Theoretical spectra of X-ray bursting neutron star (NS) model atmospheres are widely used for determination of the NS basic parameters such as their masses and radii. Compton scattering, that plays an important role in spectra formation at high luminosities, is often accounted for using the differential Kompaneets operator, while in other models a more general, integral operator for the Compton scattering kernel is used. We construct here accurate NS atmosphere models using exact treatment of Compton scattering with the integral relativistic kinetic equation and exact relativistic angle-dependent redistribution function.
X-ray bursting neutron stars in low mass X-ray binaries constitute an appropriate source class to constrain masses and radii of neutron stars, but a sufficiently extended set of corresponding model atmospheres is necessary for these investigations. Methods. We computed such a set of model atmospheres and emergent spectra in a plane-parallel, hydrostatic, and LTE approximation with Compton scattering taken into account.
X-ray burst sources represent a class of accreting neutron stars in close binary systems which do not exhibit any traces of the magnetic field. We present new method of hot model atmosphere computations with account of Compton scattering on free electrons and computed set of plane-parallel hydrogen-helium atmospheres and X-ray spectra of bursting neutron stars. Models were computed with precise angle-dependent radiative transfer under constrains of radiative and hydrostatic equilibrium. Compton scattering opacity included both the Klein-Nishina corrections and the effects of relativistic Maxwellian thermal motion of scattering electrons. Compton redistribution function allows for large energy exchange between X-ray photons and scattering electrons.
