Swift detection of an intermediately long X-ray burst from the very faint X-ray binary XMMU J174716.1-281048
Abstract
We report on the Swift detection of a thermonuclear X-ray burst from the very-faint quasi-persistent neutron star X-ray binary XMMU J174716.1-281048, which triggered the satellite's Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) on 2010 August 13. Analysis of the BAT spectrum yields an observed bolometric peak flux of ≃4.5 × 10-8 erg cm-2 s-1, from which we infer a source distance of ≲8.4 kpc. Follow-up observations with Swift's X-ray Telescope (XRT) suggest that the event had a duration of ≃3 h and a total radiated energy of ≃9 × 1040 erg, which classify it as an intermediately long X-ray burst. This is only the second X-ray burst ever reported from this source. Inspection of Swift/XRT observations performed between 2007 and 2010 suggests that the 2-10 keV accretion luminosity of the system is ≃5 × 1034 erg s-1 for an assumed distance of 8.4 kpc. Despite being transient, XMMU J174716.1-281048 appears to have been continuously active since its discovery in 2003.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- June 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1111/j.1745-3933.2011.01066.x
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1103.4153
- Bibcode:
- 2011MNRAS.414L.104D
- Keywords:
-
- accretion;
- accretion discs;
- stars: neutron;
- X-rays: binaries;
- X-rays: bursts;
- X-rays: individual: XMMU J174716.1-281048;
- IGR J17464-2811;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters. Minor textual changes after referee's comments. 6 pages, 4 figures