Implications of an r-mode in XTE J1751-305: Mass, radius and spin evolution

Understand

Recently Strohmayer and Mahmoodifar presented evidence for a coherent oscillation in the X-ray light curve of the accreting millisecond pulsar XTE J1751-305, using data taken by RXTE during the 2002 outburst of this source.

• They noted that a possible explanation includes the excitation of a non-radial oscillation mode of the neutron star, either in the form of a g-mode or an r-mode.
• The r-mode interpretation has connections with proposed spin-evolution scenarios for systems such as XTE J1751-305.
• Here we examine in detail this interesting possible interpretation.