Quasi-periodic Oscillations Associated with Spectral Branches in RXTE Observations of Circinus X-1

Abstract

We present Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) All-Sky Monitor observations of the X-ray binary Circinus X-1 which illustrate the variety of intensity profiles associated with the 16.55 d flaring cycle of the source. We also present eight observations of Cir X-1 made with the RXTE Proportional Counter Array over the course of a cycle wherein the average intensity of the flaring state decreased gradually over ~12 days. Fourier power density spectra for these observations show a narrow quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) peak which shifts in frequency between 6.8 Hz and 32 Hz, as well as a broad QPO peak that remains roughly stationary at ~4 Hz. We identify these as Z-source horizontal and normal branch oscillations (HBOs/NBOs) respectively. Color-color and hardness-intensity diagrams (CDs/HIDs) show curvilinear tracks for each of the observations. The properties of the QPOs and very low frequency noise allow us to identify segments of these tracks with Z-source horizontal, normal, and flaring branches which shift location in the CDs and HIDs over the course of the 16.55 d cycle. These results contradict a previous prediction, based on the hypothesis that Cir X-1 is a high-Mdot atoll source, that HBOs should never occur in this source (Oosterbroek et al. 1995; van der Klis 1994).

To be published in the October 10, 1998 issue of The Astrophysical Journal (Vol 506); aastex, 14 pages, 9 figures (accepted version with minor revisions)

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