V. E. Zavlin

Bio: V. E. Zavlin is an academic researcher from Universities Space Research Association. The author has contributed to research in topics: Neutron star & Pulsar. The author has an hindex of 16, co-authored 38 publications receiving 1384 citations. Previous affiliations of V. E. Zavlin include Max Planck Society.

Discovery of absorption features in the X-ray spectrum of an isolated neutron star

Abstract: We observed 1E 1207.4-5209, a neutron star in the center of the supernova remnant PKS 1209-51/52, with the ACIS detector aboard the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and detected two absorption features in the source spectrum. The features are centered near 0.7 and 1.4 keV; their equivalent widths are about 0.1 keV. We discuss various possible interpretations of the absorption features and exclude some of them. A likely interpretation is that the features are associated with atomic transitions of once-ionized helium in the neutron star atmosphere with a strong magnetic field. The first clear detection of absorption features in the spectrum of an isolated neutron star provides an opportunity to measure the mass-to-radius ratio and to constrain the equation of state of the superdense matter.

Variable thermal emission from aquila X-1 in quiescence

Abstract: We obtained four Chandra/ACIS-S observations beginning 2 weeks after the end of the 2000 November outburst of the neutron star (NS) transient Aql X-1. Over the 5 month span in quiescence, the X-ray spectra are consistent with thermal emission from a NS with a pure hydrogen photosphere and R∞ = 15.9 (d/5 kpc) km at the optically implied X-ray column density. We also detect a hard power-law tail during two of the four observations. The intensity of Aql X-1 first decreased by 50% ± 4% over 3 months, then increased by 35% ± 5% in 1 month, and then remained constant (<6% change) over the last month. These variations in the first two observations cannot be explained by a change in either the power-law spectral component or the X-ray column density. Presuming a pure hydrogen atmosphere and that R∞ is not variable, the long-term changes can only be explained by variations in the NS effective temperature, from kTeff,∞ = 130 eV, down to 113 eV, and finally increasing to 118 eV for the final two observations. During one of these observations, we observe two phenomena that were previously suggested as indicators of quiescent accretion onto the NS: short-timescale (<104 s) variability (at 32% rms) and a possible absorption feature near 0.5 keV. The possible absorption feature can potentially be explained as being due to a time-variable response in the ACIS detector. Even so, such a feature has not been detected previously from a NS and, if confirmed and identified, can be exploited for simultaneous measurements of the photospheric redshift and NS radius.

Quiescent thermal emission from the neutron star in aquila X-1

Abstract: We report on the quiescent spectrum measured with Chandra ACIS-S of the transient, type I, X-ray-bursting neutron star Aql X-1, immediately following an accretion outburst. The neutron star radius, assuming a pure hydrogen atmosphere and a hard power-law spectrum, is R∞ = 13.4(d/5 kpc) km. Based on the historical outburst record of the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer All-Sky Monitor, the quiescent luminosity is consistent with that predicted by Brown, Bildsten, and Rutledge from deep crustal heating, lending support to this theory for providing a minimum quiescent luminosity of transient neutron stars. While not required by the data, the hard power-law component can account for 18% ± 8% of the 0.5-10 keV thermal flux. Short-timescale intensity variability during this observation is less than 15% rms (3 σ; 0.0001-1 Hz, 0.2-8 keV). Comparison between the Chandra spectrum and three X-ray spectral observations made between 1992 October and 1996 October find all spectra consistent with a pure H atmosphere, but with temperatures ranging from 145 to 168 eV, spanning a factor of 1.87 ± 0.21 in observed flux. The source of variability in the quiescent luminosity on long timescales (greater than years) remains a puzzle. If from accretion, then it remains to be explained why the quiescent accretion rate provides a luminosity so nearly equal to that from deep crustal heating.

The proper motion and energy distribution of the isolated neutron star RX J0720.4–3125

Abstract: ESO 4 m class telescope and VLT deep imaging of the isolated neutron star RX J0720.4-3125 reveals a proper motion of µ = 97 ± 12 mas/yr and a blue U − B color index. We show that a neutron star atmosphere model modified to account for a limited amount of hydrogen on the star's surface can well represent both the optical and X-ray data without invoking any additional thermal component. The large proper motion almost completely excludes the possibility that accretion from the interstellar medium is the powering mechanism of the X-ray emission. It also implies that the proposed spin down is entirely due to magnetic dipole losses. RX J0720.4-3125 is thus very likely a middle aged cooling neutron star. Its overall properties are quite similar to some of the long period radio pulsars recently discovered, giving further support to the idea that RX J0720.4-3125 may be a pulsar whose narrow radio beam does not cross the Earth.

The isolated neutron star X-ray pulsars RX J0420.0-5022 and RX J0806.4-4123: New X-ray and optical observations

Abstract: We report on the analysis of new X-ray data obtained with XMM-Newton and Chandra from two ROSAT-discovered X-ray dim isolated neutron stars (XDINs). RX J0806.4−4123 was observed with XMM-Newton in April 2003, 2.5 years after the first observation. The EPIC-pn data confirm that this object is an X-ray pulsar with 11.371 s neutron star spin period. The X-ray spectrum is consistent with absorbed black-body emission with a temperature kT = 96 eV and N H = 4 × 10 19 cm −2 without significant changes between the two observations. Four XMM-Newton observations of RX J0420.0−5022 between December 2002 and July 2003 did not confirm the 22.7 s pulsations originally indicated in ROSAT data, but clearly reveal a 3.453 s period. A fit to the X-ray spectrum using an absorbed black-body model yields kT = 45 eV, the lowest value found from the small group of XDINs and N H = 1.0 × 10 20 cm −2. Including a broad absorption line improves the quality of the spectral fits considerably for both objects and may indicate the presence of absorption features similar to those reported from RBS1223, RX J1605.3+3249 and RX J0720.4−3125. For both targets we derive accurate X-ray positions from the Chandra data and present an optical counterpart candidate for RX J0420.0−5022 with B = 26.6 ± 0.3 mag from VLT imaging.

The physics of neutron stars

Abstract: Neutron stars are some of the densest manifestations of massive objects in the universe. They are ideal astrophysical laboratories for testing theories of dense matter physics and provide connections among nuclear physics, particle physics, and astrophysics. Neutron stars may exhibit conditions and phenomena not observed elsewhere, such as hyperon-dominated matter, deconfined quark matter, superfluidity and superconductivity with critical temperatures near 10 10 kelvin, opaqueness to neutrinos, and magnetic fields in excess of 10 13 Gauss. Here, we describe the formation, structure, internal composition, and evolution of neutron stars. Observations that include studies of pulsars in binary systems, thermal emission from isolated neutron stars, glitches from pulsars, and quasi-periodic oscillations from accreting neutron stars provide information about neutron star masses, radii, temperatures, ages, and internal compositions.

Testing general relativity with present and future astrophysical observations

Abstract: One century after its formulation, Einstein's general relativity (GR) has made remarkable predictions and turned out to be compatible with all experimental tests. Most of these tests probe the theory in the weak-field regime, and there are theoretical and experimental reasons to believe that GR should be modified when gravitational fields are strong and spacetime curvature is large. The best astrophysical laboratories to probe strong-field gravity are black holes and neutron stars, whether isolated or in binary systems. We review the motivations to consider extensions of GR. We present a (necessarily incomplete) catalog of modified theories of gravity for which strong-field predictions have been computed and contrasted to Einstein's theory, and we summarize our current understanding of the structure and dynamics of compact objects in these theories. We discuss current bounds on modified gravity from binary pulsar and cosmological observations, and we highlight the potential of future gravitational wave measurements to inform us on the behavior of gravity in the strong-field regime.

Compact Object Modeling with the StarTrack Population Synthesis Code

Abstract: We present a comprehensive description of the population synthesis code StarTrack. The original code has been significantly modified and updated. Special emphasis is placed here on processes leading to the formation and further evolution of compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes). Both single and binary star populations are considered. The code now incorporates detailed calculations of all mass transfer phases, a full implementation of orbital evolution due to tides, as well as the most recent estimates of magnetic braking. This updated version of StarTrack can be used for a wide variety of problems, with relevance to observations with many current and planned observatories, e.g., studies of X-ray binaries (Chandra, XMM-Newton), gravitational radiation sources (LIGO, LISA), and gamma-ray burst progenitors (HETE-II, Swift). The code has already been used in studies of Galactic and extragalactic X-ray binary populations, black holes in young star clusters, Type Ia supernova progenitors, and double compact object populations. Here we describe in detail the input physics, we present the code calibration and tests, and we outline our current studies in the context of X-ray binary populations.