more than 150 times the mass transfer limit set by the Eddington luminosity. If this is true, the mass available to the accretor is more than enough to justify its luminosity, with no need for beaming. This also strongly favors models where the accretor is a highly magnetized neutron star.
Authors 24
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Matteo Bachetti corresponding
Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, via della Scienza 5, I-09047 Selargius (CA), Italy; matteo.bachetti@inaf.it
INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, via della Scienza 5, I-09047 Selargius (CA), Italy
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Affiliation as printed
European Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, D-85748 Garching bei München, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1051, USA
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Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Sorbonnelaan 2, 3584 CA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Astronomical Observatory of Rome · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, via Frascati 33, I-00078 Monteporzio Catone, Italy
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie · Université de Toulouse
Affiliation as printed
IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, 9 avenue du Colonel Roche, F-31028, Toulouse, France
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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European Space Agency · European Space Astronomy Centre
Affiliation as printed
Quasar Science Resources S.L for European Space Agency (ESA), ESAC, Camino Bajo del Castillo s/n, E-28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Affiliation as printed
CRESST and X-ray Astrophysics Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, via della Scienza 5, I-09047 Selargius (CA), Italy; matteo.bachetti@inaf.it
INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Cagliari, via della Scienza 5, I-09047 Selargius (CA), Italy
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University of Turku · Space Research Institute
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics and Astronomy, FI-20014, University of Turku, Finland
Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya Str. 84/32, Moscow 117997, Russia
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California Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Space Sciences Laboratory · University of California, Berkeley
Affiliation as printed
Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, 7 Gauss Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-7450, USA
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University of Hertfordshire · University of Cambridge
Affiliation as printed
Centre for Astrophysics Research, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB, UK
Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HA, UK
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie · Université de Toulouse
Affiliation as printed
IRAP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, CNES, 9 avenue du Colonel Roche, F-31028, Toulouse, France
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Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Affiliation as printed
Remeis-Observatory and Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Sternwartstr. 7, D-96049 Bamberg, Germany
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