1997A&A...323..399W


Query : 1997A&A...323..399W

1997A&A...323..399W - Astronomy and Astrophysics, volume 323, 399-414 (1997/7-2)

Ginga observations of Cygnus X-2.

WIJNANDS R.A.D., VAN DER KLIS M., KUULKERS E., ASAI K. and HASINGER G.

Abstract (from CDS):

We have analysed all available X-ray data on the low-mass X-ray binary Cygnus X-2 obtained with the Ginga satellite. A detailed analysis of the spectral and fast timing behaviour of these 4 years of data provides new insights in the behaviour of this Z source. We confirm the previously observed recurrent patterns of behaviour in the X-ray colour-colour and hardness-intensity diagrams consisting of shifts and shape changes in the Z track. However, we find a continuous range of patterns rather than a discrete set. The source behaviour in the diagrams is correlated with overall intensity, which varied by a factor of 1.34 in the Ginga data. We find that when the overall intensity increases, the mean velocity and acceleration of the motion along the normal branch of the Z track increase, as well as the width of the normal branch in the hardness-intensity diagram. Contrary to previous results we find that, during different observations, when the source is at the same position in the normal branch of the Z track the rapid X-ray variability differs significantly. During the Kuulkers et al. (1996A&A...311..197K) ``medium'' level, a normal branch quasi-periodic oscillation is detected, which is not seen during the ``high'' overall intensity level. Also, during the high overall intensity level episodes the very-low frequency noise on the lower normal branch is very strong and steep, whereas during the medium overall intensity level episodes this noise component at the same position in the Z track is weak and less steep. The explanation of the different overall intensity levels with a precessing accretion disk is difficult to reconcile with our data. Furthermore, we found that the frequency of the horizontal branch quasi-periodic oscillation decreases when Cygnus X-2 enters the upper normal branch, giving a model dependent upper limit on the magnetic field strength at the magnetic equator of ∼8.5x109G. We also report five bursts, with durations between two and eight seconds, whose occurrence seems to be uncorrelated with location in the Z track, overall intensity level or orbital phase. The burst properties indicate that they are not regular type I bursts.

Abstract Copyright:

Journal keyword(s): accretion, accretion disks - stars: individual: Cyg X-2 - stars: neutron - X-rays: stars

Simbad objects: 4

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Number of rows : 4
N Identifier Otype ICRS (J2000)
RA
ICRS (J2000)
DEC
Mag U Mag B Mag V Mag R Mag I Sp type #ref
1850 - 2024
#notes
1 4U 1642-45 LXB 16 45 47.7 -45 36 40     14.30     ~ 417 1
2 4U 1758-25 LXB 18 01 09.7308060816 -25 04 44.120221284     11.08     ~ 655 1
3 V* NP Ser LXB 18 16 01.389 -14 02 10.62   18.8       K 642 2
4 V* V1341 Cyg LXB 21 44 41.1544345272 +38 19 17.066570988 15.00 15.13 14.68 15.00   A9III 1155 1

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