X-Ray and Optical Observations of a 0535+26

We present recent contemporaneous X-ray and optical observations of the Be/X-ray binary system A 0535+26 with the Fermi /Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) and several ground-based observatories. These new observations are put into the context of the rich historical data (since ∼1978) and discussed in terms of the neutron-star–Be-disk interaction. The Be circumstellar disk was exceptionally large just before the 2009 December giant outburst, which may explain the origin of the unusual recent X-ray activity of this source. We found a peculiar evolution of the pulse profile during this giant outburst, with the two main components evolving in opposite ways with energy. A hard 30–70 mHz X-ray quasi-periodic oscillation was detected with GBM during this 2009 December giant outburst. It becomes stronger with increasing energy and disappears at energies below 25 keV. In the long term a strong optical/X-ray correlation was found for this system, however in the medium term the Hα equivalent width and the V -band brightness showed an anti-correlation after ∼2002 August. Each giant X-ray outburst occurred during a decline phase of the optical brightness, while the Hα showed a strong emission. In late 2010 and before the 2011 February outburst, rapid V / R variations are observed in the strength of the two peaks of the Hα line. These had a period of ∼25 days and we suggest the presence of a global one-armed oscillation to explain this scenario. A general pattern might be inferred, where the disk becomes weaker and shows V / R variability beginning ∼6 months following a giant outburst.