High-speed Ejecta from the Gamma-ray Binary PSR B1259-63/LS 2883

Abstract

Observing the famous high-mass, eccentric X-ray and gamma-ray binary PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 with Chandra, we detected X-ray emitting clumps moving from the binary with speeds of about 0.1 of the speed of light, possibly with acceleration. The clumps are being ejected at least once per binary period, 3.4 years, presumably around binary periastrons. The power-law spectra of the clumps can be interpreted as synchrotron emission of relativistic electrons. Here we report the results of 8 observations of the clumps in 2011-2017 (two binary cycles) and discuss possible interpretations of this unique phenomenon.

arXiv commentPublished in "Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali''. The final authenticated version is available online at \url{http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12210-019-00765-0}. Based on presentation at the Conference on Gamma-Ray Astrophysics with the AGILE Satellite held at Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Rome on December 11-13, 2017

References in corpus (15)

• Gamma-ray binaries and related systems
• Theory of high-energy emission from the pulsar/Be-star system PSR 1259$-$63 I: radiation mechanisms and interaction geometry
• Discovery of High-Energy Gamma-Ray Emission from the Binary System PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 Around Periastron with Fermi
• Modeling interaction of relativistic and nonrelativistic winds in binary system PSR 1259-63/SS2883. I.Hydrodynamical limit
• Astrophysical parameters of LS2883 and implications for the PSR B1259-63 gamma-ray binary
• The kinematics and orbital dynamics of the PSR B1259$-$63/LS 2883 system from 23 years of pulsar timing
• Post-Periastron Gamma Ray Flare from PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 as a Result of Comptonization of the Cold Pulsar Wind
• Modelling the light curves of PSR B1259-63/LS 2883-II.The effects of anisotropic pulsar wind and Doppler-boosting
• Multi-wavelength Observations of the Binary System PSR B1259-63/LS~2883 around the 2014 Periastron Passage
• The geometric distance and binary orbit of PSR B1259-63
• H.E.S.S. Observations of the Binary System PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 around the 2010/2011 Periastron Passage
• Extended Emission from the PSR B1259-63/SS 2883 Binary Detected with Chandra
• A Luminous and Highly-variable Gamma-ray Flare Following the 2017 Periastron of PSR B1259-63/LS 2883
• The dynamic X-ray nebula powered by the pulsar B1259-63
• The origin of the X-ray-emitting object moving away from PSR B1259-63

Cited by in corpus (3)

• New insight into the origin of the GeV flare in the binary system PSR B1259-63 from the 2017 periastron passage
• Evolution of the extended X-ray emission from the PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 binary in the 2014-2017 binary cycle
• First ejection from the PSR B1259-63/LS 2883 high mass gamma-ray binary detected during the 2021-2024 binary cycle