The evolution and masses of the neutron star and donor star in the high mass X-ray binary OAO 1657-415

TL;DR

This study measures the masses of the neutron star and donor star in the high mass X-ray binary OAO 1657-415, revealing its unique orbital and evolutionary characteristics through near-infrared spectroscopy and dynamical analysis.

Contribution

It provides the first dynamical mass measurements for both stars in OAO 1657-415, highlighting its eccentric orbit and evolved donor star, and discusses its evolutionary history.

Findings

Neutron star mass: 1.42 ± 0.26 M_sun

Donor star mass: 14.3 ± 0.8 M_sun

Inability of spiral-in to remove the donor's envelope

Abstract

We report near-infrared radial velocity measurements of the recently identified donor star in the high mass X-ray binary system OAO 1657-415 obtained in the H band using ISAAC on the VLT. Cross-correlation methods were employed to construct a radial velocity curve with a semi-amplitude of $22.1 \pm 3.5$ km s$^{-1}$. Combined with other measured parameters of this system this provides a dynamically determined neutron star mass of $1.42 \pm 0.26 M$_{\odot}$ and a mass of $14.3 \pm 0.8 M$_{\odot}$ for the Ofpe/WN9 highly evolved donor star. OAO 1657-415 is an eclipsing High Mass X-ray binary pulsar with the largest eccentricity and orbital period of any within its class. Of the ten known eclipsing X-ray binary pulsars OAO 1657-415 becomes the ninth with a dynamically determined neutron star mass solution and only the second in an eccentric system. Furthermore, the donor star in OAO 1657-415 is much more highly evolved than the majority of the supergiant donors in other High Mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs), joining a small but growing list of HMXBs donors with extensive hydrogen depleted atmospheres. Considering the evolutionary development of OAO 1657-415, we have estimated the binding energy of the envelope of the mass donor and find that there is insufficient energy for the removal of the donor's envelope via spiral-in, ruling out a Common Envelope evolutionary scenario. With its non-zero eccentricity and relatively large orbital period the identification of a definitive evolutionary pathway for OAO1657-415 remains problematic, we conclude by proposing two scenarios which may account for OAO1657-415 current orbital configuration.