Orbital elements of 4U 0115+63 and the nature of the hard X-ray transients

Journal Article · Tue Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/182745· OSTI ID:7051200

Rappaport, S; Clark, G W; Cominsky, L; Joss, P C; Li, F

Precise elements of the first measured orbit of a transient X-ray source (4U 0115+63) are presented. The projected semimajor axis of the X-ray star (140.1 lt-s) and the orbital period (24/sup d/.3) yield a mass function of 5.00 M/sub sun/. The orbit is moderately eccentric, with e=0.34. We propose that the relatively wide orbit is the cause of the slow rate of circularization and also precludes steady mass transfer, thereby resulting in the transient nature of the source.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics and Center for Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• OSTI ID: 7051200
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States) Vol. 224:1; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640103* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Quasi-Stellar
Radio
& X-Ray Sources-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BINARY STARS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
MASS TRANSFER
NEUTRON STARS
ORBITS
PULSARS
PULSATIONS
SPECTRA
STAR ACCRETION
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
X-RAY SPECTRA