Infrared Spectroscopy of Symbiotic Stars. XII. The Neutron Star SyXB System 4U 1700+24 = V934 Herculis

Abstract

Abstract The X-ray symbiotic (SyXB) V934 Her = 4U 1700+24 is an M giant–neutron star (NS) binary system. Employing optical and infrared radial velocities spanning 29 yr combined with the extensive velocities in the literature, we compute the spectroscopic orbit of the M giant in that system. We determine an orbital period of 4391 days, or 12.0 yr, the longest for any SyXB and far longer than the 404 day orbit commonly cited for this system in the literature. In addition to the 12.0 yr orbital period, we find a shorter period of 420 days, similar to the one previously found. Instead of orbital motion, we attribute this much shorter period to long secondary pulsation of the M3 III SRb variable. Our new orbit supports earlier work that concluded that the orbit is seen nearly pole-on, which is why X-ray pulsations associated with the NS have not been detected. We estimate an orbital inclination of 11.°3 ± 0.°4. Arguments are made that this low inclination supports a pulsation origin for the 420 day secondary period. We also measure the CNO and Fe peak abundances of the M giant and find it to be slightly metal-poor compared to the Sun, with no trace of the NS-forming supernova event. The basic properties of the M giant and NS are derived. We discuss the possible evolutionary paths that this system has taken to get to its current state.