Specific features of the reflection effect in binary systems with compact source rotating about its axis

•Rotation of source about its axis influences on the reflection effect in binaries.•Properties of reflected pulses are connected with geometric parameters of binary.•Time of passage of the source beam pattern along companion surface must be considered.•Obtained results can be applied to some binaries which involve pulsar. Reprocessing of X-ray pulsar radiation by the atmosphere of a companion in a binary system may result in reflected pulse radiation under suitable conditions. In this paper the influence of the rotation of the source of the radiation about its axis on the parameters of thus reflected pulses is investigated. The binary system is modeled by the spherical reflective screen and the compact source uniformly rotating about its axis; the beam pattern (BP) of the source periodically runs along the surface of the screen. Irradiation of the screen by the pulses which have infinitely narrow time spread and by the rectangular pulses is considered. The model does not concern the details of the reprocessing and reemission of the photons. In this model parameters of the pulses reflected in some directions are calculated. The main conclusion provided by the consideration of this model is that the properties of reflected pulses — their profile and observed time of arrival — substantially depend on the correlation between the light speed and the speed of the BP passing along the companion’s surface. The possibility of applying of the obtained results to the known X-ray accretion-powered pulsars and rotation-powered pulsars in binary systems is examined.