Discovery of 800 Hz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in 4U 1608-52

Abstract

We present results of Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer observations of the low-mass X-ray binary and atoll source 4U 1608-52 made over 9 days during the decline of an X-ray intensity outburst in 1996 March. A fast-timing analysis shows a strong and narrow quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) peak at frequencies between 850 and 890 Hz on March 3 and 6, as well as a broad peak around 690 Hz on March 9. Observations on March 12 show no significant signal. On March 3, the X-ray spectrum of the QPO is quite hard; its strength increases steadily from 5% at ~2 keV to ~20% at ~12 keV. The QPO frequency varies between 850 and 890 Hz on that day, and the peak widens and its rms decreases with centroid frequency in a way very similar to the well-known horizontal branch oscillations (HBO) in Z sources. We apply the HBO beat frequency model to atoll sources and suggest that, whereas the model could produce QPOs at the observed frequencies, the lack of correlation we observe between QPO properties and X-ray count rate is hard to reconcile with this model.