X-ray spectroscopy of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2007.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng |
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2009
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45408 |
| _version_ | 1826195824162373632 |
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| author | Krauss, Miriam Ilana |
| author2 | Deepto Chakrabarty. |
| author_facet | Deepto Chakrabarty. Krauss, Miriam Ilana |
| author_sort | Krauss, Miriam Ilana |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2007. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T10:16:02Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | mit-1721.1/45408 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T10:16:02Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/454082019-04-12T09:33:21Z X-ray spectroscopy of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries Krauss, Miriam Ilana Deepto Chakrabarty. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics. Physics. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-150). In this thesis, I present work spanning a variety of topics relating to neutron star lowmass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) and utilize spectral information from X-ray observations to further our understanding of these sources. First, I give an overview of important X- ray astrophysics relevant to the work I present in subsequent chapters, as well as information about the X-ray observatories from which I obtained my data. In the next three chapters, I consider spectra-both high- and low-resolution--of accretion-powered millisecond X-ray pulsars, a unique and relatively new class of objects. In addition to analysis of the pulsar XTE J1814-338, I compare a broader sample of pulsars with a sample of atoll sources in order to better understand why the latter class do not contain persistently pulsating neutron stars. In particular, I test the hypothesis that pulsations in the atoll sources are suppressed by a high-optical- depth scattering region. Using X-ray color-color diagrams to define a selection criterion based on spectral state, I analyze Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) spectra from all the sources, and use a Comptonization model to obtain measurements of their optical depths. I then discuss efforts to spatially resolve X-ray jets from the accretion-powered millisecond pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658 and the Z source XTE J1701-462. Each was observed by the Chandra X-ray Observatory to produce a high-spatial-resolution image. This work was motivated in part by my analysis of XTE J1814-338, which found an apparent excess of infrared flux which could be attributed to jet emission. Next, I discuss the measured temperatures of thermonuclear X-ray bursts. The detection of line features in these bursts, and hence from the surfaces of neutron stars, has been an important goal for high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy. A measurement of the wavelengths of identified line features would yield a measurement of the neutron star's gravitational redshift, which would help constrain current models for the neutron star equation of state. (cont.) Although such a measurement has been made for one source, other searches have not been able to repeat this measurement. I consider the effects of burst temperature on the formation of discrete spectral features, using a large sample of bursts observed by the RXTE PCA. Finally, I present analysis of high-resolution Chandra HETG spectra of a sample of Galactic LMXBs. High-resolution spectra are able to resolve line features, such as the prominent Ne and O emission lines in the ultracompact X-ray binary 4U 1626-67. They also allow for more precise measurements of photoelectric absorption edges, which can otherwise hinder the determination of continuum spectral components, particularly in the lower-energy spectral regions. by Miriam Ilana Krauss. Ph.D. 2009-04-29T17:37:31Z 2009-04-29T17:37:31Z 2007 2007 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45408 317482148 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 150 p. application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| spellingShingle | Physics. Krauss, Miriam Ilana X-ray spectroscopy of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries |
| title | X-ray spectroscopy of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries |
| title_full | X-ray spectroscopy of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries |
| title_fullStr | X-ray spectroscopy of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries |
| title_full_unstemmed | X-ray spectroscopy of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries |
| title_short | X-ray spectroscopy of neutron star low-mass X-ray binaries |
| title_sort | x ray spectroscopy of neutron star low mass x ray binaries |
| topic | Physics. |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45408 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kraussmiriamilana xrayspectroscopyofneutronstarlowmassxraybinaries |