TY  - JOUR
A1  - Abdalla, H.
A1  - Abramowski, A.
A1  - Aharonian, Felix A.
A1  - Benkhali, F. Ait
A1  - Akhperjanian, A. G.
A1  - Andersson, T.
A1  - Anguener, E. O.
A1  - Arrieta, M.
A1  - Aubert, P.
A1  - Backes, M.
A1  - Balzer, A.
A1  - Barnard, M.
A1  - Becherini, Y.
A1  - Tjus, J. Becker
A1  - Berge, D.
A1  - Bernhard, S.
A1  - Bernlorhr, K.
A1  - Blackwell, R.
A1  - Bottcher, M.
A1  - Boisson, C.
A1  - Bolmont, J.
A1  - Bordas, Pol
A1  - Bregeon, J.
A1  - Brun, F.
A1  - Brun, P.
A1  - Bryan, M.
A1  - Bulik, T.
A1  - Capasso, M.
A1  - Carr, J.
A1  - Casanova, Sabrina
A1  - Cerruti, M.
A1  - Chakraborty, N.
A1  - Chalme-Calvet, R.
A1  - Chaves, R. C. G.
A1  - Chen, A.
A1  - Chevalier, J.
A1  - Chretien, M.
A1  - Colafrancesco, S.
A1  - Cologna, G.
A1  - Condon, B.
A1  - Conrad, J.
A1  - Cui, Y.
A1  - Davids, I. D.
A1  - Decock, J.
A1  - Degrange, B.
A1  - Deil, C.
A1  - Devin, J.
A1  - deWilt, P.
A1  - Dirson, L.
A1  - Djannati-Atai, A.
A1  - Domainko, W.
A1  - Donath, A.
A1  - Dubus, G.
A1  - Dutson, K.
A1  - Dyks, J.
A1  - Edwards, T.
A1  - Egberts, Kathrin
A1  - Eger, P.
A1  - Ernenwein, J. -P.
A1  - Eschbach, S.
A1  - Farnier, C.
A1  - Fegan, S.
A1  - Fernandes, M. V.
A1  - Fiasson, A.
A1  - Fontaine, G.
A1  - Foerster, A.
A1  - Funk, S.
A1  - Fuessling, M.
A1  - Gabici, S.
A1  - Gajdus, M.
A1  - Gallant, Y. A.
A1  - Garrigoux, T.
A1  - Giavitto, G.
A1  - Giebels, B.
A1  - Glicenstein, J. F.
A1  - Gottschall, D.
A1  - Goyal, A.
A1  - Grondin, M. -H.
A1  - Hadasch, D.
A1  - Hahn, J.
A1  - Haupt, M.
A1  - Hawkes, J.
A1  - Heinzelmann, G.
A1  - Henri, G.
A1  - Hermann, G.
A1  - Hervet, O.
A1  - Hinton, J. A.
A1  - Hofmann, W.
A1  - Hoischen, Clemens
A1  - Holler, M.
A1  - Horns, D.
A1  - Ivascenko, A.
A1  - Jacholkowska, A.
A1  - Jamrozy, M.
A1  - Janiak, M.
A1  - Jankowsky, D.
A1  - Jankowsky, F.
A1  - Jingo, M.
A1  - Jogler, T.
A1  - Jouvin, L.
A1  - Jung-Richardt, I.
A1  - Kastendieck, M. A.
A1  - Katarzynski, K.
A1  - Katz, U.
A1  - Kerszberg, D.
A1  - Khelifi, B.
A1  - Er, M. Kie Ff
A1  - King, J.
A1  - Klepser, S.
A1  - Klochkov, D.
A1  - Kluzniak, W.
A1  - Kolitzus, D.
A1  - Komin, Nu.
A1  - Kosack, K.
A1  - Krakau, S.
A1  - Kraus, M.
A1  - Krayzel, F.
A1  - Kruger, P. P.
A1  - Laffon, H.
A1  - Lamanna, G.
A1  - Lau, J.
A1  - Lees, J. -P.
A1  - Lefaucheur, J.
A1  - Lefranc, V.
A1  - Lemiere, A.
A1  - Lemoine-Goumard, M.
A1  - Lenain, J. -P.
A1  - Leser, E.
A1  - Lohse, T.
A1  - Lorentz, M.
A1  - Liu, R.
A1  - Lopez-Coto, R.
A1  - Lypova, I.
A1  - Marandon, V.
A1  - Marcowith, Alexandre
A1  - Mariaud, C.
A1  - Marx, R.
A1  - Maurin, G.
A1  - Maxted, N.
A1  - Mayer, M.
A1  - Meintjes, P. J.
A1  - Meyer, M.
A1  - Mitchell, A. M. W.
A1  - Moderski, R.
A1  - Mohamed, M.
A1  - Mohrmann, L.
A1  - Mora, K.
A1  - Moulin, Emmanuel
A1  - Murach, T.
A1  - de Naurois, M.
A1  - Niederwanger, F.
A1  - Niemiec, J.
A1  - Oakes, L.
A1  - Odaka, H.
A1  - Oettl, S.
A1  - Ohm, S.
A1  - Ostrowski, M.
A1  - Oya, I.
A1  - Padovani, M.
A1  - Panter, M.
A1  - Parsons, R. D.
A1  - Pekeur, N. W.
A1  - Pelletier, G.
A1  - Perennes, C.
A1  - Petrucci, P. -O.
A1  - Peyaud, B.
A1  - Piel, Q.
A1  - Pita, S.
A1  - Poon, H.
A1  - Prokhorov, D.
A1  - Prokoph, H.
A1  - Puehlhofer, G.
A1  - Punch, M.
A1  - Quirrenbach, A.
A1  - Raab, S.
A1  - Reimer, A.
A1  - Reimer, O.
A1  - Renaud, M.
A1  - de los Reyes, R.
A1  - Rieger, F.
A1  - Romoli, C.
A1  - Rosier-Lees, S.
A1  - Rowell, G.
A1  - Rudak, B.
A1  - Rulten, C. B.
A1  - Sahakian, V.
A1  - Salek, D.
A1  - Sanchez, D. A.
A1  - Santangelo, Andrea
A1  - Sasaki, M.
A1  - Schlickeiser, R.
A1  - Schussler, F.
A1  - Schulz, A.
A1  - Schwanke, U.
A1  - Schwemmer, S.
A1  - Settimo, M.
A1  - Seyffert, A. S.
A1  - Shafi, N.
A1  - Shilon, I.
A1  - Simoni, R.
A1  - Sol, H.
A1  - Spanier, F.
A1  - Spengler, G.
A1  - Spies, F.
A1  - Ert, Ff
A1  - Stawarz, L.
A1  - Steenkamp, R.
A1  - Stegmann, Christian Michael
A1  - Stinzing, F.
A1  - Stycz, K.
A1  - Sushch, I.
A1  - Tavernet, J. -P.
A1  - Tavernier, T.
A1  - Taylor, A. M.
A1  - Terrier, R.
A1  - Tibaldo, L.
A1  - Tiziani, D.
A1  - Tluczykont, M.
A1  - Trichard, C.
A1  - Tuffs, R.
A1  - Uchiyama, Y.
A1  - van der Walt, D. J.
A1  - van Eldik, C.
A1  - van Rensburg, C.
A1  - van Soelen, B.
A1  - Vasileiadis, G.
A1  - Veh, J.
A1  - Venter, C.
A1  - Viana, A.
A1  - Vincent, P.
A1  - Vink, J.
A1  - Voisin, F.
A1  - Voelk, H. J.
A1  - Vuillaume, T.
A1  - Wadiasingh, Z.
A1  - Wagner, S. J.
A1  - Wagner, P.
A1  - Wagner, R. M.
A1  - White, R.
A1  - Wierzcholska, A.
A1  - Willmann, P.
A1  - Woernlein, A.
A1  - Wouters, D.
A1  - Yang, R.
A1  - Zabalza, V.
A1  - Zaborov, D.
A1  - Zacharias, M.
A1  - Zdziarski, A. A.
A1  - Zech, Alraune
A1  - Zefi, F.
A1  - Ziegler, A.
A1  - Zywucka, N.
T1  - Characterizing the gamma-ray long-term variability of PKS2155 304 with HESS and Fermi-LAT
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Studying the temporal variability of BL Lac objects at the highest energies provides unique insights into the extreme physical processes occurring in relativistic jets and in the vicinity of super-massive black holes. To this end, the long-term variability of the BL Lac object PKS 2155 304 is analyzed in the high (HE, 100MeV < E < 300 GeV) and very high energy (VHE, E > 200 GeV) gamma-ray domain. Over the course of similar to 9 yr of H. E. S. S. observations the VHE light curve in the quiescent state is consistent with a log-normal behavior. The VHE variability in this state is well described by flicker noise (power-spectral-density index beta(VHE) = 1 .10(+ 0 : 10) (0 : 13)) on timescales larger than one day. An analysis of similar to 5.5 yr of HE Fermi-LAT data gives consistent results (beta(HE) = 1 : 20(+ 0 : 21) (0 : 23), on timescales larger than 10 days) compatible with the VHE findings. The HE and VHE power spectral densities show a scale invariance across the probed time ranges. A direct linear correlation between the VHE and HE fluxes could neither be excluded nor firmly established. These long-term-variability properties are discussed and compared to the red noise behavior (beta similar to 2) seen on shorter timescales during VHE-flaring states. The difference in power spectral noise behavior at VHE energies during quiescent and flaring states provides evidence that these states are influenced by different physical processes, while the compatibility of the HE and VHE long-term results is suggestive of a common physical link as it might be introduced by an underlying jet-disk connection.
KW  - galaxies: active
KW  - BL Lacertae objects: individual: PKS 2155-304
KW  - gamma rays: galaxies
KW  - galaxies: jets
KW  - galaxies: nuclei
KW  - radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201629419
SN  - 1432-0746
SN  - 0004-6361
VL  - 598
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Koc, A.
A1  - Reinhardt, M.
A1  - Reppert, Alexander von
A1  - Rössle, Matthias
A1  - Leitenberger, Wolfram
A1  - Gleich, M.
A1  - Weinelt, M.
A1  - Zamponi, Flavio
A1  - Bargheer, Matias
T1  - Grueneisen-approach for the experimental determination of transient spin and phonon energies from ultrafast x-ray diffraction data: gadolinium
JF  - Journal of physics : Condensed matter
N2  - We study gadolinium thin films as a model system for ferromagnets with negative thermal expansion. Ultrashort laser pulses heat up the electronic subsystem and we follow the transient strain via ultrafast x-ray diffraction. In terms of a simple Grueneisen approach, the strain is decomposed into two contributions proportional to the thermal energy of spin and phonon subsystems. Our analysis reveals that upon femtosecond laser excitation, phonons and spins can be driven out of thermal equilibrium for several nanoseconds.
KW  - ultrafast
KW  - x-ray diffraction
KW  - magnetostriction
KW  - nonequilibrium
KW  - spin
KW  - phonon
KW  - rare earth
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/aa7187
SN  - 0953-8984
SN  - 1361-648X
VL  - 29
SP  - 5884
EP  - 5891
PB  - IOP Publ. Ltd.
CY  - Bristol
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Martinez-Nunez, Silvia
A1  - Kretschmar, Peter
A1  - Bozzo, Enrico
A1  - Oskinova, Lidia M.
A1  - Puls, Joachim
A1  - Sidoli, Lara
A1  - Sundqvist, Jon Olof
A1  - Blay, Pere
A1  - Falanga, Maurizio
A1  - Furst, Felix
A1  - Gimenez-Garcia, Angel
A1  - Kreykenbohm, Ingo
A1  - Kuehnel, Matthias
A1  - Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph
A1  - Torrejon, Jose Miguel
A1  - Wilms, Joern
T1  - Towards a Unified View of Inhomogeneous Stellar Winds in Isolated Supergiant Stars and Supergiant High Mass X-Ray Binaries
JF  - Space science reviews
N2  - Massive stars, at least similar to 10 times more massive than the Sun, have two key properties that make them the main drivers of evolution of star clusters, galaxies, and the Universe as a whole. On the one hand, the outer layers of massive stars are so hot that they produce most of the ionizing ultraviolet radiation of galaxies; in fact, the first massive stars helped to re-ionize the Universe after its Dark Ages. Another important property of massive stars are the strong stellar winds and outflows they produce. This mass loss, and finally the explosion of a massive star as a supernova or a gamma-ray burst, provide a significant input of mechanical and radiative energy into the interstellar space. These two properties together make massive stars one of the most important cosmic engines: they trigger the star formation and enrich the interstellar medium with heavy elements, that ultimately leads to formation of Earth-like rocky planets and the development of complex life. The study of massive star winds is thus a truly multidisciplinary field and has a wide impact on different areas of astronomy. In recent years observational and theoretical evidences have been growing that these winds are not smooth and homogeneous as previously assumed, but rather populated by dense "clumps". The presence of these structures dramatically affects the mass loss rates derived from the study of stellar winds. Clump properties in isolated stars are nowadays inferred mostly through indirect methods (i.e., spectroscopic observations of line profiles in various wavelength regimes, and their analysis based on tailored, inhomogeneous wind models). The limited characterization of the clump physical properties (mass, size) obtained so far have led to large uncertainties in the mass loss rates from massive stars. Such uncertainties limit our understanding of the role of massive star winds in galactic and cosmic evolution. Supergiant high mass X-ray binaries (SgXBs) are among the brightest X-ray sources in the sky. A large number of them consist of a neutron star accreting from the wind of a massive companion and producing a powerful X-ray source. The characteristics of the stellar wind together with the complex interactions between the compact object and the donor star determine the observed X-ray output from all these systems. Consequently, the use of SgXBs for studies of massive stars is only possible when the physics of the stellar winds, the compact objects, and accretion mechanisms are combined together and confronted with observations. This detailed review summarises the current knowledge on the theory and observations of winds from massive stars, as well as on observations and accretion processes in wind-fed high mass X-ray binaries. The aim is to combine in the near future all available theoretical diagnostics and observational measurements to achieve a unified picture of massive star winds in isolated objects and in binary systems.
KW  - Massive stars
KW  - Stellar outflows
KW  - X-ray binary
KW  - Wind-fed systems
KW  - Accretion processes
KW  - SgXBs
KW  - SFXTs
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-017-0340-1
SN  - 0038-6308
SN  - 1572-9672
VL  - 212
SP  - 59
EP  - 150
PB  - Springer
CY  - Dordrecht
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Leto, Paolo
A1  - Trigilio, C.
A1  - Oskinova, Lidia M.
A1  - Ignace, R.
A1  - Buemi, C. S.
A1  - Umana, G.
A1  - Ingallinera, A.
A1  - Todt, Helge Tobias
A1  - Leone, F.
T1  - The detection of variable radio emission from the fast rotating magnetic hot B-star HR 7355 and evidence for its X-ray aurorae
JF  - Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
N2  - In this paper, we investigate the multiwavelength properties of the magnetic early B-type star HR 7355. We present its radio light curves at several frequencies, taken with the Jansky Very Large Array, and X-ray spectra, taken with the XMM-Newton X-ray telescope. Modelling of the radio light curves for the Stokes I and V provides a quantitative analysis of the HR 7355 magnetosphere. A comparison between HR 7355 and a similar analysis for the Ap star CU Vir allows us to study how the different physical parameters of the two stars affect the structure of the respective magnetospheres where the non-thermal electrons originate. Our model includes a cold thermal plasma component that accumulates at high magnetic latitudes that influences the radio regime, but does not give rise to X-ray emission. Instead, the thermal X-ray emission arises from shocks generated by wind stream collisions close to the magnetic equatorial plane. The analysis of the X-ray spectrum of HR 7355 also suggests the presence of a non-thermal radiation. Comparison between the spectral index of the power-law X-ray energy distribution with the non-thermal electron energy distribution indicates that the non-thermal X-ray component could be the auroral signature of the non-thermal electrons that impact the stellar surface, the same non-thermal electrons that are responsible for the observed radio emission. On the basis of our analysis, we suggest a novel model that simultaneously explains the X-ray and the radio features of HR 7355 and is likely relevant for magnetospheres of other magnetic early-type stars.
KW  - stars: chemically peculiar
KW  - stars: early-type
KW  - stars: individual: HR 7355
KW  - stars: magnetic field
KW  - radio continuum: stars
KW  - X-rays: stars
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stx267
SN  - 0035-8711
SN  - 1365-2966
VL  - 467
SP  - 2820
EP  - 2833
PB  - Oxford Univ. Press
CY  - Oxford
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Pillitteri, Ignazio
A1  - Wolk, Scott J.
A1  - Reale, Fabio
A1  - Oskinova, Lidia M.
T1  - The early B-type star Rho Ophiuchi A is an X-ray lighthouse
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - We present the results of a 140 ks XMM-Newton observation of the B2 star rho Oph A. The star has exhibited strong X-ray variability: a cusp-shaped increase of rate, similar to that which we partially observed in 2013, and a bright flare. These events are separated in time by about 104 ks, which likely correspond to the rotational period of the star (1.2 days). Time resolved spectroscopy of the X-ray spectra shows that the first event is caused by an increase of the plasma emission measure, while the second increase of rate is a major flare with temperatures in excess of 60 MK (kT similar to 5 keV). From the analysis of its rise, we infer a magnetic field of >= 300 G and a size of the flaring region of similar to 1.4-1.9 x 10(11) cm, which corresponds to similar to 25%-30% of the stellar radius. We speculate that either an intrinsic magnetism that produces a hot spot on its surface or an unknown low mass companion are the source of such X-rays and variability. A hot spot of magnetic origin should be a stable structure over a time span of >= 2.5 yr, and suggests an overall large scale dipolar magnetic field that produces an extended feature on the stellar surface. In the second scenario, a low mass unknown companion is the emitter of X-rays and it should orbit extremely close to the surface of the primary in a locked spin-orbit configuration, almost on the verge of collapsing onto the primary. As such, the X-ray activity of the secondary star would be enhanced by its young age, and the tight orbit as in RS Cvn systems. In both cases rho Oph would constitute an extreme system that is worthy of further investigation.
KW  - stars: activity
KW  - stars: individual: Rho Ophiuchi
KW  - stars: early-type
KW  - stars: magnetic field
KW  - starspots
KW  - X-rays: stars
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201630070
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 602
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ignace, R.
A1  - Hole, K. T.
A1  - Oskinova, Lidia M.
A1  - Rotter, J. P.
T1  - An X-Ray Study of Two B plus B Binaries: AH Cep and CW Cep
JF  - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics
N2  - AH Cep and CW Cep are both early B-type binaries with short orbital periods of 1.8. days and 2.7. days, respectively. All four components are B0.5V types. The binaries are also double-lined spectroscopic and eclipsing. Consequently, solutions for orbital and stellar parameters make the pair of binaries ideal targets for a study of the colliding winds between two B. stars. Chandra ACIS-I observations were obtained to determine X-ray luminosities. AH. Cep was detected with an unabsorbed X-ray luminosity at a 90% confidence interval of (9-33) x 10(30) erg s(-1), or (0.5-1.7) x 10(-7) L-Bol , relative to the combined Bolometric luminosities of the two components. While formally consistent with expectations for embedded wind shocks, or binary wind collision, the near-twin system of CW Cep was a surprising nondetection. For CW Cep, an upper limit was determined with L-X/L-Bol < 10(-8), again for the combined components. One difference between these two systems is that AH Cep is part of a multiple system. The X-rays from AH. Cep may not arise from standard wind shocks nor wind collision, but perhaps instead from magnetism in any one of the four components of the system. The possibility could be tested by searching for cyclic X-ray variability in AH. Cep on the short orbital period of the inner B. stars.
KW  - stars: early-type
KW  - stars: individual (AH Cep, CW Cep)
KW  - stars: massive
KW  - stars: winds
KW  - outflows X-rays: binaries
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aa93ea
SN  - 0004-637X
SN  - 1538-4357
VL  - 850
PB  - IOP Publ. Ltd.
CY  - Bristol
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Toala, Jesús Alberto
A1  - Oskinova, Lidia M.
A1  - Ignace, R.
T1  - On the Absence of Non-thermal X-Ray Emission around Runaway O Stars
JF  - The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Part 2, Letters
N2  - Theoretical models predict that the compressed interstellar medium around runaway O stars can produce highenergy non-thermal diffuse emission, in particular, non-thermal X-ray and gamma-ray emission. So far, detection of nonthermal X-ray emission was claimed for only one runaway star, AE Aur. We present a search for non-thermal diffuse X-ray emission from bow shocks using archived XMM-Newton observations for a clean sample of six welldetermined runaway O stars. We find that none of these objects present diffuse X-ray emission associated with their bow shocks, similarly to previous X-ray studies toward. zeta ph and BD+ 43 degrees 3654. We carefully investigated multi-wavelength observations of AE Aur and could not confirm previous findings of non-thermal X-rays. We conclude that so far there is no clear evidence of non-thermal extended emission in bow shocks around runaway O stars.
KW  - stars: massive
KW  - stars: mass-loss
KW  - stars: winds, outflows
KW  - X-rays: ISM
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa667c
SN  - 2041-8205
SN  - 2041-8213
VL  - 838
SP  - 1
EP  - 32
PB  - IOP Publ. Ltd.
CY  - Bristol
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bozzo, Enrico
A1  - Bernardini, F.
A1  - Ferrigno, Carlo
A1  - Falanga, M.
A1  - Romano, Patrizia
A1  - Oskinova, Lidia M.
T1  - The accretion environment of supergiant fast X-ray transients probed with XMM-Newton
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Context. Supergiant fast X-ray (SFXT) transients are a peculiar class of supergiant X-ray binaries characterized by a remarkable variability in the X-ray domain, widely ascribed to accretion from a clumpy stellar wind. Aims. In this paper we performed a systematic and homogeneous analysis of the sufficiently bright X-ray flares observed with XMM-Newton from the supergiant fast X-ray transients to probe spectral variations on timescales as short as a few hundred seconds. Our ultimate goal is to investigate whether SFXT flares and outbursts are triggered by the presence of clumps, and to reveal whether strongly or mildly dense clumps are required. Methods. For all sources, we employ a technique developed by our group already exploited in a number of our previous papers, making use of an adaptive rebinned hardness ratio to optimally select the time intervals for the spectral extraction. A total of twelve observations performed in the direction of five SFXTs are reported, providing the largest sample of events available so far. Results. Using the original results reported here and those obtained with our technique from the analysis of two previously published XMM-Newton observations of IGR J17544-2619 and IGR J18410-0535, we show that both strongly and mildly dense clumps can trigger these events. In the former case, the local absorption column density may increase by a factor of >> 3, while in the latter case, the increase is only a factor of similar to 2-3 (or lower). An increase in the absorption column density is generally recorded during the rise of the flares/outbursts, while a drop follows when the source achieves peak flux. In a few cases, a re-increase of the absorption column density after the flare is also detected, and we discovered one absorption event related to the passage of an unaccreted clump in front of the compact object. Overall, there seems to be no obvious correlation between the dynamic ranges in the X-ray fluxes and absorption column densities in supergiant fast X-ray transients, with an indication that lower densities are recorded at the highest fluxes. Conclusions. The spectral variations measured in all sources are in agreement with the idea that the flares/outbursts are triggered by the presence of dense structures in the wind interacting with the X-rays from the compact object (leading to photoionization). The lack of correlation between the dynamic ranges in the X-ray fluxes and absorption column densities can be explained by the presence of accretion inhibition mechanism(s). Based on the knowledge acquired so far on the SFXTs, we propose a classification of the flares/outbursts from these sources in order to drive future observational investigations. We suggest that the difference between the classes of flares/outbursts is related to the fact that the mechanism(s) inhibiting accretion can be overcome more easily in some sources compared to others. We also investigate the possibility that different stellar wind structures, other than clumps, could provide the means to temporarily overcome the inhibition of accretion in supergiant fast X-ray transients.
KW  - X-rays: individuals: IGRJ18450-0435
KW  - X-rays: individuals: IGRJ17544-2619
KW  - X-rays: binaries
KW  - X-rays: individuals: SAXJ1818.6-1703
KW  - X-rays: individuals: IGRJ17354-3255
KW  - X-rays: individuals: IGRJ16328-4726
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201730398
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 608
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bozzo, Enrico
A1  - Oskinova, Lidia M.
A1  - Lobel, A.
A1  - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer
T1  - The super-orbital modulation of supergiant high-mass X-ray binaries
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - The long-term X-ray light curves of classical supergiant X-ray binaries and supergiant fast X-ray transients show relatively similar super-orbital modulations, which are still lacking a sound interpretation. We propose that these modulations are related to the presence of corotating interaction regions (CIRs) known to thread the winds of OB supergiants. To test this hypothesis, we couple the outcomes of three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic models for the formation of CIRs in stellar winds with a simplified recipe for the accretion onto a neutron star. The results show that the synthetic X-ray light curves are indeed modulated by the presence of the CIRs. The exact period and amplitude of these modulations depend on a number of parameters governing the hydrodynamic wind models and on the binary orbital configuration. To compare our model predictions with the observations, we apply the 3D wind structure previously shown to well explain the appearance of discrete absorption components in the UV time series of a prototypical B0.5I-type supergiant. Using the orbital parameters of IGRJ 16493-4348, which has the same B0.5I donor spectral type, the period and modulations in the simulated X-ray light curve are similar to the observed ones, thus providing support to our scenario. We propose that the presence of CIRs in donor star winds should be considered in future theoretical and simulation efforts of wind-fed X-ray binaries.
KW  - X-rays: stars
KW  - X-rays: binaries
KW  - gamma rays: stars
KW  - stars: massive
KW  - stars: neutron
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201731930
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 606
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Pillitteri, Ignazio
A1  - Fossati, Luca
A1  - Rodriguez, N. Castro
A1  - Oskinova, Lidia M.
A1  - Wolk, Scott J.
T1  - Detection of magnetic field in the B2 star rho Ophiuchi A with ESO FORS2
JF  - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal
N2  - Circumstantial evidence suggests that magnetism and enhanced X-ray emission are likely correlated in early B-type stars: similar fractions of them (similar to 10%) are strong and hard X-ray sources and possess strong magnetic fields. It is also known that some B-type stars have spots on their surface. Yet up to now no X-ray activity associated with spots on early-type stars was detected. In this Letter we report the detection of a magnetic field on the B2V star rho Oph A. Previously, we assessed that the X-ray activity of this star is associated with a surface spot, herewith we establish its magnetic origin. We analyze spectra of rho Oph A obtained with the FORS2 spectrograph at ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) at two epochs, and detect a longitudinal component of the magnetic field of the order of similar to 500 G in one of the datasets. The detection of the magnetic field only at one epoch can be explained by stellar rotation which is also invoked to explain observed periodic X-ray activity. From archival HARPS ESO VLT high resolution spectra we derived the fundamental stellar parameters of rho Oph A and further constrained its age. We conclude that rho Oph A provides strong evidence for the presence of active X-ray emitting regions on young magnetized early type stars.
KW  - stars: activity
KW  - stars: early-type
KW  - stars: magnetic field
KW  - pulsars: individual: rho Ophiuchi A
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201732078
SN  - 1432-0746
VL  - 610
PB  - EDP Sciences
CY  - Les Ulis
ER  -