Rapid spin-up episodes in the wind-fed accreting pulsar GX 301-2

The accreting pulsar GX 301-2 (P = 680 s) has been observed continuously by the large-area detectors of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory since 1991 April 5. Orbital parameters determined from these data are consistent with previous measurements, with improved accuracy in the current orbital epoch. The most striking features in the pulsar frequency history are two steady and rapid spin-up episodes, with (v) over dot approximate to (3-5) x 10(-12) Hz s(-1) each lasting for about 30 days. They probably represent the formation of transient accretion disks in this wind-fed pulsar. Except for these spin-up episodes, there are virtually no net changes in the neutron star spin frequency on long timescales. We suggest that the long-term spin-up trend observed since 1984 ((v) over dot approximate to 2 x 10(-13) Hz s(-1)) may be due entirely to brief (approximate to 20 days) spin-up episodes similar to those we have discovered. We assess different accretion models and their ability to explain the orbital phase dependence of the observed flux. In addition to the previously observed preperiastron peak at orbital phase 0.956 +/- 0.022, we also find a smaller peak close to apastron at orbital phase 0.498 +/- 0.057. We show that if the companion star's effective temperature is less than 22,000 K, then it must have a mass M-c < 70 M. and a radius R-c < 85 R. so as not to overfill the tidal lobe at periastron. In order not to overflow the Roche lobe at periastron, the corresponding values are M-c < 55 M. and R-c < 68 R.. These constraints are nearly at odds with the reclassification by Kaper et al. of the companion as a B1 Ia+ hypergiant.