Abstract
The accretion torque theory of Wang (1987) is applied to the spin periods of intermediate polars and X-ray pulsars. It is shown that, if the primaries are spinning near their equilibrium values, the range of positive and negative values ofP/P observed in intermediate polars is readily understood in terms of relatively small variations of mass transfer rateM of the kind generated either by long term (∼103 yr) cycling ofM suggested by the nova hibernation model, or by the short term (∼10 yr) variations caused by magnetic cycling in the secondary stars. The variations in spin rates of the disc-fed X-ray pulsars Her X-1 and Cen X-3 can also be accounted for by the latter process.
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Warner, B. Spin-up and spin-down in intermediate polars and X-ray pulsars. Astrophys Space Sci 164, 79–85 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00653552
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00653552