Investigating neutron star crustal cooling in MXB 1659-29
Abstract
We propose a 100 ksec observation of the quasi-persistent neutron-star low-mass X-ray transient MXB 1659-29 in quiescence. The long outburst from this source heated the neutron star crust out of thermal equilibrium with the core. We have tracked the cooling of the neutron star crust in this object since it went into quiescence in 2001. The most recent observation suggests that the crust may now be thermally relaxed. However, with only one data point and recent evidence of residual accretion during quiescence in other objects, a further observation is needed to determine decisively whether cooling has ceased or may continue. This observation will further constrain models for the neutron star crust and core, and will test whether residual accretion is important.
- Publication:
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Chandra Proposal
- Pub Date:
- September 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011cxo..prop.3350C