Browsing by Author "Sahiner, S."

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Comprehensive analysis of the transient X-ray pulsar MAXI J1409 619
(2020) Donmez, C. K.; Serim, M. M.; Inam, S. C.; Sahiner, S.; Serim, D.; Baykal, A.
We probe the properties of the transient X-ray pulsar MAXI J1409-619 through RXTE and Swift follow-up observations of the outburst in 2010. We are able to phase-connect the pulse arrival times for the 25 d episode during the outburst. We suggest that either an orbital model (with P-orb similar or equal to 14.7(4) d) or a noise process due to random torque fluctuations (with S-r approximate to 1.3 x 10(-18) Hz(2) S-2 Hz(-1)) is plausible to describe the residuals of the timing solution. The frequency derivatives indicate a positive torque-luminosity correlation, which implies temporary accretion disc formation during the outburst. We also discover several quasiperiodic oscillations in company with their harmonics whose centroid frequencies decrease as the source flux decays. The variation of the pulsed fraction and spectral power-law index of the source with X-ray flux is interpreted as the sign of transition from a critical to a subcritical accretion regime at the critical luminosity within the range of 6 x 10(37)-1.2 x 10(38) erg s(-1). Using pulse-phase-resolved spectroscopy, we show that the phases with higher flux tend to have lower photon indices, indicating that the polar regions produce spectrally harder emission.
Discovery of a glitch in the accretion- powered pulsar SXP 1062
(2017) Imam, Sıtkı Cagdas; Serim, M.M.; Sahiner, S.; Cerri-Serim, D.; Baykal, A.; 0000-0003-0820-9186
We present timing analysis of the accretion-powered pulsar SXP 1062, based on the observations of Swift, XMM-Newton and Chandra satellites covering a time span of about 2 yr. We obtain a phase coherent timing solution that shows that SXP 1062 has been steadily spinning down with a rate-4.29(7) x10(-14) Hz s(-1) leading to a surface magnetic field estimate of about 1.5 x 10(14) G. We also resolve the binary orbital motion of the system from X-ray data that confirms an orbital period of 656(2) d. On MJD 56834.5, a sudden change in pulse frequency occurs with Delta v = 1.28(5) x 10(-6) Hz, which indicates a glitch event. The fractional size of the glitch is Delta v/v similar to 1.37(6) x 10(-3) and SXP 1062 continues to spin-down with a steady rate after the glitch. A short X-ray outburst 25 d prior to the glitch does not alter the spin-down of the source; therefore, the glitch should be associated with the internal structure of the neutron star. While glitch events are common for isolated pulsars, the glitch of SXP 1062 is the first confirmation of the observability of this type of events among accretion-powered pulsars. Furthermore, the value of the fractional change of pulse frequency ensures that we discover the largest glitch reported up to now.
Pulse frequency fluctuations of magnetars
(2019) Cerri-Serim, D.; Serim, M. M.; Sahiner, S.; Inam, S.C.; Baykal, A.; 0000-0003-0820-9186
Using RXTE, Chandra, XMM-Newton and Swift observations, we construct the power spectra and torque noise strengths of magnetars for the first time. For some of the sources, on time-scales of months to years, we measure strong red noise that might be a consequence of their outbursts. We compare the noise strengths of magnetars with those of radio pulsars by investigating the possible correlations of noise strength with spin-down rate, magnetic field and age. Using these correlations, we find that the noise strengths of magnetars obey similar trends as radio pulsars. However, we do not find any correlation between noise strength and X-ray luminosity, a correlation that has been seen in accretion-powered pulsars. Our findings suggest that the noise behaviour of magnetars resembles that of radio pulsars, but magnetars possess higher noise levels likely because of their stronger magnetic fields.
Timing and spectral analysis of 2S 1417-624 during its 2018 outburst
(2021) Serim, M. M.; Ozudogru, O. C.; Donmez, C. K.; Sahiner, S.; Serim, D.; Baykal, A.; Inam, S. C.; 0000-0003-0820-9186
We investigate timing and spectral characteristics of the transient X-ray pulsar 2S 1417-624 during its 2018 outburst with NICER follow up observations. We describe the spectra with high-energy cut-off and partial covering fraction absorption (PCFA) model and present flux-dependent spectral changes of the source during the 2018 outburst. Utilizing the correlation-mode switching of the spectral model parameters, we confirm the previously reported sub-critical to critical regime transitions and we argue that secondary transition from the gas-dominated to the radiation pressure-dominated disc do not lead us to significant spectral changes below 12 keV. Using the existing accretion theories, we model the spin frequency evolution of 2S 1417-624 and investigate the noise processes of a transient X-ray pulsar for the first time using both polynomial and luminosity-dependent models for the spin frequency evolution. For the first model, the power density spectrum of the torque fluctuations indicate that the source exhibits red noise component (Gamma similar to -2) within the time-scales of outburst duration which is typical for disc-fed systems. On the other hand, the noise spectrum tends to be white on longer time-scales with high timing noise level that indicates an ongoing accretion process in between outburst episodes. For the second model, most of the red noise component is eliminated and the noise spectrum is found to be consistent with a white noise structure observed in wind-fed systems.
Timing studies of X Persei and the discovery of its transient quasi-periodic oscillation feature
(2014) Acuner, Z.; Inam, S.C.; Sahiner, S.; Serim, M.M.; Baykal, A.; Swank, J.
We present a timing analysis of X Persei (X Per) using observations made between 1998 and 2010 with the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) onboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and with the INTEGRAL Soft Gamma-Ray Imager (ISGRI). All pulse arrival times obtained from the RXTE-PCA observations are phase-connected and a timing solution is obtained using these arrival times. We update the long-term pulse frequency history of the source by measuring its pulse frequencies using RXTE-PCA and ISGRI data. From the RXTE-PCA data, the relation between the frequency derivative and X-ray flux suggests accretion via the companion's stellar wind. However, the detection of a transient quasi-periodic oscillation feature, peaking at similar to 0.2 Hz, suggests the existence of an accretion disc. We find that double-break models fit the average power spectra well, which suggests that the source has at least two different accretion flow components dominating the overall flow. From the power spectrum of frequency derivatives, we measure a power-law index of similar to-1, which implies that, on short time-scales, disc accretion dominates over noise, while on time-scales longer than the viscous time-scales, the noise dominates. From pulse profiles, we find a correlation between the pulse fraction and the count rate of the source.