The Latitude of Type I X-Ray Burst Ignition on Rapidly Rotating Neutron Stars

Abstract

We investigate the latitude at which type I X-ray bursts are ignited on rapidly rotating accreting neutron stars. We find that, for a wide range of accretion rates M, ignition occurs preferentially at the equator, in accord with the work of Spitkovsky et al. However, for a range of M below the critical M above which bursts cease, ignition occurs preferentially at higher latitudes. The range of M over which nonequatorial ignition occurs is an increasing function of the neutron star spin frequency. These findings have significant implications for thermonuclear flame propagation, and they may explain why oscillations during the burst rise are detected predominantly when the accretion rate is high. They also support the suggestion of Bhattacharyya & Strohmayer that non-photospheric radius expansion double-peaked bursts and the unusual harmonic content of oscillations during the rise of some bursts result from ignition at or near a rotational pole.