New measurements of orbital period change in Cygnus X-3

Singh, N. S. ; Naik, S. ; Paul, B. ; Agrawal, P. C. ; Rao, A. R. ; Singh, K. Y. (2002) New measurements of orbital period change in Cygnus X-3 Astronomy & Astrophysics, 392 (1). pp. 161-167. ISSN 0004-6361

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Official URL: http://www.aanda.org/index.php?option=com_article&...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20020923

Abstract

The nonlinear nature of the binary ephemeris of Cygnus X-3 indicates either a change in the orbital period or an apsidal motion of the orbit. We have made extended observations of Cygnus X-3 with the Pointed Proportional Counters (PPCs) of the Indian Astronomy Experiment (IXAE) during 1999 July 3-13 and October 11-14. Using the data from these observations and the archival data from ROSAT, ASCA, BeppoSAX and RXTE, we have extended the database for this source. Adding these new arrival time measurements to the published results, we make a comparison between the various possibilities, (a) orbital decay due to mass loss from the system, (b) mass transfer between the stars, and (c) apsidal motion of the orbit due to gravitational interaction between the two components. The orbital decay due to mass loss from the companion star seems to be the most probable scenario.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to EDP Sciences.
Keywords:Stars: Binaries: Close; Stars: Individual: Cygnus X-3; Stars: Wolf-Rayet; S: Stars
ID Code:95607
Deposited On:08 Feb 2013 09:27
Last Modified:19 May 2016 08:12

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