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A determination of the orbit of GX 301-2The pulse phase of GX 301-2(4U 1223-62) was tracked for 30 days with the SAS 3 satellite during 1979 January and February. It is suggested that most of the observed changes in pulse period are the result of Doppler shifts in a binary orbit, as opposed to changes in the intrinsic pulse period alone. The SAS 3 data allow orbital periods P(orb) equal to or greater than 23 days when a constant rate of change in the intrinsic pulse period is allowed as a free parameter in the orbital fits. For each trial orbital period the other orbital elements of the binary system are well determined. The SAS 3 data is combined with the Ariel 5 pulse arrival-time data to further restrict the allowed orbits. In both data sets a sharp minimum is observed in the Doppler delays of the pulse arrival times. Evidence is presented that the correct orbit is most likely the one with P(orb) = 35.0d, a projected semimajor axis for the neutron star of 304 light-seconds, and an eccentricity of 0.44. The relation of this system to the six X-ray binaries whose orbits have been determined previously is also discussed.
Document ID
19800060807
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Kelley, R.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Rappaport, S.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Petre, R.
(MIT Cambridge, Mass., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1980
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
80A44977
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-24441
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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