Open AccessThe magnetohydrodynamics model of twin kilohertz quasi‐periodic oscillations in low‐mass X‐ray binaries
Author(s) -
Shi Changsheng,
Li XiangDong
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.14041.x
Subject(s) - physics , neutron star , magnetohydrodynamics , astrophysics , oscillation (cell signaling) , quasi periodic , low mass , asteroseismology , coupling (piping) , spin (aerodynamics) , stars , plasma , nuclear physics , mechanical engineering , biology , engineering , genetics , thermodynamics
We suggest an explanation for the twin kilohertz quasi‐periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) in low‐mass X‐ray binaries (LMXBs) based on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) oscillation modes in neutron star magnetospheres. Including the effect of the neutron star spin, we derive several MHD wave modes by solving the dispersion equations, and propose that the coupling of the two resonant MHD modes may lead to the twin kHz QPOs. This model naturally relates the upper, lower kHz QPO frequencies with the spin frequencies of the neutron stars, and can well account for the measured data of six LMXBs.