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Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star?

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Authors
van den Eijnden, J.
Degenaar, N.
Russell, T.
Miller-Jones, James
Wijnands, R.
Miller, J.
King, A.
Rupen, M.
Date
2018
Type
Journal Article

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van den Eijnden, J. and Degenaar, N. and Russell, T. and Miller-Jones, J. and Wijnands, R. and Miller, J. and King, A. et al. 2018. Radio emission from the X-ray pulsar Her X-1: a jet launched by a strong magnetic field neutron star? Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 473 (1): pp. L141-L145.
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Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (Physics)
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This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society ©: 2017 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

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Abstract

Her X-1 is an accreting neutron star (NS) in an intermediate-mass X-ray binary. Like lowmass X-ray binaries (LMXBs), it accretes via Roche lobe overflow, but similar to many high-mass X-ray binaries containing a NS; Her X-1 has a strong magnetic field and slow spin. Here, we present the discovery of radio emission from Her X-1 with the Very Large Array. During the radio observation, the central X-ray source was partially obscured by a warped disc. We measure a radio flux density of 38.7 ± 4.8 µJy at 9 GHz but cannot constrain the spectral shape. We discuss possible origins of the radio emission, and conclude that coherent emission, a stellar wind, shocks and a propeller outflow are all unlikely explanations. A jet, as seen in LMXBs, is consistent with the observed radio properties. We consider the implications of the presence of a jet in Her X-1 on jet formation mechanisms and on the launching of jets by NSs with strong magnetic fields.