Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

X-ray lines and magnetic field of Her X-1

Nature volume 271, pages 135–137 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

THE report1 of a possible detection of an X-ray emission line with energy about 53 keV from the binary X-ray source Her X-1 created great excitement. Interpreting the line as arising from non-relativistic electron cyclotron emission at the surface of an accreting neutron star member of the binary star system, Trumper et al.1 deduce a neutron star surface magnetic field of 4.6 × 1012 G. If the line is real (of cosmic origin and not due to background effects), significant (not due to a statistical fluctuation) and correctly interpreted as arising from non-relativistic cyclotron emission) it could provide the first direct and quantitative measure of the magnetic field of a neutron star, and be direct support for our ideas on the formation of neutron stars and the role of magnetic fields in the radiation mechanisms of pulsars and binary X-ray sources. Furthermore, it would conclusively rule out the possibility that Her X-1 contains a rotating or pulsating white dwarf (which, for dynamical stability requires B≪G1/2MR−2≃1012G for M≃M⊙ and R=RWD≃ 109 cm).

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Trumper, J., Pietsch, W., Reppin, C. & Sacco, B. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. (in the press).

  2. Coe, M. J., Engel, A. R., Quenby, J. J. & Dyer, C. S. Nature 268, 508 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ulmer, M. P., Baity, W. A., Wheaton, W. A. & Peterson, L. E. Astrophys. J. Lett. 181, L33 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ulmer, M. P., Baity, W. A., Wheaton, W. A. & Peterson, L. E. Astrophys. J. Lett. 178, L121 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dyer, C. S. & Marfill, G. E. Astrophys. Space Sci. 14, 243 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Dyer, C. S., Engel, A. R. & Quenby, J. J. Astrophys. Space Sci. 19, 359 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fishman, G. J. Astrophys. J. 171, 163 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Mackay, H. B., Ulmer, M. P. & Peterson, L. E. Astrophys. J. Suppl. (submitted).

  9. Schwartz, D. A. & Peterson, L. E. Astrophys. J. 190, 297 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ruderman, M. A. Rev. Astr. Astrophys. 10, 427 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Lodenquai, J., Canuto, V., Ruderman, M. & Tsuruta, S. Astrophys. J. 190, 141 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Gnedin, Y. N. & Sunyaev, Astr. Astrophys. 36, 379 (1974).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Illarionav, A. F. & Sunyaev, R. A. Astrophys. Space Sci. 19, 61 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Brecher, K. Astrophys. J. Lett. 215, L17 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Center for Space Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139

    K. BRECHER

  2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60201

    M. P. ULMER

Authors
  1. K. BRECHER
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. P. ULMER
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BRECHER, K., ULMER, M. X-ray lines and magnetic field of Her X-1. Nature 271, 135–137 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271135a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/271135a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing