Spectral Lines from Rotating Neutron Stars

The line profiles from rotating neutron stars are affected by a number of relativistic processes such as Doppler boosts, strong self-lensing, frame-dragging, and the differential gravitational redshift arising from the stellar oblateness. In this Letter, we calculate line profiles taking into account the first two effects, which is accurate for rotation rates less than the breakup frequency. We show that the line profiles are not only broadened and weakened but are also significantly asymmetric, and allow for an independent measurement of both the mass and the radius of the neutron star. Furthermore, we investigate the case when a fraction of the neutron star surface contributes to the emission and find that the line profiles are typically doubly peaked. We discuss the implications of our results for searches for line features in the spectra of isolated neutron stars and X-ray bursters. We finally assess the systematic uncertainties introduced by the line asymmetry in inferring the compactness of neutron stars from the detection of redshifted lines. Subject headings: relativity — stars: neutron — X-ray: stars