NICER Discovers mHz Oscillations in the "Clocked" Burster GS 1826-238

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of mHz X-ray brightness oscillations in the neutron star system GS 1826-238 using NICER, providing insights into neutron star surface processes and marginally stable nuclear burning.

Contribution

First detection of mHz oscillations in GS 1826-238 with NICER, linking oscillations to surface temperature modulation and advancing understanding of neutron star surface phenomena.

Findings

Oscillations at 8 mHz with increasing amplitude at higher energies.

Oscillations consistent with surface temperature modulation of black body emission.

Source in a soft spectral state during observations.

Abstract

We report the discovery with the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) of mHz X-ray brightness oscillations from the "clocked burster." NICER observed the source in the periods 2017 June 20 - 29, July 11 - 13, and September 9 - 15, for a total useful exposure of 34 ks. Two consecutive dwells obtained on 2017 September 9 revealed highly significant oscillations at a frequency of 8 mHz. The fractional, sinusoidal modulation amplitude increases from 0.7 % at 1 keV to approximately 2 % at 6 keV. Similar oscillations were also detected at lower significance in three additional dwells. The oscillation frequency and amplitude are consistent with those of mHz QPOs reported in other accreting neutron star systems. A thermonuclear X-ray burst was also observed on 2017 June 22. The burst properties and X-ray colors are both consistent with the source being in a soft spectral state during these observations, findings that are confirmed by ongoing monitoring with MAXI and SWIFT-BAT. Assuming that the mHz oscillations are associated with black body emission from the neutron star surface, modeling of the phase-resolved spectra shows that the oscillation is consistent with being produced by modulation of the temperature component of this emission. In this interpretation, the black body normalization, proportional to the emitting surface area, is consistent with being constant through the oscillation cycle. We place the observations in the context of the current theory of marginally stable burning and briefly discuss the potential for constraining neutron star properties using mHz oscillations.