Optical spectroscopy of the quiescent counterpart to EXO 0748-676

TL;DR

This study uses optical spectroscopy and X-ray timing to analyze the binary system EXO 0748-676 in quiescence, providing constraints on the neutron star's mass and the system's orbital parameters.

Contribution

First phase-resolved optical spectroscopy and X-ray timing of EXO 0748-676 in quiescence, establishing lower limits on neutron star mass and binary parameters.

Findings

Lower limit on radial velocity semi-amplitude K2 > 405 km/s.

Neutron star mass constrained to M1 > 1.27 solar masses.

Orbital modulations observed in optical flux and emission lines.

Abstract

We present phase resolved optical spectroscopy and X-ray timing of the neutron star X-ray binary EXO 0748-676 after the source returned to quiescence in the fall of 2008. The X-ray light curve displays eclipses consistent in orbital period, orbital phase and duration with the predictions and measurements before the return to quiescence. Halpha and He I emission lines are present in the optical spectra and show the signature of the orbit of the binary companion, placing a lower limit on the radial velocity semi-amplitude of K2>405 km/s. Both the flux in the continuum and the emission lines show orbital modulations, indicating that we observe the hemisphere of the binary companion that is being irradiated by the neutron star. Effects due to this irradiation preclude a direct measurement of the radial velocity semi-amplitude of the binary companion; in fact no stellar absorption lines are seen in the spectrum. Nevertheless, our observations place a stringent lower limit on the neutron star mass of M1>1.27 Msun. For the canonical neutron star mass of M1=1.4 Msun, the mass ratio is constrained to 0.075<q<0.105.