Linking jet emission and X-ray properties in the peculiar neutron star X-ray binary Circinus X-1

Abstract

We present the results of simultaneous X-ray and radio observations of the peculiar Z-type neutron star X-ray binary Cir X-1, observed with the Rossi X-ray timing explorer satellite and the Australia Telescope Compact Array in 2000 October and 2002 December. We identify typical Z source behaviour in the power density spectra as well as characteristic Z patterns drawn in an X-ray hardness-intensity diagram. Power spectra typical of bright atoll sources have also been identified at orbital phases after the periastron passage, while orbital phases before the periastron passage are characterized by power spectra that are typical neither of Z nor of atoll sources. We investigate the coupling between the X-ray and the radio properties, focusing on three orbital phases when an enhancement of the radio flux density has been detected, to test the link between the inflow (X-ray) and the outflow (radio jet) to/from the compact object. In two out of three cases we associate the presence of the radio jet to a spectral transition in the X-rays, although the transition does not precede the radio flare, as detected in other Z sources. An analogous behaviour has recently been found in the black hole candidate GX 339-4. In the third case, the radio light curve shows a similar shape to the X-ray light curve. We discuss our results in the context of jet models, considering also black hole candidates.

arXiv commentAccepted for publication in MNRAS

References in corpus (40)

• Towards a unified model for black hole X-ray binary jets
• Calibration of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer Proportional Counter Array
• A Unified Description of the Timing Features of Accreting X-ray Binaries
• The evolution of the timing properties of the black-hole transient GX 339-4 during its 2002/2003 outburst
• The evolution of black hole states
• The ABC of low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in Black-Hole Candidates: analogies with Z-sources
• Jets in neutron star X-ray binaries: a comparison with black holes
• The distances to Galactic low-mass X-ray binaries: consequences for black hole luminosities and kicks
• A study of the low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in the X-ray light curves of the black hole candidate XTE J1859+226
• Are There Three Peaks in the Power Spectra of GX 339-4 and Cyg X-1?
• Characterizing the QPO Behavior of the X-ray Nova XTE J1550--564
• The Complex Phase Lag Behavior of the 3-12 Hz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations during the Very High State of XTE J1550-564
• Spectral States of XTE J1701-462: Link between Z and Atoll Sources
• Sco X-1: The Evolution and Nature of the Twin Compact Radio Lobes
• An ultra-relativistic outflow from a neutron star accreting gas from a companion
• RXTE observations of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary GX 17+2: correlated X-ray spectral and timing behavior
• A transient large-scale relativistic radio jet from GX 339-4
• RXTE observations of the first transient Z source XTE J1701-462: shedding new light on mass accretion in luminous neutron star LMXBs
• Discovery of twin kHz QPOs in the peculiar X-ray binary Circinus X-1
• Low and high frequency variability as a function of spectral properties in the bright X-ray binary GX 5-1
• Sco X-1: Energy Transfer from the Core to the Radio Lobes
• Detection of the radial velocity curve of the B5-A0 supergiant companion star of Cir X-1?
• The Galactic black hole transient H1743-322 during outburst decay: connections between timing noise, state transitions and radio emission
• The Complete "Z" Track of Circinus X-1
• An asymmetric arcsecond radio jet from Circinus X-1
• High resolution optical and infrared spectroscopic observations of Cir X-1
• A transient low-frequency QPO from the black hole binary GRS 1915+105
• The Composite Broad Band Spectrum of Cir X-1 at the Periastron: a Peculiar Z-source
• Linking Jet Emission, X-ray States and Hard X-ray Tails in the Neutron Star X-ray Binary GX 17+2
• The large-scale jet-powered radio nebula of Circinus X-1
• Evidence for a parsec scale X-ray jet from the accreting neutron star Circinus X-1
• Simultaneous radio and X-ray observations of the low-mass X-ray binary GX 13+1
• Peculiar spectral and power spectral behaviour of the LMXB GX 13+1
• Long-term X-ray Variability of Circinus X-1
• On the Soft Excess in the X-ray Spectrum of Cir X-1: Revisitation of the Distance to Cir X-1
• A decade of radio imaging the relativistic outflow in the peculiar X-ray binary Circinus X-1
• Quasi-periodic Oscillations Associated with Spectral Branches in RXTE Observations of Circinus X-1
• The variable radio counterpart and possible large-scale jet of the new Z-source XTE J1701-462
• Evolution of Hard X-Ray Spectra Along the Branches in Cir X-1
• New radio observations of Circinus X-1

Cited by in corpus (15)

• Evidence for simultaneous jets and disk winds in luminous low-mass X-ray binaries
• The variability timescales and brightness temperatures of radio flares from stars to supermassive black holes
• A new radio census of neutron star X-ray binaries
• The return of the bursts: Thermonuclear flashes from Circinus X-1
• The influence of spin on jet power in neutron star X-ray binaries
• The twisted jets of Circinus X-1
• A connection between accretion states and the formation of ultra-relativistic outflows in a neutron star X-ray binary
• The accretion/ejection link in the neutron star X-ray binary 4U 1820-30 I: A boundary layer-jet coupling?
• A return to strong radio flaring by Circinus X-1 observed with the Karoo Array Telescope test array KAT-7
• Statistical properties of twin kHz QPO in neutron star LMXBs
• Coupled HBO and NBO variations in the Z source GX 5-1: inner accretion disk as the location of QPOs
• Radio observations of Circinus X-1 over a complete orbit at an historically faint epoch
• e-VLBI observations of Circinus X-1: monitoring of the quiescent and flaring radio emission on AU scales
• Sudden End of X-Ray Outbursts around Periastron of Circinus X-1 Observed with MAXI
• Optical/IR counterpart to the resolved X-ray jet source CXO J172337.5-373442 and its distance