2004A&A...423..969B

We re-analyzed two Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer archival observations of the atoll source 4U 1820-30 in order to investigate the detailed time-frequency properties of the source during the intervals when a ∼7Hz QPO was detected by Wijnands et al. (1999ApJ...512L..39W). We find that in both observations, in addition to a QPO signal lasting a couple of minutes as previously reported, there is a much narrower transient oscillation with a life time of only a few seconds. Within this time, the oscillation is consistent with being coherent. Its integrated fractional rms is around 10% and its frequency 7.3Hz and 5.7Hz in the two observations. We discuss the possible association of this QPO with other oscillations known both in Neutron-Star and Black-Hole systems, concentrating on the similarities with the narrow 5-7Hz oscillations observed at high flux in Black-Hole Candidates.