A systematic periodicity and time-variable modulation search in RXTE ASM data : methods, findings, and implications for astrophysical X-ray sources

In this work, we present the results of a general search for periodicities and for time-variable modulation strength in X-ray sources using data from the All-Sky Monitor onboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer. New findings, including a sharp increase in the modulation of the X-ray flux from the Galactic bulge low-mass X-ray binary GX 9+9 and the recent spin-down event of the pulsar in the high-mass X-ray binary X0114+650, are reported. These searches employed new methods of periodicity detection that employed an algorithm to reduce the effects of low frequency noise from X-ray sources. We discuss these methods and show how they can be used to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio in the Fourier domain for many sources.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Physics.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Harris, Robert J., S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alan M. Levine.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40898

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/40898