@article{BozzoFerrignoOskinovaetal.2021, author = {Bozzo, Enrico and Ferrigno, Carlo and Oskinova, Lida and Ducci, Lorenzo}, title = {Accretion of a clumped wind from a red supergiant donor on to a magnetar is suggested by the analysis of the XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations of the X-ray binary 3A 1954+319}, series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, volume = {510}, journal = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, number = {3}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0035-8711}, doi = {10.1093/mnras/stab3688}, pages = {4645 -- 4653}, year = {2021}, abstract = {3A 1954+319 has been classified for a long time as a symbiotic X-ray binary, hosting a slowly rotating neutron star and an aged M red giant. Recently, this classification has been revised thanks to the discovery that the donor star is an M supergiant. This makes 3A 1954+319 a rare type of high-mass X-ray binary consisting of a neutron star and a red supergiant donor. In this paper, we analyse two archival and still unpublished XMM-Newton and NuSTAR observations of the source. We perform a detailed hardness ratio-resolved spectral analysis to search for spectral variability that could help investigating the structures of the inhomogeneous M supergiant wind from which the neutron star is accreting. We discuss our results in the context of wind-fed supergiant X-ray binaries and show that the newest findings on 3A 1954+319 reinforce the hypothesis that the neutron star in this system is endowed with a magnetar-like magnetic field strength (greater than or similar to 10(14) G).}, language = {en} } @article{BozzoRomanoFerrignoetal.2022, author = {Bozzo, Enrico and Romano, Patrizia and Ferrigno, Carlo and Oskinova, Lida}, title = {The symbiotic X-ray binaries Sct X-1, 4U 1700+24, and IGR J17329-2731}, series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, volume = {513}, journal = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0035-8711}, doi = {10.1093/mnras/stac907}, pages = {42 -- 54}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Symbiotic X-ray binaries are systems hosting a neutron star accreting form the wind of a late-type companion. These are rare objects and so far only a handful of them are known. One of the most puzzling aspects of the symbiotic X-ray binaries is the possibility that they contain strongly magnetized neutron stars. These are expected to be evolutionary much younger compared to their evolved companions and could thus be formed through the (yet poorly known) accretion induced collapse of a white dwarf. In this paper, we perform a broad-band X-ray and soft gamma-ray spectroscopy of two known symbiotic binaries, Sct X-1 and 4U 1700+24, looking for the presence of cyclotron scattering features that could confirm the presence of strongly magnetized NSs. We exploited available Chandra, Swift, and NuSTAR data. We find no evidence of cyclotron resonant scattering features (CRSFs) in the case of Sct X-1 but in the case of 4U 1700+24 we suggest the presence of a possible CRSF at similar to 16 keV and its first harmonic at similar to 31 keV, although we could not exclude alternative spectral models for the broad-band fit. If confirmed by future observations, 4U 1700+24 could be the second symbiotic X-ray binary with a highly magnetized accretor. We also report about our long-term monitoring of the last discovered symbiotic X-ray binary IGR J17329-2731 performed with Swift/XRT. The monitoring revealed that, as predicted, in 2017 this object became a persistent and variable source, showing X-ray flares lasting for a few days and intriguing obscuration events that are interpreted in the context of clumpy wind accretion.}, language = {en} } @article{MassaOskinovaPrinjaetal.2019, author = {Massa, Derck and Oskinova, Lida and Prinja, Raman and Ignace, Richard}, title = {Coordinated UV and X-Ray Spectroscopic Observations of the O-type Giant xi Per}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {873}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/ab0283}, pages = {12}, year = {2019}, abstract = {We present new, contemporaneous Hubble Space Telescope STIS and XMM-Newton observations of the O7. III(n) ((f)) star xi Per. We supplement the new data with archival IUE spectra, to analyze the variability of the wind lines and X-ray flux of xi Per. The variable wind of this star is known to have a 2.086-day periodicity. We use a simple, heuristic spot model that fits the low-velocity (near-surface) IUE wind line variability very well, to demonstrate that the low-velocity absorption in the new STIS spectra of N IV lambda 1718 and Si IV lambda 1402 vary with the same 2.086-day period. It is remarkable that the period and amplitude of the STIS data agree with those of the IUE spectra obtained 22 yr earlier. We also show that the time variability of the new XMM-Newton fluxes is also consistent with the 2.086-day period. Thus, our new, multiwavelength coordinated observations demonstrate that the mechanism that causes the UV wind line variability is also responsible for a significant fraction of the X-rays in single O stars. The sequence of events for the multiwavelength light-curve minima is Si IV lambda 1402, N IV lambda 1718, and X-ray flux, each separated by a phase of about 0.06 relative to the 2.086-day period. Analysis of the X-ray fluxes shows that they become softer as they weaken. This is contrary to expectations if the variability is caused by periodic excess absorption. Furthermore, the high-resolution X-ray spectra suggest that the individual emission lines at maximum are more strongly blueshifted. If we interpret the low-velocity wind line light curves in terms of our model, it implies that there are two bright regions, i.e., regions with less absorption, separated by 180 degrees, on the surface of the star. We note that the presence and persistence of two spots separated by 180 degrees suggest that a weak dipole magnetic field is responsible for the variability of the UV wind line absorption and X-ray flux in xi Per.}, language = {en} } @article{GomezMoranOskinova2018, author = {Gomez-Moran, Ada Nebot and Oskinova, Lida}, title = {The X-ray catalog of spectroscopically identified Galactic O stars Investigating the dependence of X-ray luminosity on stellar and wind parameters}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {620}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201833453}, pages = {18}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The X-ray emission of O-type stars was first discovered in the early days of the Einstein satellite. Since then many different surveys have confirmed that the ratio of X-ray to bolometric luminosity in O-type stars is roughly constant, but there is a paucity of studies that account for detailed information on spectral and wind properties of O-stars. Recently a significant sample of O stars within our Galaxy was spectroscopically identified and presented in the Galactic O-Star Spectroscopic Survey (GOSS). At the same time, a large high-fidelity catalog of X-ray sources detected by the XMM-Newton X-ray telescope was released. Here we present the X-ray catalog of O stars with known spectral types and investigate the dependence of their X-ray properties on spectral type as well as stellar and wind parameters. We find that, among the GOSS sample, 127 O-stars have a unique XMM-Newton source counterpart and a Gaia data release 2 (DR2) association. Terminal velocities are known for a subsample of 35 of these stars. We confirm that the X-ray luminosities of dwarf and giant O stars correlate with their bolometric luminosity. For the subsample of O stars with measure terminal velocities we find that the X-ray luminosities of dwarf and giant O stars also correlate with wind parameters. However, we find that these correlations break down for supergiant stars. Moreover, we show that supergiant stars are systematically harder in X-rays compared to giant and dwarf O-type stars. We find that the X-ray luminosity depends on spectral type, but seems to be independent of whether the stars are single or in a binary system. Finally, we show that the distribution of log(L-X/L-bol) in our sample stars is non-Gaussian, with the peak of the distribution at log(L-X/L-bol) approximate to -6.6.}, language = {en} } @article{LetoTrigilioOskinovaetal.2017, author = {Leto, Paolo and Trigilio, C. and Oskinova, Lida and Ignace, R. and Buemi, C. S. and Umana, G. and Ingallinera, A. and Todt, Helge Tobias and Leone, F.}, title = {The detection of variable radio emission from the fast rotating magnetic hot B-star HR 7355 and evidence for its X-ray aurorae}, series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, volume = {467}, journal = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0035-8711}, doi = {10.1093/mnras/stx267}, pages = {2820 -- 2833}, year = {2017}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @article{PillitteriWolkRealeetal.2017, author = {Pillitteri, Ignazio and Wolk, Scott J. and Reale, Fabio and Oskinova, Lida}, title = {The early B-type star Rho Ophiuchi A is an X-ray lighthouse}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {602}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201630070}, pages = {10}, year = {2017}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @article{OskinovaHuenemoerderHamannetal.2017, author = {Oskinova, Lida and Huenemoerder, D. P. and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer and Shenar, Tomer and Sander, Andreas Alexander Christoph and Ignace, R. and Todt, Helge Tobias and Hainich, Rainer}, title = {On the Binary Nature of Massive Blue Hypergiants: High-resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy Suggests That Cyg OB2 12 is a Colliding Wind Binary}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {845}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/aa7e79}, pages = {11}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The blue hypergiant Cyg OB2 12 (B3Ia(+)) is a representative member of the class of very massive stars in a poorly understood evolutionary stage. We obtained its high-resolution X-ray spectrum using the Chandra observatory. PoWR model atmospheres were calculated to provide realistic wind opacities and to establish the wind density structure. We find that collisional de-excitation is the dominant mechanism depopulating the metastable upper levels of the forbidden lines of the He-like ions Si XIV and Mg XII. Comparison between the model and observations reveals that X-ray emission is produced in a dense plasma, which could reside only at the photosphere or in a colliding wind zone between binary components. The observed X-ray spectra are well-fitted by thermal plasma models, with average temperatures in excess of 10 MK. The wind speed in Cyg OB2 12 is not high enough to power such high temperatures, but the collision of two winds in a binary system can be sufficient. We used archival data to investigate the X-ray properties of other blue hypergiants. In general, stars of this class are not detected as X-ray sources. We suggest that our new Chandra observations of Cyg OB2 12 can be best explained if Cyg OB2 12 is a colliding wind binary possessing a late O-type companion. This makes Cyg OB2 12 only the second binary system among the 16 known Galactic hypergiants. This low binary fraction indicates that the blue hypergiants are likely products of massive binary evolution during which they either accreted a significant amount of mass or already merged with their companions.}, language = {en} } @article{BozzoOskinovaLobeletal.2017, author = {Bozzo, Enrico and Oskinova, Lida and Lobel, A. and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer}, title = {The super-orbital modulation of supergiant high-mass X-ray binaries}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {606}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, organization = {LIGO Sci Collaboration \& Virgo;Fermi GBM;INTERGRAL;IceCube Collaboration;AstroSat Cadmium Zinc Telluride;IPN Collaboration;Insight-Hxmt Collaboration;ANTARES Collaboration;Swift Collaboration;AGILE Team;The 1M2H Team;Dark Energy Camera GW-EM;DLT40 Collaboration;GRAWITA GRAvitational Wave;Fermi Large Area Telescope;ATCA Australia Telescope;ASKAP Australian SKA Pathfinder;Las Cumbres Observatory Grp;OzGrav DWF Deeper Wider Faster;VINROUGE Collaboration;MASTER Collaboration;J-GEM;GROWTH JAGWAR CALTECH;Pan-STARRS;MAXI Team;TZAC Consortium;KU Collaboration;Nordic Optical Telescope;ePESSTO;GROUND;Texas Tech Univ;Salt Grp;Toros Transient Robotic Observat;BOOTES Collaboration;MWA Murchison Widefield Array;CALET Collaboration;IKI-GW Follow-up Collaboration;H E S S Collaboration;LOFAR Collaboration;LWA Long Wavelength Array;HAWC Collaboration;Pierre Auger Collaboration;ALMA Collaboration;Euro VLBI Team;Pi Sky Collaboration;Chandra Team McGill Univ;DFN Desert Fireball Network;ATLAS;High Time Resolution Universe;RIMAS RATIR;SKA South Africa MeerKAT}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201731930}, pages = {4}, year = {2017}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @article{HamaguchiOskinovaRusselletal.2016, author = {Hamaguchi, K. and Oskinova, Lida and Russell, C. M. P. and Petre, R. and Enoto, T. and Morihana, K. and Ishida, M.}, title = {DISCOVERY OF RAPIDLY MOVING PARTIAL X-RAY ABSORBERS WITHIN GAMMA CASSIOPEIAE}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {832}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.3847/0004-637X/832/2/140}, pages = {33 -- 49}, year = {2016}, abstract = {detected six rapid X-ray spectral hardening events called "softness dips" in a similar to 100 ks observation in 2011. All the softness dip events show symmetric softness-ratio variations, and some of them have flat bottoms apparently due to saturation. The softness dip spectra are best described by either similar to 40\% or similar to 70\% partial covering absorption to kT similar to 12 keV plasma emission by matter with a neutral hydrogen column density of similar to(2-8) x 10(21) cm(-2), while the spectrum outside these dips is almost free of absorption. This result suggests the presence of two distinct X-ray-emitting spots in the.. Cas system, perhaps on a white dwarf (WD) companion with dipole mass accretion. The partial covering absorbers may be blobs in the Be stellar wind, the Be disk, or rotating around the WD companion. Weak correlations of the softness ratios to the hard X-ray flux suggest the presence of stable plasmas at kT similar to 0.9 and 5 keV, which may originate from the Be or WD winds. The formation of a Be star and WD binary system requires mass transfer between two stars; gamma Cas may have experienced such activity in the past.}, language = {en} } @article{ShraderHamaguchiSturneretal.2015, author = {Shrader, C. R. and Hamaguchi, K. and Sturner, S. J. and Oskinova, Lida and Almeyda, T. and Petre, R.}, title = {Hifg-energy properties of the enigmatic be STAR gamma Cassiopeiae}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {799}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/799/1/84}, pages = {10}, year = {2015}, abstract = {We present the results of a broadband X-ray study of the enigmatic Be star Gamma Cassiopeiae (herein gamma Cas) based on observations made with both the Suzaku and INTEGRAL observatories.. Cas has long been recognized as the prototypical example of a small subclass of Be stars with moderately strong X-ray emission dominated by a hot thermal component in the 0.5-12 keV energy range (L-x approximate to 10(32)-10(33) erg s(-1)). This places them at the high end of the known luminosity distribution for stellar emission, but several orders of magnitude below typical accretion-powered Be X-ray binaries. The INTEGRAL observations spanned an eight-year baseline and represent the deepest measurement to date at energies above similar to 50 keV. We find that the INTEGRAL data are consistent within statistics to a constant intensity source above 20 keV, with emission extending up to similar to 100 keV, and that searches for all of the previously reported periodicities of the system at lower energies led to null results. We further find that our combined Suzaku and INTEGRAL spectrum, which we suggest is the most accurate broadband X-ray measurement of gamma Cas to date, is fitted extremely well with a thermal plasma emission model with a single absorption component. We found no compelling need for an additional non-thermal high-energy component. We discuss these results in the context of a currently favored models for gamma Cas and its analogs.}, language = {en} }