Searching for pulsed emission from XTE J0929-314 at high radio frequencies

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this work is to search for radio signals in the quiescent phase of accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars, in this way giving an ultimate proof of the recycling model, thereby unambiguously establishing that accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars are the progenitors of radio millisecond pulsars. Methods: To overcome the possible free-free absorption caused by matter surrounding accreting millisecond X-ray pulsars in their quiescence phase, we performed the observations at high frequencies. Making use of particularly precise orbital and spin parameters obtained from X-ray observations, we carried out a deep search for radio-pulsed emission from the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar XTE J0929-314 in three steps, correcting for the effect of the dispersion due to the interstellar medium, eliminating the orbital motions effects, and finally folding the time series. Results: No radio pulsation is present in the analyzed data down to a limit of 68 μJy at 6.4 GHz and 26 μJy at 8.5 GHz. Conclusions: We discuss several mechanisms that could prevent the detection, concluding that beaming factor and intrinsic low luminosity are the most likely explanations.