IGR J16393-4643: a new heavily-obscured X-ray pulsar

An analysis of the high-energy emission from IGR J16393-4643 (=AX J1639.0-4642) is presented using data from INTEGRAL and XMM-Newton. The source is persistent in the 20-40 keV band at an average flux of 5.1×10^-11 erg cm^-2 s^-1, with variations in intensity by at least an order of magnitude. A pulse period of 912.0±0.1 s was discovered in the ISGRI and EPIC light curves. The source spectrum is a strongly-absorbed (N_H=(2.5±0.2)×10²³ cm^-2) power law that features a high-energy cutoff above 10 keV. Two iron emission lines at 6.4 and 7.1 keV, an iron absorption edge ≳7.1 keV, and a soft excess emission of 7×10^-15 erg cm^-2 s^-1 between 0.5-2 keV, are detected in the EPIC spectrum. The shape of the spectrum does not change with the pulse. Its persistence, pulsation, and spectrum place IGR J16393-4643 among the class of heavily-absorbed HMXBs. The improved position from EPIC is RA (J2000)=16^h39^m05.4^s and Dec=-46°42'12'' (4'' uncertainty) which is compatible with that of 2MASS J16390535-4642137.