Work

Evidence of a Cyclotron Feature in the Spectrum of the Anomalous X-Ray Pulsar 1RXS J170849−400910

Year: 2003

Type: article

Abstract: We report the results of a long observation of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 1RXS J170849-400910 obtained with the BeppoSAX satellite in 2001 August. The best-fit phase-averaged spectrum was an absorbed power-law plus blackbody model, with a photon index of Γ ~ 2.4 and a blackbody temperature of kT bb ~ 0.4 keV. We confirm the presence of significant spectral variations with the rotational phase of the pulsar. In the spectrum corresponding to the rising part of the pulse, we found an absorption-like feature at ~8.1 keV (a significance of 4 σ), most likely due to cyclotron resonant scattering. The centroid energy converts to a magnetic field of 9 × 10 11 and 1.6 × 10 15 G in the case of electrons and protons, respectively. If confirmed, this would be the first detection of a cyclotron feature in the spectrum of an anomalous X-ray pulsar.

Source: The Astrophysical Journal

DOI: 10.1086/374585

Authors: Nanda Rea, Gian Luca Israel, Luigi Stella, Tim Oosterbroek, Sandro Mereghetti, Lorella Angelini, Sergio Campana, Stefano Covino

Institutions: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Astronomical Observatory of Rome, National Institute for Astrophysics, European Space Research and Technology Centre, Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica di Milano, Goddard Space Flight Center, Brera Astronomical Observatory

Language: English

Topic: Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2018907847

FWCI: 3.656

Cites: 29

Cited by: 62

Related to: 10