Abstract
Low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) that show thermonuclear bursts are ideal sources for constraining the equation of state of neutron star matter. The lack of independent distance measurements for most of these sources, however, prevent a systematic exploration of the masses and radii of the neutron stars, hence limiting the equation-of-state studies. We present here a measurement of the distance to the LMXB 4U1608-52 that is based on the study of the interstellar extinction toward the source. We first model the individual absorption edges of the elements Ne and Mg in the high-resolution X-ray spectrum obtained with XMM-Newton. We then combine this information with a measurement of the run of reddening with distance using red clump stars and determine a minimum distance to the source of 3.9kpc, with a most probable value of 5.8kpc. Finally, we analyze time-resolved X-ray spectra of TypeI X-ray bursts observed from this source to measure the mass and the radius of the neutron star. We find a mass of M = 1.74 ± 0.14 M ⊙ and a radius of R = 9.3 ± 1.0km, respectively. This mass and radius can be achieved by several multi-nucleon equations of state.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 964-973 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
| Volume | 712 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2010 |
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Keywords
- Stars: neutron
- X-rays: individual (4U 1608 52)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Space and Planetary Science
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
Cite this
The distance, mass, and radius of the neutron star in 4U1608-52. / Güver, Tolga; Ozel, Feryal; Cabrera-Lavers, Antonio; Wroblewski, Patricia.
In: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 712, No. 2, 2010, p. 964-973.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The distance, mass, and radius of the neutron star in 4U1608-52
AU - Güver, Tolga
AU - Ozel, Feryal
AU - Cabrera-Lavers, Antonio
AU - Wroblewski, Patricia
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) that show thermonuclear bursts are ideal sources for constraining the equation of state of neutron star matter. The lack of independent distance measurements for most of these sources, however, prevent a systematic exploration of the masses and radii of the neutron stars, hence limiting the equation-of-state studies. We present here a measurement of the distance to the LMXB 4U1608-52 that is based on the study of the interstellar extinction toward the source. We first model the individual absorption edges of the elements Ne and Mg in the high-resolution X-ray spectrum obtained with XMM-Newton. We then combine this information with a measurement of the run of reddening with distance using red clump stars and determine a minimum distance to the source of 3.9kpc, with a most probable value of 5.8kpc. Finally, we analyze time-resolved X-ray spectra of TypeI X-ray bursts observed from this source to measure the mass and the radius of the neutron star. We find a mass of M = 1.74 ± 0.14 M ⊙ and a radius of R = 9.3 ± 1.0km, respectively. This mass and radius can be achieved by several multi-nucleon equations of state.
AB - Low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) that show thermonuclear bursts are ideal sources for constraining the equation of state of neutron star matter. The lack of independent distance measurements for most of these sources, however, prevent a systematic exploration of the masses and radii of the neutron stars, hence limiting the equation-of-state studies. We present here a measurement of the distance to the LMXB 4U1608-52 that is based on the study of the interstellar extinction toward the source. We first model the individual absorption edges of the elements Ne and Mg in the high-resolution X-ray spectrum obtained with XMM-Newton. We then combine this information with a measurement of the run of reddening with distance using red clump stars and determine a minimum distance to the source of 3.9kpc, with a most probable value of 5.8kpc. Finally, we analyze time-resolved X-ray spectra of TypeI X-ray bursts observed from this source to measure the mass and the radius of the neutron star. We find a mass of M = 1.74 ± 0.14 M ⊙ and a radius of R = 9.3 ± 1.0km, respectively. This mass and radius can be achieved by several multi-nucleon equations of state.
KW - Stars: neutron
KW - X-rays: individual (4U 1608 52)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950208826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77950208826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/712/2/964
DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/712/2/964
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77950208826
VL - 712
SP - 964
EP - 973
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
SN - 0004-637X
IS - 2
ER -