Resonant radii of kHz quasi-periodic oscillations in Keplerian discs orbiting neutron stars

Understand

Exchange of dominance between twin kHz quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in some low-mass-X-ray-binaries (LMXB) suggests the possibility of a resonance between two oscillatory modes.

• We study the behaviour of the effective gravitational potential around specific resonant radii, and estimate the role of the higher-order terms governing the non-linear, anharmonic forcing.
• We discuss the impact it has on the mode amplitude in the linear and non--linear regimes.
• We also discuss a related possibility of lowering of the neutron star mass estimates from the highest observed QPO frequencies.