Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star?
Her X-1 is an accreting neutron star (NS) in an intermediate-mass X-ray binary. Like lowmass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), it accretes via Roche lobe overflow, but similar to many high-mass X-ray binaries containing a NS; Her X-1 has a strong magnetic field and slow spin. Here, we present the discovery...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Oxford University Press
2018
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| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT140101082 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69949 |
| _version_ | 1848762175713181696 |
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| author | van den Eijnden, J. Degenaar, N. Russell, T. Miller-Jones, James Wijnands, R. Miller, J. King, A. Rupen, M. |
| author_facet | van den Eijnden, J. Degenaar, N. Russell, T. Miller-Jones, James Wijnands, R. Miller, J. King, A. Rupen, M. |
| author_sort | van den Eijnden, J. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Her X-1 is an accreting neutron star (NS) in an intermediate-mass X-ray binary. Like lowmass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), it accretes via Roche lobe overflow, but similar to many
high-mass X-ray binaries containing a NS; Her X-1 has a strong magnetic field and slow spin.
Here, we present the discovery of radio emission from Her X-1 with the Very Large Array.
During the radio observation, the central X-ray source was partially obscured by a warped
disc. We measure a radio flux density of 38.7 ± 4.8 µJy at 9 GHz but cannot constrain the
spectral shape. We discuss possible origins of the radio emission, and conclude that coherent
emission, a stellar wind, shocks and a propeller outflow are all unlikely explanations. A jet, as
seen in LMXBs, is consistent with the observed radio properties. We consider the implications
of the presence of a jet in Her X-1 on jet formation mechanisms and on the launching of jets
by NSs with strong magnetic fields. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:43:24Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-69949 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:43:24Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-699492022-11-28T04:20:43Z Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star? van den Eijnden, J. Degenaar, N. Russell, T. Miller-Jones, James Wijnands, R. Miller, J. King, A. Rupen, M. Her X-1 is an accreting neutron star (NS) in an intermediate-mass X-ray binary. Like lowmass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), it accretes via Roche lobe overflow, but similar to many high-mass X-ray binaries containing a NS; Her X-1 has a strong magnetic field and slow spin. Here, we present the discovery of radio emission from Her X-1 with the Very Large Array. During the radio observation, the central X-ray source was partially obscured by a warped disc. We measure a radio flux density of 38.7 ± 4.8 µJy at 9 GHz but cannot constrain the spectral shape. We discuss possible origins of the radio emission, and conclude that coherent emission, a stellar wind, shocks and a propeller outflow are all unlikely explanations. A jet, as seen in LMXBs, is consistent with the observed radio properties. We consider the implications of the presence of a jet in Her X-1 on jet formation mechanisms and on the launching of jets by NSs with strong magnetic fields. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69949 10.1093/mnrasl/slx180 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT140101082 Oxford University Press fulltext |
| spellingShingle | van den Eijnden, J. Degenaar, N. Russell, T. Miller-Jones, James Wijnands, R. Miller, J. King, A. Rupen, M. Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star? |
| title | Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star? |
| title_full | Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star? |
| title_fullStr | Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star? |
| title_short | Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star? |
| title_sort | radio emission from the x-ray pulsar her x-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star? |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT140101082 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69949 |