RXTE observations of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary GX 17+2: Correlated X-ray spectral and timing behavior

Abstract

We have analyzed ∼600 ks of <i>Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer</i> data of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary and Z source GX 17+2. A study was performed of the properties of the noise components and quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) as a function of the broadband spectral properties, with the main goal to study the relation between the frequencies of the horizontal branch (HBO) and upper kHz QPOs. It was found that when the upper kHz QPO frequency is below 1030 Hz these frequencies correlate, whereas above 1030 Hz they anticorrelate. GX 17+2 is the first source in which this is observed. We also found that the frequency difference of the high-frequency QPOs was not constant and that the quality factors (Q-values) of the HBO, its second harmonic, and the kHz QPOs are similar and vary almost hand in hand by a factor of more than 3. Observations of the normal branch oscillations during two type I X-ray bursts showed that their absolute amplitude decreased as the flux from the neutron star became stronger. We discuss these and other findings in terms of models that have been proposed for these phenomena. We also compare the behavior of GX 17+2 and other Z sources with that of black hole sources and consider the possibility that the mass accretion rate might not be the driving force behind all spectral and variability changes.