Pulse profile and refined orbital elements for SMC X-1

Abstract

Results of a reanalysis of SAS-3 data for SMC X-1, including greatly improved orbital elements, are presented. These elements, when combined with newly available data for the optical companion, Sk 160, yield improved estimates for the masses of SMC X-1 and Sk 160. A significant rate of change of intrinsic pulse period is detected during the course of the four-day observation which is consistent with the average value that was previously deduced from observations separated by 5 years. The X-ray pulse profile, averaged over one orbital cycle and with approximately 15-ms time resolution, is also presented. The pulse profile is found to be constant to within statistics, as a function of orbital phase. The implications of the small observed eccentricities of SMC X-1 and other binary X-ray pulsar systems are discussed.