University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

An 'outside-in' outburst of Aql X-1

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 17:03 authored by Shahbaz, T, Bandyopadhyay, RM, Charles, PA, Wagner, RM, Muhli, P, Hakala, P, Casares, J, Greenhill, JG
We present optical spectroscopy and optical and infrared photometry of the neutron star soft X-ray transient Aql X-1 during its X-ray outburst of 1997 August. By modelling the X-ray, optical and IR light curves, we find a 3-d delay between the IR and X-ray rise times, analogous to the UV-optical delay seen in dwarf novae outbursts and black hole X-ray transients. We interpret this delay as the signature of an 'outside-in' outburst, in which a thermal instability in the outer disc propagates inward. This outburst is the first of this type definitively identified in a neutron star X-ray transient.

History

Publication title

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Volume

300

Issue

4

Pagination

1035-1040

ISSN

0035-8711

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Place of publication

London, England

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC