Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of 7 enigmatic faint persistently slow pulsators
Abstract
We present results from our Chandra and XMM-Newton observations of a sample of 7 faint to very faint persistent slow accreting X-ray pulsars. The sub-arcsecond resolution of the Chandra telescope is used to search for the optical/IR counterpart. The XMM-Newton data is used to study the spectral and timing properties of the sources to put additional constraints on the nature of these systems. We have compared our results with previously obtained ASCA and BeppoSAX observations of the sources to study possible correlation in spectral, pulse properties and luminosity variations. Spin-period derivative is calculated to further constrain the nature of these sources. Until now, there are only 4 Be/X-ray binary systems to be present which have similar X-ray properties of our sources. Our results have added a few more members to this class of pulsars. These pulsars belong to an unusual class of accreting neutron stars with high mass companion stars which have long orbital period (> 30 days) and low eccentricities and are expected to be formed in a different type of supernova explosion than the neutron stars present in the classical, transient Be/X-ray binaries. We discuss our results in the light of the neutron-star formation mechanism and how our targets have put new insight in this matter.
- Publication:
-
37th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008cosp...37.1471K