1. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis in optical and x-ray or “the ‘crazy’ LMXB (low mass x-ray binary) EXO “
Trainee: Alexander Kolodzig
Origin: HU Berlin, UCM Madrid (Erasmus)‏
Tutor: Maria Diaz Trigo
ESA-Stay: 03/ /2008
Background Picture Credits - Binary System: with ESA, NASA and Felix Mirabel - XMM-Newton: ESA (Image by C. Carreau)‏

2. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
Overview
1. The Observed Object
2. Light-Curve – Analysis
2.1. My Main Project-Tasks
2.2. Light Curve Creation
2.3. Modeling & Analysis
2.4. Further Analysis
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

3. 1. The Observed Object 1.1. Components of a LMXB (1/2)‏
Video Credits: D. Klochkov 2008
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

4. 1.1. Components of a LMXB (2/2)‏
Video Credits: D. Klochkov 2008
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

5. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
1.2. System Parameters
Orbital Period: hours
(Parmar et al. 1985)‏
Estimate Distance: kpc
(Wolff et al. 2005)‏
Inclination: 75° - 83°
(Parmar et al. 1986)‏
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

6. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
1.3. Discovery
First Light-Curve (by EXOSAT)‏
Burst
Dip
Eclipse
Credit: Parmar et al. 1986
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X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

7. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
1.4. Main Features
„light curve shows a remarkable amount of structure“ (Parmar et al. 1985)‏
sharp x-ray & broad optical eclipses
 phase depending analysis
strong, irregular & periodic dipping activity
frequent x-ray burster with doublets & triplets
system remains active since discovery
(23 years)‏
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

8. 2. Light-Curve – Analysis 2.1 My Main Project-Tasks
creation and validation of the optical light curves (LC‘s)‏
burst-deleting & folding of x-ray & optical LC‘s
comparison of the x-ray & optical LC‘s
modeling of bursts & eclipses in x-ray LC‘s
modeling the optical LC’s
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

9. 2.2. Light-Curves Creation 2.2.1. XMM-Newton Satellite
3 independent X-RAY cameras
EPIC PN (Array of 12 CCDs)‏
Wavelength - Range: keV
1 independent Optical/UV monitor (OM)‏
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

10. 2.2.2. Optical Light-Curves (1/2)‏
Observation-Date
in ‘Image+Fast Mode’
high time resolution
White Filter
high intensity
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

11. 2.2.2. Optical Light-Curves (2/2)‏
Light Curve Extraction
SAS (Science Analysis Software) task ’omfchain‘
automatic source & background selection
time sampling: 1 second
good signal-to-noise ratio
inspection of the correct automatic selection
SAS task ‘barycen’
time correction to the ‘solar system barycentre’
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

12. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
Observation-Log
Observations within 6 days!
In all cases the EPIC pn was operated in Small Window Mode with the Medium Filter and the OM in Image+Fast Mode with the White Filter.
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

13. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
2.3. Modeling & Analysis
1. Continuum
2. Eclipses
x-ray = red
optical = blue
3. Bursts
4. Periodicities
(Dips, Modulations)‏
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

14. 2.3.1.a) x-ray Continuum (1/2)‏
Flux
for all Plots
Time/Phase
Binning: 60 seconds
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

15. 2.3.1.a) x-ray Continuum (2/2)‏
just 24,5 hour time gap between Observations
Double Burst
Triple Burst
Burst
Triple Burst
Dip
Eclipse
Binning: 60 seconds
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

16. 2.3.1.b) optical Continuum (1/2)‏
Binning: 60 seconds
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

17. 2.3.1.b) optical Continuum (2/2)‏
just 24,5 hour time gap between Observations
Double Burst
Burst
Triple Burst
Triple Burst
Eclipse
Binning: 60 seconds
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

18. 2.3.1.c) optical & x-ray Continuum
just 24,5 hour time gap between Observations
Double Burst
optical Flux
x-ray Flux
Burst
Triple Burst
Triple Burst
[0,220]
Dip
[10,45]
Eclipse
Binning: 60 seconds
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

19. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
2.3.2.a) x-ray Eclipses
Ingress
Egress
(green Number = Eclipse-Number in the Observation)‏
Binning: 1 second
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

20. 2.3.2.b) Eclipses Results (1/2)‏
X-ray: Hard-Band (5-10 keV)‏
less Dip affected
Flux (Hard-Band): 0.24  0.20 Count/s
Ratio of Persistent Flux: 5,5%
Eclipses not total
evidence of a ‘Corona’
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

21. 2.3.2.b) Eclipses Results (2/2)‏
Period (x-ray):  0.06 s
(42 Eclipse in 54 days) (3,  0, hours)‏
Parmar et al 1991: 13766,780  0,002 s
(33 Eclipses in 4.1 years; linear Ephemeris)‏
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

22. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
2.3.2.c) optical Eclipses
optical Gap
optical Flux
Binning
red & blue: 60 seconds
yellow (x-ray): 1 second
[7,20]
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

23. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
optical LC Modeling
simple Model:
C - Constant
A - Amplitude
xo - Phase-Shift
p - Period
optical Periods:
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

24. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
2.3.4.a) Burst Modeling
X-Ray: with pile-up correction
Binning: 1 second
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

25. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
2.3.4.b) Burst Delay
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X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

26. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
2.3.4.c) optical Risetime
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X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

27. 2.3.5.a) Dips Definition: Example-Video:
“Dips are due to the central x-ray source being obscured by some structure above the disk.” (e.g. Frank et al. 1987)‏
Example-Video:
Video Credits: D. Klochkov 2008
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

28. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
2.3.5.b) Folded Light Curve
500 points/Phase
same Period for all: seconds
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

29. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
Folded Light Curve
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

30. X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig
2.4. Further Analysis
find super-period (around 50 or 27 hours)‏
preccessing, tilted accretion disc ?
bursts-decay-modeling
phase-decay correlation ?
better model for the optical LC’s
deeper analysis of periodicities in the system
and many many more (still after 23 years!)‏
, ESAC
X-Ray Binary Light-Curve Analysis - A.Kolodzig

31. Thanks for your Attention!
Background Picture Credits - Binary System: with ESA, NASA and Felix Mirabel - XMM-Newton: ESA (Image by C. Carreau)‏