Confirm the onset of the predicted variable phase epoch

Confirm whether the potential variable superorbital-phase epoch predicted to begin near MJD 60811 actually commenced before or during ALS 2025 in Her X-1.

Background

The authors infer an approximately 3400-day recurrence timescale for variable superorbital-phase epochs. Extrapolating this timescale suggests that a new variable epoch may have begun around MJD 60811, shortly before ALS 2025 began at MJD 60920.

The four-supercycle interval required for an independent phase measurement, together with the suppression of the modulation during ALS 2025, prevents the authors from testing the prediction with the current data. Confirmation would clarify whether the recurrent phase-variation pattern continued into the 2025 episode.

References

Consequently, the onset of this potential variable epoch cannot be definitively confirmed with the current dataset.

— Superorbital Phase Evolution and Identification of New Anomalous Low State Candidates for Her X-1  (2610.01123 - Chou et al., 1 Oct 2026) in Section 4.3, subsection “Fluid Disk Micro-Perturbation Model and Viscous Relaxation”