@article{MartinezChicharroTorrejonOskinovaetal.2018, author = {Martinez-Chicharro, M. and Torrejon, J. M. and Oskinova, Lida and Furst, F. and Postnov, K. and Rodes-Roca, J. J. and Hainich, Rainer and Bodaghee, A.}, title = {Evidence of Compton cooling during an X-ray flare supports a neutron star nature of the compact object in 4U1700-37}, series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, volume = {473}, journal = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0035-8711}, doi = {10.1093/mnrasl/slx165}, pages = {L74 -- L78}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Based on new Chandra X-ray telescope data, we present empirical evidence of plasma Compton cooling during a flare in the non-pulsating massive X-ray binary 4U1700-37. This behaviour might be explained by quasi-spherical accretion on to a slowly rotating magnetized neutron star (NS). In quiescence, the NS in 4U1700-37 is surrounded by a hot radiatively cooling shell. Its presence is supported by the detection of mHz quasi-periodic oscillations likely produced by its convection cells. The high plasma temperature and the relatively low X-ray luminosity observed during the quiescence, point to a small emitting area similar to 1 km, compatible with a hotspot on an NS surface. The sudden transition from a radiative to a significantly more efficient Compton cooling regime triggers an episode of enhanced accretion resulting in a flare. During the flare, the plasma temperature drops quickly. The predicted luminosity for such transitions, similar to 3 x 10(35) erg s(-1), is very close to the luminosity of 4U1700-37 during quiescence. The transition may be caused by the accretion of a clump in the stellar wind of the donor star. Thus, a magnetized NS nature of the compact object is strongly favoured.}, language = {en} }