Non-linear resonance in the accretion disk of a millisecond pulsar

Abstract

Twin quasi-periodic millisecond modulations of the X-ray flux (kHz QPOs) have recently been reported from an accreting 2.5 ms X-ray pulsar. We identify modes of disk oscillations whose frequencies are in agreement with the observed ones when the rotating neutron star is modeled with realistic equations of state. The frequency difference of the twin QPOs, equal to about one half of the neutron-star spin rate, clearly indicates that resonant oscillations of the accretion disk have been observed. Similar non-linear resonances may also be spontaneously excited in the accretion disk. The two QPO frequencies in the pulsar system are close to a 5:7 ratio and this suggests a link with the QPOs in black hole systems, where frequency ratios of 2:3 and 3:5 have been reported.