The presence of matter with angular momentum, in the form of a fallback disk around a young isolated neutron star will determine its evolution. This leads to an understanding of many properties of different classes of young neutron stars, in particular a natural explanation for the period clustering of AXPs, SGRs and XDINs. The spindown or spinup properties of a neutron star are determined by the dipole component of the magnetic field. The natural possibility that magnetars and other neutron stars may have different strengths of the dipole and higher multipole components of the magnetic field is now actually required by observations on the spindown rates of some magnetars. This talk gives a broad overview and some applications of the fallback disk model to particular neutron stars. Salient points are: (i) A fallback disk has already been observed around the AXP 4U 0142+61 some years ago. (ii) The low observed spindown rate of the SGR 0418+5729 provides direct evidence that the dipole component of the field is in the 1012G range. All properties of the SGR 0418+5729 at its present age can be explained by spindown under torques from a fallback disk. (iii) The anomalous braking index of PSR J1734-3333 can also be explained by the fallback disk model which gives the luminosity, period, period derivative and the period second derivative at the present age. (iv) These and all applications to a variety of other sources employ the same disk physics and evolution, differing only in the initial conditions of the disk.

Precisely measured neutron star masses and especially radii would provide unique constraints on the properties of cold matter at several times nuclear density. Observations using the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer suggest that such measurements might be possible using thermonuclear X-ray bursts. Here we discuss the prospects for mass and radius constraints, with a particular focus on potential systematic errors.

Recent measurement of a high millisecond pulsar mass (PSR J1614-2230, 1.97± 0.04 M⊙) compared with the low mass of PSR J0751+1807 (1.26± 0.14 M⊙) indicates a large span of masses of recycled pulsars and suggests a broad range of neutron stars masses at birth. We aim at reconstructing the pre-accretion masses for these pulsars while taking into account interaction of the magnetic field with a thin accretion disk, magnetic field decay and relativistic 2D solutions for stellar configurations for a set of equations of state. We briefly discuss the evolutionary scenarios leading to the formation of these neutron stars and study the influence of the equation of state.

KS 1741–293 is a transient neutron star low-mass X-ray binary that is located at an angular distance of ≃20′ from the Galactic center. We map out the historic activity of the source since its discovery in 1989, characterize its most recent X-ray outbursts observed with Swift (2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011), and discuss its quiescent X-ray properties using archival Chandra data. KS 1741–293 is frequently active, exhibiting outbursts that typically reach a 2–10 keV luminosity of LX ≃ 1036 (D/6.2 kpc)2 erg s−1 and last for several weeks–months. However, Swift also captured a very short and weak accretion outburst that had a duration of ≲4 days and did not reach above LX ≃ 5×1034 (D/6.2 kpc)2 erg s−1. The source is detected in quiescence with Chandra at a 2–10 keV luminosity of LX ≃ 2.5×1032 (D/6.2 kpc)2 erg s−1.

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are believed to be thermonuclear explosions of carbon-oxygen white dwarfs at a mass close to the Chandrasekhar limit. However, a white dwarf at birth has a significantly lower mass and needs to accrete mass to grow to the limit for the explosion. Various progenitor models have been proposed and those models play an important role in our understanding of SNe Ia and cosmology.

Recent infrared observations, particularly from the Spitzer Space Telescope and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, of white dwarfs, cataclysmic variables and other interacting compact binaries, have revealed the presence of dust in many systems. I briefly review the discovery and observational properties of dust around white dwarfs and cataclysmic variables.

The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer has observed Hercules X-1 over a period of about 13 years, allowing detailed measurement of the properties of the dip phenomenon. We construct a model for the dips based on the impact between the accretion stream and the disk, including the geometry and dynamics of the stream and disk. We also consider the case where the stream penetrates the outer parts of the disk, where its density is low, and proceeds to a second impact at smaller radius in the disk. The results from the model are discussed and compared to the observed properties of the dips.

We suggest that the Be/X-ray binary SXP 1062 and the supergiant fast X-ray transient AX J1841.0-0536 belong to accreting magnetars and anti-magnetars, respectively.

High speed photometry of several accreting binaries was obtained using the McDonald Observatory 2.1m telescope and ARGOS CCD photometer. A broad-band filter (BVR) was used in order to maximize flux and maintain a short (1-10s) integration time on faint targets. Such observations obtained over several years allow for variability study over time scales covering many orders of magnitude. Observations and analysis for several binaries are summarized.

The nebular remnant of RS Ophiuchi was modelled using combined HST/ACS imaging and ground-based spectroscopy on day 155 after outburst as a two component bipolar expansion with a low velocity innermost hour-glass over density and a more extended high velocity dumbbell structure. The model was evolved to a much later date, day 455 after outburst, when second epoch HST images were secured. However, due to the lack of simultaneous ground-based spectroscopy the evolved model was much harder to constrain. One suggestion put forward was that the dumbbell structure expanded linearly while the inner hour-glass showed signs of deceleration. Archival data in the form of ground-based spectroscopy on day 415 were subsequently obtained. These new data suggest indeed that a non-linear expansion of the system occurred.

For many years it has been recognized that the terminal stages of mass transfer in a low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) should cause the magnetosphere of the accreting neutron star to expand, leading to a braking torque acting on the spinning pulsar. After the discovery of radio millisecond pulsars (MSPs) it was therefore somewhat a paradox (e.g. Ruderman et al. 1989) how these pulsars could retain their fast spins following the Roche-lobe decoupling phase, RLDP. Here I present a solution to this so-called “turn-off problem” which was recently found by combining binary stellar evolution models with torque computations (Tauris 2012). The solution is that during the RLDP the spin equilibrium of the pulsar is broken and therefore it remains a fast spinning object. I briefly discuss these findings in view of the two observed spin distributions in the populations of accreting X-ray millisecond pulsars (AXMSPs) and radio MSPs.

AE Aqr is a cataclysmic variable consisting of a magnetised white dwarf with a spin period of 33 s, and a K-dwarf companion. Because of the rapid spin the magnetosphere of the white dwarf the matter that is flowing over from the secondary cannot accrete onto the white dwarf, and rather it is ejected from the system. AE Aqr is subject to extended flaring activity at all wavelengths from radio via optical to X-rays. I present observations of AE Aqr at 345 and 850 GHz using the LABOCA and SABOCA bolometers on APEX. These observations are good enough to distinguish individual flares at both 345 and 850 GHz, and the SABOCA observation is the first measurement of the system at 850 GHz.

We explore conditions and structure of accretion disks in the short-period Cataclysmic Variables, which have evolved beyond the period minimum. We show that the accretion disk in a system with extreme mass ratio grows in the size reaching 2:1 resonance radius and are relatively cool. They also become largely optically thin in the continuum, contributing to the total flux less than the stellar components of the system. In contrast, the viscosity and the temperature in spiral arms formed at the outer edge of the disk are higher and their contribution in continuum plays an increasingly important role. We model such disks and generate light curves which successfully simulate the observed double-humped light curves in the quiescence.

Ultracompact X-ray binaries (UCXBs) have orbital periods shorter than about 80 minutes and typically consist of a neutron star that accretes hydrogen-poor matter from a white dwarf companion. Angular momentum loss via gravitational wave radiation drives mass transfer via Roche-lobe overflow. The late-time evolution of UCXBs is poorly understood – all 13 known systems are relatively young and it is not clear why. One question is whether old UCXBs actually still exist, or have they become disrupted at some point? Alternatively they may be simply too faint to see. To investigate this, we apply the theories of dynamical instability, the magnetic propeller effect, and evaporation of the donor, to the UCXB evolution. We find that both the propeller effect and evaporation are promising explanations for the absence of observed long-period UCXBs.

Chandra Multi-wavelength Plane Survey (ChaMPlane) surveys the X-ray point sources discovered by the Chandra X-ray Observatory in the galactic plane in order to constrain the populations of faint (Lx ≤ 1033erg/s) accretion-powered sources in the Galaxy. This multi-wavelength survey includes data from the Chandra archive, as well as optical and infrared images and spectra. This paper summarizes a few selected highlights.

LOFT, the large observatory for X-ray timing, is a new mission concept competing with other four candidates for a launch opportunity in 2022-2024. LOFT will be performing high-time resolution X-ray observations of compact objects, combining for the first time an unprecedented large collecting area for X-ray photons and a spectral resolution approaching that of CCD-based X-ray instruments (down to 200 eV FWHM at 6 keV). The operating energy range is 2-80 keV. The main science goals of LOFT are the measurement of the neutron stars equation of states and the test of General Relativity in the strong field regime. The breakthrough capabilities of the instruments on-board LOFT will permit to open also new discovery windows for a wide range of Galactic and extragalactic X-ray sources.

In this contribution, we provide a general description of the mission concept and summarize its main scientific capabilities.

With SDSS multi-bands photometric data we propose that the variation of the nuclear continuum emission mostly accounts for the observed wavelength-dependent variability of active galactic nuclei.