Soft X-Ray Properties of the Geminga Pulsar
Abstract
A soft-X-ray spectrum and pulse profile of the gamma-ray pulsar Geminga, obtained with the ROSAT instrument, was analyzed and interpreted in terms of thermal emission from the surface of the neutron star. It was found that the X-ray spectrum of Geminga consists of two blackbody components, one with T1 = (5.2 +/- 1.0) x 10 exp 5 K (which is in the range of model cooling curves for a neutron star of age 3 x 10 exp 5 yr) and the other with T2 = about 3 x 10 exp 6 K. The soft X-ray component is interpreted as photospheric cooling of much of the neutron star's surface area, while the small, hot region could be part of the much smaller polar cap heated by energetic particles flowing inward from the magnetospheric accelerator which is responsible for the production of Geminga gamma-rays.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- September 1993
- DOI:
- 10.1086/173164
- Bibcode:
- 1993ApJ...415..286H
- Keywords:
-
- Gamma Ray Astronomy;
- Neutron Stars;
- Pulsars;
- Stellar Spectra;
- Thermal Emission;
- X Ray Stars;
- Rosat Mission;
- Stellar Atmospheres;
- X Ray Scattering;
- Astrophysics;
- GAMMA RAYS: OBSERVATIONS;
- STARS: NEUTRON;
- STARS: PULSARS: INDIVIDUAL NAME: GEMINGA;
- X-RAYS: STARS