Periodic mass transfer in Hercules X-1/HZ Herculis

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/157705· OSTI ID:5259324

Crosa, L; Boynton, P E

Various features in the X-ray light curve of Her X-1, primarily pre-eclipse and anomalous dips, 0.3 and 0.7 orbital phase turn-ons, are all seen to be aspects of only a single process of periodic mass transfer in this system. That is, one can understand quantitatively the periodicities and orbital phases of these events in terms of an enhancement of the rate of mass arrival at the outer boundary of the disk every 0.81 days, the circulation of that material around the disk perimeter, and the relaxation of the scale height of that material as it joins the disk proper. This analysis also leads to estimation of a number of parameters related to mass transfer and accretion, including a fourth fundamental periodicity observed in this system: the aforementioned circulation time of matter at the disk rim. Mass transfer episodes appear to be correlated with the periodic passage of the X-ray shadow of the tilted accretion disk over the most strongly heated portion of HZ Herculis.

• Research Organization: Department of Astronomy, University of Washington
• OSTI ID: 5259324
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 235:3; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BINARY STARS
BLACK HOLES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MASS TRANSFER
RADIATIONS
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
X RADIATION