A Giant Glitch in the Energetic 69 Millisecond X-Ray Pulsar AXS J161730-505505
Abstract
We present new results on the recently discovered 69 ms X-ray pulsar AXS J161730-505505, the sixth youngest example of a rotation-powered pulsar. We have undertaken a comprehensive X-ray-observing campaign of AXS J161730-505505 with the ASCA, BeppoSAX, and RXTE observatories and follow its long-term spin-down history between 1989 and 1999 using these observations and archival Ginga and ASCA data sets. The spin-down is not simply described by a linear function as originally thought, but instead we find evidence of a giant glitch (ΔP/P>~10-6) between 1993 August and 1997 September, perhaps the largest yet observed from a young pulsar. The glitch is well described by steps in P and P accompanied by a persistent P similar to those seen in the Vela pulsar. The pulse profile of AXS J161730-505505 presents a single asymmetric peak that is maintained over all observation epochs. The energy spectrum is also steady over time, characterized by a highly absorbed power law with a photon index Γ=1.4+/-0.2, consistent with that found for other young rotation powered pulsars.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1086/312656
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0003413
- Bibcode:
- 2000ApJ...534L..71T
- Keywords:
-
- STARS: PULSARS: GENERAL;
- STARS: PULSARS: INDIVIDUAL: ALPHANUMERIC: AXS J161730-505505;
- STARS: PULSARS: INDIVIDUAL: ALPHANUMERIC: PSR J1617-5055;
- STARS: NEUTRON;
- ISM: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS;
- X-RAYS: GENERAL;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 6 pages with 2 figures, LaTex, emulateapj.sty. To appear in the Astrophysical Journal Letters