Orbital period decay of compact black hole x-ray binaries: the influence of circumbinary disks?

TL;DR

This paper investigates the causes of rapid orbital decay in black hole X-ray binaries, finding circumbinary disks could contribute but are unlikely the main factor, with magnetic braking also insufficient.

Contribution

It demonstrates that circumbinary disks can efficiently extract angular momentum but are unlikely to fully explain the observed decay rates in certain black hole binaries.

Findings

Circumbinary disks can cause significant orbital decay through tidal torque.

Magnetic braking alone cannot account for the observed decay rates.

Simulations show circumbinary disks are unlikely the main cause of rapid decay.

Abstract

Recently, compact black hole X-ray binaries XTE J 1118+480 and A0620-00 have been reported to be experiencing a fast orbital period decay, which is two orders of magnitude higher than expected with gravitational wave radiation. Magnetic braking of an Ap/Bp star has been suggested to account for the period change when the surface magnetic field of the companion star $B_{\rm s}\ga 10^{4}$ G. However, our calculation indicates that anomalous magnetic braking cannot significantly contribute to the large orbital period decay rates observed in these two sources even if $B_{\rm s}\ga 10^{4}$ G. Observations have provided evidence that circumbinary disks around two compact black hole X-ray binaries may exist. Our analysis shows that, for some reasonable parameters, tidal torque between the circumbinary disk and the binary can efficiently extract the orbital angular momentum from the binary, and result in a large orbital period change rate. Based on the circumbinary disk model, we simulate the evolution of XTE J 1118+480 via a stellar evolution code. Our computations are approximatively in agreement with the observed data (the masses of two components, donor star radius, orbital period, and orbital period derivative). The mass transfer rate and circumbinary disk mass are obviously far greater than the inferred values from observations. Therefore, it seems that the circumbinary disk is unlikely to be the main cause of the rapid orbital decay observed in some compact black hole X-ray binaries.